St. Patrick's Sesquicentennial Celebration Tour of Ireland through the eyes of Jan Collins...

Thursday, September 20, 2007

We all gathered at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport at noon and were met by a tour director who passed out e-tickets. We checked in and got boarding passes on American Airlines for our flights to Chicago and Dublin. Flight to Chicago was delayed about 2 hours because of low clouds. Spent the time having lunch and visiting. Left for Chicago at 4:30pm and arrived at O'Hare at 6:00pm. Had plenty of time to change gates and left for Dublin at 7:30pm. Dinner was served on the plane and everyone tried to get some sleep.

Friday, September 21

Breakfast was served on the plane at 7:00am Dublin time. There is a six-hour time difference. Arrived in Dublin at 8:30am in light rain. After gathering our luggage we found our tour guide, Sheila from Kilarney, and bus driver, Sean. We had a comfortable touring bus with large windows. Sheila extended a greeing of "Caaid mille fait" - a thousand welcomes. Once we got underway, she gave us some information about Ireland and Dublin. Blarney in Ireland means soft, pleasant talk. The flag has three colors: green for Nationalist, orange for William of Orange and white for peace. The city of Dublin has multi-lane roads and has become a very cosmopolitan city in the last 30 years. Population of Ireland is 5 million; about 2 million are in Dublin. Everyone drives on the left-hand side of the road.

Why did God make the Irish?
He made the Italians for their beauty,
The Germans for their business sense,
The French for their cuisine,
The USA for their generosity.
God looked and said, "Something is missing."
So he made the Irish so the world can have some fun!

Main games are Gaelic football and hurling. The national emblem is the harp.
Oscar Wilde grew up in Dublin.

The Georgian neighborhoods and Fitzwilliam Square had many painted doors. At the end of the tour three men and three women volunteered for a taste test between Jameson, Johnny Walker Red and Jack Dainels Black Label. Our six participants all received their diplomas for correctly selecting Jameson as the best tasting and smoothest of the three.

Dinner was at the hotel. Tom and Marcia Ries and Tom and Peggy Gabrik joined us in Dublin. Some of the group went on a pub crawl after dinner to hear a discussion of Irish authors and poets. Others to pubs for music. Pubs were packed because of a big rugby game between Ireland and France. Rough game, no pads or helmets. France won the game.

Saturday, September 22

Breakfast buffet was served in the hotel. Another beautiful day. Loaded bus at 9:00am for a short ride to St. Patrick's Cathedral. It is a beautiful church which houses many historical items including the Friendship Door. Back on the bus we made our way to Trinity College Library to view the Book of Kells, elaborate calligraphy of the four gospels and colorful drawings.

The bell choir departed at 11:30am for Clonliffe College to perform for the closing ceremony of the Diocesan Liturgy Gathering. The church was full of children, young mothers, priests and nuns. It was a beautiful service and they loved the bells. They had never heard bells before.

Others enjoyed shopping, an independent lunch and experiencing other attractions in Dublin, including Christ Church Cathedral, which was right across the street from the hotel. This church also houses many historical items and a crypt, which extends the entire length of the Sanctuary.

Back to the hotel to freshen up before leaving at 4:30pm for St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral to participate in the 6:00pm Mass. Beautiful church. Two priests from Rome, Fr. Greg and Father con-celebrated. Both bells and choir were well received. A lovely Irish woman shared that it was her birthday and God always gave her a beautiful gift on her birthday. This year it was the music of the bells and the choir. The group experienced dinner and entertainment at various local pubs. Some had dinner at Hughes Bar, a local (not touristy) pub. Musicians of all ages came in about 10:00pm. There were 6 fiddles, 2 flutes, guitar, accordion and Irish drum. Another group walked down the hill to O'Shea's for dinner and music in the adjoining bar. Couldn't see the musicians but could hear the music. Back to the hotel to visit with whole group.

Sunday, September 23

After breakfast buffet, we checked out of our rooms and left at 10:15am for Whitefriar Street Church to ring and sing at 11:00am Mass. It is administered by the Carmelite Order and is well known for its many beautiful shrines and altars. The remains of St. Valentine are buried here. The school is called St. Edina's. Fr. Greg presided at Mass. It was a beautiful service and the bells and choir were wonderful.

Off to Waterford at 2:0pm. Gas is $7.00 a gallon. 100 km = 60 mph. Went by Sugar Loaf Mountain, sheep in hills, all very green. Ireland is shaped like a saucer, flat center, rimmed by mountains. Stopped in small town of Enniscorthy, County Wexford. The River Slaney flows through the town. Then on to New Ross. The John F. Kennedy Park and Arboretum was founded in 1968, near the late president's ancestral home in Dunganstown. Saw a replica of the Dunbroady ship. One can just imagine the cramped conditions of a voyage across the Atlantic to America.

The Vikings founded Waterford, Ireland's oldest city, in 914. Reginald's Tower was right across the street from the hotel. We had time to take a walk, seeing cathedrals, old ruins, quaint streets and brightly painted row houses. A delicious dinner buffet was served at 7:00pm. A group of Scots from Dundee were in Waterford for a music concert.

