This blog is going to be a little different as I am again basking in the afterglow of another wonderful tour.   I have just finished a tour with Denise and Gerry Dignan and 19 of their friends.  This tour was a little different to my usual tours,  as I heard expressions like Mystery School and Soul School etc. before the start and I wondered if I would GET IT,  but I can assure all,  that I DID.   I am smiling as I write this blog.   You were AWESOME.   I promised you that I would journalise the tour on my blog,  so here goes.   (Please let me know if I forget some event)

Day  1.   We left Bunratty and headed for our first night in Skibbereen without our glorious leader who had to stay back in Chicago for an extra day.   Our first stop was in Adare,  Co. Limerick where we did the introductions in glorious sunshine.  Who said it always rains in Ireland ?  We stopped for lunch at Charles Fort in Kinsale and were greeted by Padraic O’Rouirc who is a noted historian and he gave us a wonderful tour of the Fort.   This was a really nice introduction to Irish history.   We had dinner in our home for the next 3 days,  The West Cork Hotel.   The dinner was superb and we finished off the day with an  AUDIENCE WITH JOHN SPILLANE.   It was a glorious night of song,  laughter and even a few tears.   John is a superb entertainer.   Our group responded by buying up all available CDs.   This was a lovely gesture.   I was also really pleased that my brother Joseph and his wife Celene joined us for the night.   They are great John Spillane fans and they too were not dissapointed.

Day  2.   We drove to Clonakilty and had a very cold walk on Inchadoney Beach and went back to the town where we did a little shopping before having lunch.   This was a WAIT FOR GERRY morning.   We got back to Skkibbereen and did a tour of the Famine Centre.   Teri,  our guide was wonderful again.   She tells us famine stories with such passion and her knowledge is wonderful.   I should tell you that Terri was on a day off and came in especially for us.   THANK YOU TERI.  My friend Blaise picked Gerry up at the Airport and drove him down to Skibbereen and they arrived just as we finished the tour.   Blaise spent the next couple of days with us and he spent most of his time teaching our group some Irishisms.   We went to The Corner House for some Irish Traditional Music.   It was packed there,  as it was Saturday night,  but the music was grand.

Day 3.   We drove to Gougane Barra where we spent a lovely couple of hours.   We had a little service which was carried out by Chris Collins and Gerry sang a couple of songs.   This was my first experience of what our group was about,  and I got it.   It was lovely.   We then drove to the Buddhist Retreat Centre which again was very special.  It rained hard all afternoon but it did not dampen our spirits in any way.   We also got a great welcome from the Buddhist Midges.   I think everyone got a bite or two.   We stayed in tonight and had a sing-song which was enjoyed by all.

Day 4.  Today is a travel day and we leave Skibbereen for Tralee.   We drove by Bantry,  Glengarriff and onto Kenmare before stopping for a photo opportunity and coffee stop at Ladies View.   What a view !  We then drove to Killarney where we stopped for shopping etc.  (etc. means drink – you know who!)  It rained again for the entire day,  but we had an incredible nights entertainment at Siamsa Tire,  which was enjoyed  by all.   It was the story of the Blasket Islands. Just to mention that we had a lovely Italian meal, (yes,  in Ireland) in La Bella Bia,  before Siamsa Tire.

Day 5.  We got up a little late today and headed on to Dingle at noon(ish)   We stopped at Inch Beach where we learned about a certain Bishop……………….  Lunch was great and we headed for Dingle and then The Slea Head Drive.   It also rained today and we could not do the things which we wanted to do.   But the mist was not down so we could see the Blaskets and also Skellig Rocks.   We visited the Blasket Heritage Centre and watched a great documentary on the islands before having dinner in Ballyferriter.   We met Danny Sheehy and he took us on a walk around the town and onto the beach,  telling us stories of the area.   Another great experience.   We sang a couple of songs, (I think) and then headed back to our hotel in Tralee.

