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Thursday, August 17, 2023

Ireland Day 11- August 17, 2023 Walkaround Dublin



Daniel O ‘Connell statue on O’Connell Street 

River Liffey

Trinity College 

 


Grafton Street

Grafton Street 


Brown bread and a Guinness on last evening!






Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Ireland-Day10- August 15, 2023 -Visit with Ana Bermingham- Doran

 

Transformative salad is delicious, healthy and filling

Ana with her 2 sons 

 Ana and I had a wonderful visit. We caught up on the happenings in our lives.
We went to the Bay Tree for  a late lunch. I really enjoyed the fabulous “transformative “ salad with goat cheese - one of the most delicious and filling  lunches I ever had. It had fresh veggies , nuts, and cranberry raisins. I was so full that I only had about 4 sips of my Guinness - now  that is a first for me!


Ireland- Day 10-August 15, 2023


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Oksana Rohovska- a Ukrainian artist living in Portlaoise since the invasion of her country in February 2022 decorated the Church in honor of Mary for the feast of the Assumption.

Quote from Catholic Women Preach:
Sister Chioma Ahanihu


…”The feast we celebrate today of the Assumption of The feast we celebrate today of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother reminds us also of her victory as a mother who carried her baby through pregnancy, gave birth, and raised her child successfully. We remember that our blessed mother after giving birth, she and Joseph had to flee to Egypt for safety of the Child Jesus. In today’s world, thiscouple with their child would be seen as immigrants fleeing from violence and the cruel abuse of their leader, seeking a place to settle and raise their child. Astheir country of origin became unbearable, they had no hope of survival, so they fled. And I think of all immigrants fleeing from hardships both economic and political especially those releasing their little children to travelunaccompanied across the border. Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, has always been a symbol of hope and a companion for all who are marginalized. From her own family experience of living in another country as a stranger or immigrant, people believe that she works for the unity of the people of God in search of understanding, compassion, peace and human dignity for immigrants who are being kept in the margins of our society. In fact, among all women who ever lived, Mary is singled out as the one who has the most enduring power in the Christian imagination. And so, she alone can bring immigrants and the inhabitants who fear strangers together through her Son Jesus Christ.

May today’s feast remind us of our own Yes to God’s call as consecrated people of God in our different spheres of life. May we be the voice for the voiceless and the less privileged in our society.  our Blessed Mother reminds us also of her victory as a mother who carried her baby through pregnancy, gave birth, and raised her child successfully. We remember that our blessed mother after giving birth, she and Joseph had to flee to Egypt for safety of the Child Jesus. In today’s world, thiscouple with their child would be seen as immigrants fleeing from violence and the cruel abuse of their leader, seeking a place to settle and raise their child. Astheir country of origin became unbearable, they had no hope of survival, so they fled. And I think of all immigrants fleeing from hardships both economic and political especially those releasing their little children to travelunaccompanied across the border. Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, has always been a symbol of hope and a companion for all who are marginalized. From her own family experience of living in another country as a stranger or immigrant, people believe that she works for the unity of the people of God in search of understanding, compassion, peace and human dignity for immigrants who are being kept in the margins of our society. In fact, among all women who ever lived, Mary is singled out as the one who has the most enduring power in the Christian imagination. And so, she alone can bring immigrants and the inhabitants who fear strangers together through her Son Jesus Christ.

May today’s feast remind us of our own Yes to God’s call as consecrated people of God in our different spheres of life. May we be the voice for the voiceless and the less privileged in our society. “




Monday, August 14, 2023

Ireland -Day 9 , August 14, 2023, Visit with Cousins John, his daughter Clare and her baby- Logan

Today John and Clare with baby Logan joined me for breakfast at Bay Tree.  We had a wonderful visit- sharing many happy memories together! John and I are both stage 4 cancer survivors. Clare is a supporter of the ordination of women in the Church. 

With Cousins: John, Clare and Logan 








Sunday, August 13, 2023

Ireland- Day 8- August 13, 2023, Part 2- Visit with Elaine and John Duff with their children Keeva and Cian

John, Cian, Keeva, Elaine

Keeva 

With Cousin John

 Video with Keeva serving Mass today! What a blessing this day of being with family has been!😇


Ireland- Day 8- August 13- Visit with Family - Part 1

 With my cousins Noreen and Ger today on fabulous drive to Ballyroan,  Aughmacart, Coolkerry and Rathdowney area in County Laois. Every time our family returned to Ireland on holidays we visited the cemeteries where my Grandparents were buried. shared stories and precious memories about their lives and the legacy they left us. We’d pray at each gravesite and connect with them in this “thin place where earth and heaven embrace in the love we shared and continue to experience in their presence always with us.

The Cribben, Ballyroan Meehan ancestral cottage

View from cottage in Ballyroan

With Ger - enjoying my favorite soft ice cream 

Gravesite of Grandparents Jack Meehan and Katie Doyle Meehan and Uncle Paddy Meehan

Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Molly Meehan gravesite 


 

Augnacart where my Grandmother Bridget Neary Beale was buried


Grandmother Bridget Neary Beale was buried here.



When we stopped at bridge over Erkina River , the only person I knew from childhood drove up- Paddy Delaney. And the in-laws of Ger and Noreen - Bridget and Eugene.
It was one of serendipitous- grace-filled surprises we did not plan or even know where each of us would be. 

Coolkerry-Carroll’s field looks exactly as it did when I was a child.

Eugene and Bridget, Noreen and Ger

Noreen and Bridget 

Coolkerry

River Erkina

Coolkerry cottage- my first home



Grandfather Pat Beale


Grogan Chapel-where my parents were married 


Gravesite of Martin Meehan, Aunt Peg and Uncle Jack


Rathdowney 

Shrine to Blessed Mother on site of old Chapel 

Green building- site where Royal Bank was- place Dad worked as a porter

At Abbeyleix Hotel with Noreen and Ger