GLENDALOUGH

On my last full day in Ireland, Marion R. 
came and picked me up to take me out
for the day to Glendalough, an early
Christian monastic settlement.  It was
founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century.

This hermit priest founded the monastery, and
then retired up into the hills.  I was told a story
about a woman named Kathleen finding her 
way up to St. Kevin, intent on seduction, but he 
didn't like people much, and really didn't like
women, so he beat her with nettles and pushed
her off the path where she fell into the lake
and drowned.  Saintly.

The round tower made me think immediately of
the tower in the Psyche and Eros story.

This round
tower is about
30 metres 
high, and 
was built 
as a store-
house, but
also as a
refuge in 
times of 
attack.
The walls are
very, very 
thick, and
the whole
feeling of 
the thing is 
of something utterly impregnable, with 
a strange, solid beauty.

Marion and I wandered through the ruins,
touching this ancient rock, and marvelling
at the feeling of time and loving the deep 
quiet that is here.  There is a feeling of
sanctuary, as you cross the threshold into
the monastic space.  In those ancient
times, as soon as anyone went through 
the arches that mark the entrance, they 
were safe (except for Kathleen).  The 
old stone walls and the open doorways 
are evocative, and made me wonder 
who were these men and women who 
sought refuge here, and what was it like 
as they built up a small city - apparently 
the monastery included workshops, 
guest houses, an infirmary, farm 
buildings, and a large lay population.

A gravestone from 1780 - relatively recent!

We left the grounds of the cathedral and 
the tower, and walked to the Upper 
Lake, taking the path that went through
the marsh and passed Lower Lake.
We passed some beautiful wooded
areas, with very very old trees.

It was a really special day, Marion.  It still
resonates through me, as I look again at
the pictures.  Thank you so much for sharing
it with me!

We thought this was an ancient burial mound, and
could feel a powerful energy here.

Photo of the area, taken before we got to the site.

CATCHING UP

It feels like so along ago already, but it was 
only last week that I had a couple of good
visits - though too short - with two Irish
women, while still in Dublin.  Sarah came 
over to where I was staying, with her little 
son Luke, who sat happily on my lap in the 
kitchen while his Mum grabbed a bite to 
eat.  Our visit was way too short, because 
I had made plans to meet Abigail in town,
and Sarah had been held up in her arrival.
Abigail and I met in a very cool little
restaurant, and I had a late lunch while we
visited.  These are women who I know
from our workshops, and we don't really
get time to visit properly while at 
Dunderry.  It was so good to spend time
together.

It was while I was on my way home 
from being with Abigail that I ran
into a very small demonstration, 
protesting the deaths by Israeli 
attacks on Palestine.

I was stopped in my tracks when 
the people involved began to lie 
down on the street, some of them
wearing t-shirts splattered with 
red paint, holding signs with the
names of people who had been 
killed.  Then one of the women
sat and read the names and ages 
of the people who had died, just
in the last two days.  I was
riveted by hearing names and
ages, which somehow made the
whole thing much more personal.
Especially hearing the children's
names.  And seeing two kids,
lying with their eyes closed, very
still - it was hard to stay, but I
felt I had to.

JUST A BUNCH OF PHOTOS

Can't remember what these are called, but they grow wild everywhere.

I went for a gorgeous walk while in West Cork.

Another image of Drombeg

I liked this old empty building.

On my walk….

Yup, this one too….

OOPS

I didn't mean to highlight those last posts
with a white background.  Julia, I wish you
were here to help me with this!!
Oh well, I think it's just family and friends
who are reading this, so I know you won't 
mind.  I mostly just want to get the images
and the thoughts out there to you, and I
don't like the fiddling with text colour and
all that.
Here are two more pictures, of one of the
rooms where I'm staying, and of the lilies
which greeted me when I arrived.

DUBLIN

I have taken so many pictures, and still have several
from Cork that I would like to post, but also want to
write about today.  I am in Dublin, staying in a 
sweet little house/flat belonging to a friend.  She is
away, as of this morning, and I am loving having
space to myself.  Since leaving Montreal nearly
3 weeks ago, I don't think there has been a single
day on my own!  It has been wonderful, and 
stimulating, and lots of fun….and today, alone,
has been GREAT!

This is the
street where
I am staying.
Little front
gardens, and
fairly quiet,
considering
I'm in the
middle of 
the city.







