Bits and pieces to remember

...............Mick was teasing Colette & she said, "Chance it Lad"....promptness of meals 830...1300 and 1800...don't think about being late... Gourmet meals effortlessly brought to the table..."many hands make light work"....lightning fast needle work by Colette...honey..."did you get that?"....fresh sweet pea flowers every morning .......white and black pudding...special blend of whiskey in antique glasses...talking around the fire forgetting to make 6p.m. tea. Brown bread...teasing Kathy about her pending nuptials...being able to tell who is driving down the lane by the sound of the car...mail addressed to the city and county only...a small house where baskets of anything you are taking about magically can be produced.... digging new potatoes from the wind tunnel...the 'banger' and air gun that shoot every now and then to scare away the rabbits and crows...Mick shooting his rifle every day...the phone rings and Mick said .."it will be a long session".........making a point,then a nod and a slight wink ;-) ...

Anxious to go but sad to leave.

Tipperary to Kenirys "back home"

In Limerick late yesterday, I found a small treasure for Mare in a religious bookstore...Our Lady of Perpetual Help Car freshener with a motorist prayer on the backside! Since she has been exhausted everyday from dealing with my driving, I thought an extra prayer card would not hurt. We had a good laugh!

Actually, every time we start out I say my Guardian Angel prayer and the mantra for the trip: Go to the left, stay to the left"

We have a more typical day in Ireland with the weather, misty and cloudy, coming into Tipperary, you could hardly see the car in front for a while. This is not a good thing on twisty roads. Even though, it did not feel like a long way there ;-). (did ye get that one now?)


All praise to Pat Ryan told us to take the road outside Tipperary - a new motorway ..M8...we had not heard of a M road before??? ....it was a real freeway where you could actually see right and left and drive at 120K/hr...this almost felt wrong.Too fast and too open. Ah it was lovely!!! I told Mare I was doing a jig in my head and clicking my heels.

We arrived back on the farm where everyone took their turn in looking for "tips" in the car. Not a ding or a "tip" that was not there before hand! A wonderful tea was prepared by Colette....then on to bring the car back. The people at the car rental did the same dance around the car looking for "tips" as well.

A wonderful feast for dinner , a picture show of the trip and then on to stories of ghosts and spirits.

Farm update: the lamb is back among her own, no longer in sick bay. The broccoli survived, but it is too wet to plant again tomorrow. The vet is coming for TB testing. We have not big plans... just getting ready to come home. Since two planes have crashed into the ocean lately, we might be looking for prayer cards for planes.

The Litany of Saints should be helpful.

Limerick

Spent the day in Limerick walking through the streets and shops. It is has a fairly small town center- so was quite manageable.

No Kevin Kelly...but found a very handsome tour guide on the tour of Limerick...so here is my ditty:

Kevin Kelly I could not find, but Pat O'Brien was just as fine. Thank-you, thank-you very much!

We went into St. Michael's church were some of Mom's side of the family was baptized. See picture--hope you can see the writing (holy water from a milk can...what a hoot!)

Had a small lunch beside the Shannon River. In the pub they have high top bar tables with what I thought was decorative Guinness taps-- ut oh, not only were they real- but the tap is on an electronic meter ...how fun and slightly lazy is that...you don't even need to raise your hand to wave down a waitress to ask for a refill..right there waiting for ya. Brilliant! -as they say.

Weather - 23 or about 75 degrees. Only one rainy day so far.

We met Sheila Healy and Mary & Pat Ryan who are also related back several generations on the O'Connell side. They gave us a tour of the Killaloe area.
Very sweet people.

Limerick & Adare, Ireland

Went to the Poet's Corner pub last night in Ennis, stayed for 3 short ditty's. There was a young man about Roman's age who joined in with the musicians playing a concertina; his father was hovering the entire time..quite cute. No Kevin Kelly's...in fact, we are seeing more Americans and German's that Irish.

We went to church at the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul in Ennis, Ireland. The priest was perfectly Irish, gave a great summon...all in all done in 35 minutes!
Remember how fast MA Burns used to say the rosary? Maybe this was the reason why...heritage.

On to Limerick today, quick stop at the hotel and then on to Adare. A quaint village with thatched roofed buildings ...lovely...lots of abbey's dating from the 12 & 13th century.

We had an early dinner at the Wild Geese restaurant in Adare... the chef is award winning and is listed in the book as one of the top 100 restaurants in Ireland...(can you imagine... there are almost as many restaurants as gravestones!!!.)..YUM! I had scallops and a potato pancake....could have cried it was so yummy. Mare had corn fed chicken stuffed with black pudding and pear sauce with another sauce that had a hint of horseradish...are ye mouths watering now? (creme brulee with homemade lemon curd ice cream with a bit of chocolate...now you are looking for a ticket to Ireland--huh?)

Walking around Limerick tomorrow and meeting Sheila Healy...relative on the O'Connell side of the family tree....

I am anxious to go back to Mick and Colette's farm .

Happy Birthday, Maggie.

Connemara to Doolin on to through the fields to Ennis

In other words, running ass big time! We drove a short loop route through Connemara. The scenery is amazing,everything from barren areas to lush forestry, mountains and lakes. We stopped into a wonderful little garden (Brigit garden) and had a tea served by a lovely french man ;-). They have the largest sundial in Ireland here---very accurate as well.

We then drove down to Doolin, County Claire. The road was windy and bumpy and big enough maybe for one cow, but not two. Half way there I told Mare if it was a carnival ride I would be asking to get off.

Doolin is right across from the Aran Islands. I will attach one of my favorite road signs, because it did dead end at the sea! We had dinner at O'Connors pub, no music,it was overrun with American college students.

Have a very disappointing night at the B& B..(oh well!). ....The best part was hearing how the other travelers are white knuckling the drives as well. The husband was stating that he could only look 100ft in front of the car and the wife was "helping" him drive too) Since we barely slept we were up early today (Saturday) and head toward the Cliffs of Moher...as breathe taking in person as in the photos! The weather has been perfect...almost too hot, so the view was phenomenal. Back down the mountain, we found a castle in the middle of a farm field, reminded me of Shrek.

Then on to the Burren...look it up and amazing huge area full of all types of flowers including orchids !...and limestone. We saw a flyer for the perfumery, so we took another cattle road into what felt like the middle of the Burren and found another magical site. The Burren perfumery (www.burrenperfumery.com) was straight out of a fairy book. The smells were wonderful. We have a favorite- Autumn Harvest. They had a tea room so of course took advantage of that. A plate full of local cheese-delicious.

Then we followed the GPS over the Burren --seriously-- through a field with a few stones they called a road and into Ennis where we are staying in a 150 year old home for the night. Worried, this is the place with the reported smelly sheets! Will update later.

Knock Shrine- we prayed for you.

Went to Knock to see the Shrine. As luck would have it we were able to attend a mass at the Shrine and received a blessing to boot!

Back in to Galway city proper where it was crazy! Small street,loads of people...I'm saying FUN! Mare is saying get me out of here I feel claustrophobic!

Took a tour of the city via bus, some shopping, had fish and chips over looking Eyre park.

Did you realize that Claddagh was it's own country that has King and everything?
Small little area near Salthill.