IRELAND: Vote for your #1 MAGICAL Moment !!!
Jun 9th, 2007, 02:41 PM
#41
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My sisters and I were in Kilgarvin...it was September 20th (following THE September 11th!) We weren't sure we were still going to be able to go on our trip, but the airports opened just in time. We were listening to a group of about 20 musicians in a little pub playing traditional music. When they heard our accents the announced they wanted to dedicated a song to their american friends. They told us how sorry they were for our country and they played us "this land is your land." Not a dry eye in the house. I will always hold the kindness of all the people we met on that trip in my heart.
Jun 9th, 2007, 07:16 PM
#42
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Melissa - this is hard! What a wonderful thread. Both your memory and Caph's remind me of such good times with my family in Ireland.
So, because my lovely daughter is now in Kenya in the Peace Corps, and it's hard for me to have her so far from home, here's a memory of her in Ireland:
We were in Westport and DH and DD were at Matt Malloys. I was home w/ DS. DH came back about 11:30 and said - DD wants you to join her at Matt Malloys. I put down my book, put on my shoes and walked the 2 or 3 blocks to the pub. But when I got there all the shades were drawn and the door was locked! I was truly in a bit of a motherly panic as DD had called for me and I couldn't get to her. Just then an Irish boy smoking in a parked van outside said "go around to the side door."
Indeed, I went to the alley, opened the side door and the bright happy warmth of Matt Malloys pub opened before me with DD smiling, tapping to the music, waiting to give me a welcoming hug.
Just before DD left for Kenya she and I had a special lunch in Seattle. On our way to the restaurant we walked along singing "Sweet Caroline" loudly (and we're terrible singers) but that was the song we loved so much at Matt Malloy's - the one that had everyone in the pub shouting and singing in unison.
There are lots of great memories - but that's one I've been thinking of lately. However, having an Irish last name
I reserve the right to share more!
So, because my lovely daughter is now in Kenya in the Peace Corps, and it's hard for me to have her so far from home, here's a memory of her in Ireland:
We were in Westport and DH and DD were at Matt Malloys. I was home w/ DS. DH came back about 11:30 and said - DD wants you to join her at Matt Malloys. I put down my book, put on my shoes and walked the 2 or 3 blocks to the pub. But when I got there all the shades were drawn and the door was locked! I was truly in a bit of a motherly panic as DD had called for me and I couldn't get to her. Just then an Irish boy smoking in a parked van outside said "go around to the side door."
Indeed, I went to the alley, opened the side door and the bright happy warmth of Matt Malloys pub opened before me with DD smiling, tapping to the music, waiting to give me a welcoming hug.
Just before DD left for Kenya she and I had a special lunch in Seattle. On our way to the restaurant we walked along singing "Sweet Caroline" loudly (and we're terrible singers) but that was the song we loved so much at Matt Malloy's - the one that had everyone in the pub shouting and singing in unison.
There are lots of great memories - but that's one I've been thinking of lately. However, having an Irish last name
I reserve the right to share more!
Jun 11th, 2007, 12:19 AM
#43
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maureencol: Oh, what a loving husband you have...a man who sells the car so his wife can go back "home" to Ireland is a wonderful man! Thank you for sharing with us.
All of you "Irish" dreamers, who are remembering Ireland and longing for her with every drop of Irish blood you have in you, are just awakening the poetry and music in my soul... And you know of course that even for those who have not a drop of Irish blood, once you spend some time with the Irish, you come home changed...you are just a little bit more Irish!
All of you "Irish" dreamers, who are remembering Ireland and longing for her with every drop of Irish blood you have in you, are just awakening the poetry and music in my soul... And you know of course that even for those who have not a drop of Irish blood, once you spend some time with the Irish, you come home changed...you are just a little bit more Irish!
Jun 12th, 2007, 09:32 AM
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This is a wonderful thread and makes me miss Ireland so much. The one moment for me is easy --- it is a moment that will last with me for the rest of my life --- and like others, it involves the Connemara.
