Category Archives: Ireland

12 hours – 8/21/2012

This valley of Glendalough in Ireland has been for centuries, is now, and will be long and long into the future, a “thin place.”  Here in this valley the “past and the future are present,” says Mary Meighan.  It is a “thin place” for those from history and for those of us here right now.Continue reading “12 hours – 8/21/2012”

The Ireland pilgrimage is now on retreat with Mary Meighan

We are here in beautiful Glendalough.  No Wifi in our cottage – so contact with you over the next many days will be limited . . . but with ourselves, each other, Mary, and this remarakable place on earth and its residents . . . oh, for us the contact will be enhanced. Having dinnerContinue reading “The Ireland pilgrimage is now on retreat with Mary Meighan”

Glendalough

We leave Dublin this morning by way of St. Kevin’s bus: We’ll be at this cottage owned by Liam and Zell Conway until 8/29/2012.  Not sure how the wifi will be there, but will post as/when it is possible. We begin our eight days of retreat with Mary Meighan today at 2:00. Bye, bye DublinContinue reading “Glendalough”

Sunday faces from Dublin, August 19, 2012

We went to church today at St. Augustine & St. John Catholic Church in Dublin . . . well, actually we got there for the consecration and the eucharist . . . missed the sermon (go figure) . . . ’cause . . . well . . .  I thought (from my internet research) thatContinue reading “Sunday faces from Dublin, August 19, 2012”

“Ah, but there are things and things . . .”

The words for the title to this post are from the book Twenty Years A-Growing, and are spoken by Maurice to his grandfather, after Maurice was asked if he believed in something he had not seen while on the mainland for a day of fun away from the Great Blasket Island.  The grandfather says, “No doubt itContinue reading ““Ah, but there are things and things . . .””

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Yesterday, we went to a few old churches in Dublin.  Among them was St. Patrick’s.         Somehow it seemed right, here in the homeland of my heritage, to light a candle in honor of those from my family who have died:  Tom, Eileen, Kathleen, Nancy and brother-in-law Tom.  I miss them.  TheContinue reading “St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin”

Five encounters

Dublin is urban. There are lots of people. Here are five we’ve encountered, among many more. This guy was playing for change with his buddy the harmonica/guitar player.  Have tried (unsuccessfully) a variety of ways to put a minute and and half video of him playing on the web page for you.  Instead, these twoContinue reading “Five encounters”

Three quotes to begin your day

Joseph Campbell: “The agony of breaking through personal limitations is the agony of spiritual growth.”   Christopher Robin to Pooh: “You are braver than you believe, you are stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”   T.S. Eliot “Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they canContinue reading “Three quotes to begin your day”