Showing posts with label Visiting Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visiting Ireland. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

No place like it. . . . . . . . .


. . . . . . . when you're feeling ill!
HOME, even when requiring some TLC because you've left it to collect
dust, dirty windows, and a dead mouse in a trap (I apparently forget to take
 one up prior to leaving), is the only place to be.



So I've played with my hydrangeas, bringing many in the house, moving them about, 
to brighten up these days when I've had little energy to do much whilst coughing my
 way into oblivion. 

I've tried to start organizing the many photos (and the stories to accompany them)
  taken in Northern Ireland and Ireland in order to start posting here. 
For some reason PicMonkey editor is causing me many problems - I'm
 still using the old version - so am thinking I need to spend time learning to use
 the new version which just has to be better. Or, I my have to just forget about editing,
and post lower quality photos taken with my iPhone used on days it was raining (often)
when I didn't want to lug a bulky camera around.
I hate change when it comes to using the computer - I'm afraid I no longer have
 patience or skills necessary for technical challenges - and am always nervous I'll
totally mess up and never be able to keep my poor old blog going!

But then I met an interesting published author in a lovely
 pub in Kilkenny and, after exchanging stories, he said I might
 well have a book in me. . . . . . . . . . . but that's a story
for another day!

Even Blogger appears to be having constant hiccups since getting back. 
That said, I must just mention that Internet/WiFi in Europe is so awesome compared
 to here in the US. The speed, even in hotel rooms with so many guests using
laptops, tablets etc. blew me away. I had no connection problems and was able
to do things so much faster. 





"HOME SWEET HOME" and "Singing the Blues"

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Back across the pond today . . . . . .




Packed and ready to head east today. 
The overnight to Dublin followed by tomorrow's early morning train to Belfast. 
 A huge change in weather and temperature for sure. Prepared for rain, hoping for sun.
Green and pleasant Ireland with amazing history, scenery, music and food.
It may be hard to beat the trip there a few years back, but travel is what 
you make of it . . . . . . . . and we're planning to make it special.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Castleisland. . . . .a Grandfather's Birthplace




Before moving my photos of our fabulous trip to Ireland
off the laptop, safely archived on a portable hard drive,
I suddenly remembered I still needed to at least put a little 
memory of Castleisland on a post for Bob to look at 
now and then!  

We enjoyed visiting the small town in the Ring of Kerry, close to Tralee,
 where Bob's paternal grandfather was born and lived until leaving at a 
very young age for Boston in 1886.
We went there in hopes of finding more on our branch of the Sullivan
(then O'Sullivan) family. No luck though - you have no idea how many
thousands with that name came from that Kerry area. 

Our stay there at the River Island Hotel was so much fun, meeting
so many lovely locals who assisted us in looking through church and county 
records, tramping through crumbling cemeteries, and then sharing more than
a few drinks, some Irish dance steps, traditional songs and music. . . . . . and
 nonstop general chatter and laughter which all the Irish seem so comfortable with! 

We loved Ireland so much, as would you I'm certain if you've not yet visited.
If you have, like us, you know what I'm talking about.
We really do hope to return again before too long.
So dear Bob, this one's for you.




Thursday, March 17, 2016

Happy St. Patrick's Day. . . . . . . . . .


Top 'o the morning to you all.
Whether Irish or not, perhaps you still celebrate 
today with a traditional pint of green beer, corned beef
and cabbage, colcannon. . . . . 

 . . . . . or my favorite, a nice loaf of traditional Irish Soda Bread.
Eat it all today slathered in good Irish butter, because tomorrow
 it won't be half as good! 


Bob, whose grandfather hailed from County Kerry, will be 'wearing 
the green' today!  Meanwhile, we are busy planning our upcoming trip
to beautiful Ireland this Spring - I'm excited as I've never been there.
We'll be roughing it through the glorious Irish countryside, searching for
 family among all those thousands of Sullivans who didn't get on a 
boat to America back when.
Guess starting at the pubs will be a good idea, after we kiss the 
Blarney Stone!!!

Enjoy your day - you must have a wee bit of Irish in you.