Monday, September 24

Beautiful day. Breakfast buffet at 7:00am and on to Waterford Glassworks for a tour. Excellent! Fascinating to watch the various stages of production. We have a much better appreciation for the art of glass making and the price it carries. Not enough time to browse in the gift shop, so many pretty items.

From Waterford we proceeded to Blarney. Saw lots of green fields, cows and hills along the way. The Normans were here and were the first to build castles in Ireland. So great was their defense of shooting arrows, that the Irsih started building and sharing castles. Blarney Castle was built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy. Queen Elizabeth tried to take their land but couldn't negotiate with McCarthy. She stated that he was full of blarney: soft, pleasant talk. She never did get their land. There are more than 100 steps to the top of the keep where the blarney stone is located. Kissing the stone is a long-standing tradition, intended to confer a magical eloquence. Some of the group did indeed kiss the Blarney Stone.

Others chose to have lunch and shop at the Blarney Woolen Mills. There was a large selection of a variety of items. We all contributed to the Irish economy.

We were back on the bus at 2:30pm and off to Killarney. Drove narrow, windy, curvy streets. Saw children getting out of school, so cute in their uniforms. All children in Ireland wear uniforms to school. In some areas, trees were right up to and high over the road. When the European Union was formed in 1987, Ireland received funds to improve their road system. In Macroom we saw the hulk of a medieval castle, with its restored entrance. Cromwell granted the castle to Sir William Penn. His son, who founded Pennsylvania, also lived here for a time. Red and white flag is the color of Cork. Gaelic language is spoken here. Saw huge rock formations all the way into the hills, like a small mountain range and donkeys.

In Killarney, we stayed at the Plaza Killarney. It had a beautiful lobby with stained glass window at top of staircase and lovely rooms. Unpacked for a two-night stay. Walked the colorful, cute main street. It rained a bit off and on. Some had dinner at Laurels, which was recommended by the Ries'. It was very nice with small dining room on one side and bar on the other. After dinner, explored some of the small shops that were still open. At 9:00pm a group gathered at a pub just a couple of doors from the hotel to listen to traditional Irish music. A trio of older guys played guitar, banjo, fiddle and small accordion. Eight of us sat right in front at a small round table on little stools by the fireplace.

More to follow...

How time flies!

The tour members have all returned safely after dealing with airline problems in Chicago. We still haven't heard exactly how many different flights people took to get back to the Twin Cities. Regardless, there were many smiles and fond memories (as well as a few Irish colds/coughs).

In the days ahead, we'll try to get members to offer stories about their experiences. Feel free to comment on this blog as well. We'll also try to post photos from the tour and maybe even a video about sheep herding if we can figure out how (anyone out there that can offer suggestions - contact the webmaster on the parish website or respond to this blog post).

Thanks!

At long last! We just got off the phone with Fr. Greg moments ago! Here are a few observations from our conversation:

• Attendees at the Diocesan Liturgical event at Clonliffe College on Saturday had never heard a bell choir and were very impressed!
• After concelebrating at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, Fr. Greg was approached by members of Wooddale Church (ironically, less than 2 miles from our parish) who commented that they came all that way and they end up hearing a presider with a Midwestern dialect!
• Fr. Greg offered an imitation of tour guide Sheila, mimicking her in full Irish brogue - very entertaining for those who are familiar with his exceptional talent). She commented that ours is the best choir she's ever heard!
• Fr. Greg noticed since his last visit to the Emerald Isle that they've got some new 4-lane roads - things are getting bigger and better. For those who have traveled to Ireland, many of the cars have scratches down the sides from the narrow passageways. By the way, bus driver Sean is very quiet (let's see how long that lasts around Fr. Greg), yet skilled. Fr. Greg commented "he can thread the needle!" 
• People are certainly getting a workout getting the bells in and out of their cases and off/on the bus.
• Thus far, good meals, good places, and everyone's getting along wonderfully.
• On Saturday night, the evening began at a local pub with the performance by a lone guitarist. As the night wore on, more musicians joined in until around 10:00pm there were 4 fiddles, 3 flutes, a guitar and a drummer. 
• Fr. Greg has found time for beauty rest so all is well in keeping the balance.
• As for temps - it's been in the low to mid 60s during the day and high 40s/low 50s in the evening (Jeff's been sweating it out in his heavy apparel).
• They've now entered a really beautiful part of Western Ireland, complete with spectacular views. Many have never been to Killarney - where they'll be for the next two days. 

We've been promised photos from Doug, so stay tuned for more... 

Yesterday, both choirs lead the music at the famous Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin (click on the church name to check out their website). 'Tis also known as the final resting place of St. Valentine. In the Shrine of Our Lady of Dublin they were able to view the wooden figure of a twelfth-century Madonna and Child from Kilcorban County, Galway. Speaking of which, it was their final day in Dublin.

5:15pm Mass just ended here in Edina and we've still not heard from our Celebrate 150 tour group. Ironically, Jeff's wife Lisa was today's cantor and she hasn't heard from Jeff yet - wow, they must really be having fun! Can't wait to share some stories so hopefully choir member Doug (who brought along a laptop) will send us a few in the days ahead!