The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1

THE ARK OF DUN RUAH

This book is dedicated to my husband Tony and my son Aidan

Maria Burke

The Ark of Dun Ruah

First published in 2012 by

CURRACH PRESS

55A Spruce Avenue,

Stillorgan Industrial Park,

Blackrock,

Co. Dublin

Cover design by Anú Design

Cover illustration: Maria Burke

Origination by Currach Press

Printed by MPG Books Group Ltd

ISBN 978 1 85607 794 1

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Copyright © 2012, Maria Burke

Acknowledgements

Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to write the book.

To Anna and Sarah Daly, Ivetta Jordanov and family,

Tina and Chris Noon, Helen Murphy, Helen Peffer,

Jo Pottier, Valerie O'Regan and Martin Kelleher.

Thanks also to the staff and families of Currach Press.

Fact File on Eagles

Harpy and Philippine eagles have a wingspan of two and a half metres. They use their massive talons to kill and carry off prey as large as deer.

Eagles have very good eyesight. They see five basic colours. Humans only see three. They can spot a rabbit two miles away.

Eagles lay a clutch of two eggs. Usually the older chick kills the younger sibling and the adults don't stop it.

An eagle's territory can range over 100 square miles. To defend territory or attract a mate, eagles put on spectacular displays such as death defying swoops and daring stunts e.g. fighting and locking talons with another bird and then free falling in spirals to the ground.

They can dive at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

A group of eagles is called a convocation or a kettle.

An eagle has at least 7,000 feathers.

Eagles' nests can weigh up to one and a half tonnes. That's the weight of a large car.

Giant Eagles once lived in New Zealand and had a 10-foot wingspan. They are reputed to have carried off men, women and children to devour.

Giant Eagles were thought to have become extinct 800 years ago but there were reported sightings of them in the 19th century in remote mountainous areas.

The Golden Eagle was extinct in Ireland for 100 years. It has been reintroduced to Co. Donegal from Scotland.

Extinct creatures have been known to reappear. The Caspian Horse was thought to be extinct for centuries and has now been found. So was the Madagascar Serpent Eagle, the Ivory Billed Woodpecker and the Javan Elephant.