Day 6.  Today was a rest day and everyone did their own thing in Tralee.   A lot of people contributed handsomely to our economy.   Thanks a million.   We had an unusual night tonight.  This was a really painful night for me,  which gave me nightmares for a couple of nights and I think I am still traumatised by the experience.   I don’t think I will ever stay in our hotel again,  just in case we get a repeat of the night.   Gerry was in fine singing form !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!He sang for some Fresian (sp?) people.   Well,  they seemed to enjoy it anyway as well as some of our group.   A lot of people went down in my estimation that night,  but,  it takes all kinds.   I must tell you that Gerry apologised to me, (in private)  so all was well.

Day 7.  We drove to Doolin today.   Gerry had visited a stone circle in Grange Co. Limerick a couple of years ago and liked it,  so,  being a flexible gang,  we headed to Grange.  I must say that it was well worth the trip.   We lunched and shopped in Bunratty before visiting the Cliffs of Moher.   WHAT  A  SIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   We ate in McDermotts Bar,  where the food was enormous and really great and relaxed to some Irish jigs and reels.

Day 8.  This was my favourite day.   We went by ferry to InisOirr,  the most easterly of the Aran Islands.   Everyone truly loved this day and we had a SUN BURN competition and I think it was a tie between,  Dillon,  Jim and myself,  but it was great.   I was joined by my friend Mick O’Shea and we just spent hours strolling around the island.  After the island we went to McGann’s Pub,  where we had a great meal and another wonderful night’s entertainment.   Kevin Griffin gave an exhibition on the banjo and Geraldine McGowan absolutely enthralled our group.   She is another wonderful entertainer.   Everyone went home smiling.

Day 9.  Today was our last full day in Ireland and we went to The Burren Region.   We were met by PJ Curtis who gave us a wonderful talk on the Burren Region and also talked about Irish History.   His story was very moving and many tears were shed.   He is a National Treasure.   We went for dinner to McHugh’s Pub in Liscannor,  where we all spoke of our wonderful tour.   It was a very happy night for all and there were also a few tears shed here also.

Day 10.   Back to Shannon Airport and reality.

I must at this stage say a few special thank you’s.   In fact I am going to mention each and every one of you.

Mary Lou……………For you enthusiasm and smiles

Ingrid…………………Again for your smiles and it was lovely to see the interaction between Mary Lou and yourself

Don and Diane………..Don,  you are perhaps the most relaxed American I have ever met and Diane was a joy.   Diane,  you remind me of someone and I just cannot think who.

Judy………………….You were also a joy and I know how much you enjoyed the experience.

Mary Beth…………I will never forget your poetry. It is amazing.    I look forward to my poetry email from you.

Regina………………Your devotion and love for your family shone through right through the trip.

Rosemary………………Your knowledge and love of Ireland also shone through

Erin…………………………Erin was the quiet one of the family,  but  I got a lot of joy also watching you ease yourself in to the tour

Geene……………………..It was lovely to see you enjoying yourself with Dillon.   Look forward to seeing you run in The Dublin City Marathon.

Dillon…………………..I know how much you enjoyed your first legal drinks.

Liam…………………………….What can I say about Liam !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!You were AWESOME  I hope you find some Murphy’s back in the USA

Kris………………………………Your talks were wonderful and your understanding of all things touched me greatly.

Jim………………………………..I loved to watch you watching Chris

Mary…………………………………The most Irish of the group.   It was lovely to watch you grow in to the group.

Barbara……………………….We had some really good conversations.   I hope to see you both next year.

Joyce……………………Joyce was lovely.  Your head was always up in the air.   Always excited and wanting to learn.

Jack and Jan You both also smiled through the trip and your calmness was lovely.

I  must of course also mention Paddy our driver.   As usual he was incredible.   Nothing was too much for him.  Thanks a million,  Paddy.

Last but not least I must mention Denise and Gerry.   You were wonderful.   I don’t think there was one problem.   You were both so easygoing.   It was just a joy.   Just one thing for next year.   Our new contract will not allow McNamara’s Band.

Well,  there is our tour in a nutshell.   I hope I did not leave anything out.   I would love some of you to leave a comment or two on my web site.  I know I will meet most of you again……………….’Till then……………………Slan