We were in the Connemara National Park and had brought some pastries and little bottles of wine with us so we could enjoy an impromptu picnic in the park. We walked up through the park and found this spot --- a fairy ring ---with tumbleweeds and high grass all around us, and green, green grass below our feet. Two Connemara ponies stood in the field below us in circular union, the baby nuzzling her mother. From where we sat, we could see the blue skies tumbling into the aquamarine ocean, and the green mountains rushing to the white clouds. But, best of all, when I looked right next to me, my husband was there --- his blue eyes mirroring the sky and the sea --- and I felt awe and peace with all that is and was about me. That is the moment that Ireland captured my soul, and I felt humbled and blessed that we were there at that perfect moment.
We were in the Connemara National Park and had brought some pastries and little bottles of wine with us so we could enjoy an impromptu picnic in the park. We walked up through the park and found this spot --- a fairy ring ---with tumbleweeds and high grass all around us, and green, green grass below our feet. Two Connemara ponies stood in the field below us in circular union, the baby nuzzling her mother. From where we sat, we could see the blue skies tumbling into the aquamarine ocean, and the green mountains rushing to the white clouds. But, best of all, when I looked right next to me, my husband was there --- his blue eyes mirroring the sky and the sea --- and I felt awe and peace with all that is and was about me. That is the moment that Ireland captured my soul, and I felt humbled and blessed that we were there at that perfect moment.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing the most vivid and poetic description of Connemara I have ever heard.
Jun 13th, 2007, 02:35 AM
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<b>rosetravels:</b> May your daughter have her own memorable moments in Kenya. I'm glad she wanted to share the evening in Matt Malloy's pub with you...at Molloy's every night seems different, I love that about it.
Jun 13th, 2007, 02:41 AM
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I absolutely loved my trip to Dublin. I am part Irish so it felt a bit like going home. But, the best part of the whole trip was my hotel. I know that sounds a little silly, but this hotel has amazing gardens and was just really cool to stay at. If you go to Dublin, you have to check it out!
<a
href='http://www.travelintelligence.net/ws...ml'>The Fitzwilliam garden hotel, Dublin, Ireland</a>
<a
href='http://www.travelintelligence.net/ws...ml'>The Fitzwilliam garden hotel, Dublin, Ireland</a>
Jun 13th, 2007, 06:39 AM
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Here's another: In Belmullet, Mayo's 'wild, wild west' I was staying at the Western Strands Hotel. I had played Golf in the morning at Carne Golf Links and was pretty wiped out, so I went up to my room around 10PM.
After about an hour it got very noisy at the Hotel Bar and I couldn't sleep So I got dressed and went downstairs.
If you can't beat them, join them!
There was a group of U.S. Students making like RiverDance complete with Irish Step-dancing shoes accompanied by a one-man band. I sought out the Professor and learned that the group was from UC SantaBarbara and they were earning Credits in Irish Literature. I guess this was the fringe of James Joyce Country, but I told him Poets Corner at Ennis' Old Ground Hotel (Oscar Wilde) or Madigan's Pub in Dublin (Brendan Behan) might be more appropriate for the Subject.
After about an hour it got very noisy at the Hotel Bar and I couldn't sleep So I got dressed and went downstairs.
If you can't beat them, join them!
There was a group of U.S. Students making like RiverDance complete with Irish Step-dancing shoes accompanied by a one-man band. I sought out the Professor and learned that the group was from UC SantaBarbara and they were earning Credits in Irish Literature. I guess this was the fringe of James Joyce Country, but I told him Poets Corner at Ennis' Old Ground Hotel (Oscar Wilde) or Madigan's Pub in Dublin (Brendan Behan) might be more appropriate for the Subject.
Jun 15th, 2007, 02:22 AM
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I'll be going out shortly, and I'll wear my snazzy red showerproof with hood, and dark trousers in case they get splashed.
cailin, have you decided how to manage this evening? I suppose that you can't use an umbrella because you will need both hands free. Problems,problems...
cailin, have you decided how to manage this evening? I suppose that you can't use an umbrella because you will need both hands free. Problems,problems...
Jun 20th, 2007, 09:13 AM
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Walking into the stable at the Chichester estate in Castledawson. My great grandfather was the stablemaster there way, way back, and it gave me chills to be standing on the same ground where he had been.
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