Today I went into city centre, taking the LUAS,
which is the tram.  It took me a few tries to get
the ticket out of the machine, not noticing that
the credit card icon had a big X on it, telling me
that it was pointless to keep shoving my credit
card into the slot as I was doing.  I felt a little
foolish, with a great line gathering behind me.
But now I know how to do it!
The stops on all the trains and trams are 
announced in Gaelic (Irish) as well as in 
English.  Street signs are written in Irish as
well as English, as are motorway signs.  The 
kids take Irish in school, the same way that in
Canada we all take french.  

Here is a
sign with
a familiar
icon, but
unpro-
nouncable
words!
Unless 
you're 
Irish.

On one of the main downtown streets, I saw
this statue which I suddenly realized was
alive!  Here's the image:

As I was walking by, I saw one of the men move his
head a little, which was when I realized they were
alive, and holding these positions in the boiling hot
sun!  The dog was not real!

The first thing I saw when I got off the tram was
this church, and when I got closer I realized it is
the Unitarian Church of Dublin. 

It is much fancier than
the Unitarian churches 
I am familiar with.  
Debra, how would you 
like to be the Minister 
here?



I thought this sign which was
posted outside might 
be interesting to the 
Unitarians who might 
be reading this blog:

The houses and shopfronts are very Irish, and

I am sharing a few photos I took today of 

various buildings.  People wondered what I

was taking pictures of, so I tried to look

very important, as though I was a real estate

person…but I think my running shoes and

tank top gave me away.

Just around the corner from where I am staying

I pass this little row of shops on my way to City Centre

I like these houses because of the doors and the flowers.

        

MORE CORK

I drove to Cork with Marian, straight from our 

weeklong intensive in Dunderry.  I was welcomed 

by Jean and Eoin, with a gorgeous and typical 

Irish hospitality.  I spent a few days with them, 

and it was Jean who took me over 

to the Drombeg, the stone circle.  

We also stopped by the water and walked in the sunshine. 

The weather has been beautiful all week, with warm

temperatures and sunny skies. 

We had coffee and sat watching the boats.  There is a sailing 
school, and there were children all over the place, excited to
be going on the water.

IN CORK, IRELAND

The Drombeg stone circle at Glandore in County Cork…it was extraordinary to stand here, to lean on these stones which have been standing since 1100 B.C.  They are aligned with the setting of the sun at the mid-winter solstice, and close by is the fulacht 

fiadh, or cooking pit.

These cooking pits are thought to have been built close to 

water sources, with a hearth where stones were heated and 

placed in the water.  The heated water may have been used 

for cooking, for bathing, or for dying cloths.  

Sitting with my back to the stone, in the sunshine and with 

eyes closed, I was somehow able to feel the thousands of 

years of humanity that this land has known, with birth and 

death and ritual and feasting.  I imagined the gorgeous 

green hills covered with trees, and the people of that time 

gathered here in celebration.

THE PLACE OF ARRIVAL

                     
This is the cottage that welcomes me when I arrive
in Ireland.  See the thatched roof?  The walls are
made of stone, very thick, and the inside is small
and very cozy.  It is Marian's cottage, and my 
first time here was in 2008, when Celia flew to
Ireland to join me after I had taught a workshop
with Marian and Olivia.  Celia and I drove to the
West, to the Burren, and we stayed here for several
days together.  It is in Galway, but very close to 
County Clare, where my great grandmother and
great grandfather were from.  I love arriving here,
and being welcomed by the old and sturdy feel
of the place.  It could be the sort of home that
Sarah Green and James Downs had themselves,
three generations back on my Dad's side. I feel
so welcomed here, by the place itself, and by
Marian who always has the place ready.  After
flying all night - either from Vancouver, or this
most recent trip from Montreal - to arrive to this
quiet and familiar little place, and to snuggle in
to one of the big beds for a sleep, then to wake 
for a cup of tea and a catch up with Marian is 
a ritual and a treasure.

IRELAND, DAY AFTER ARRIVAL

Marion and Sue, The Burren

The Burren

Wildflowers, The Burren

By the Flaggy Shore

Evening walk

Looking across the water...

More Montreal

We biked
up to Jean
Talon 
Market and 
wandered 
among the
gorgeous 
fresh fruits
and vege-
tables, the
bright 
flowers, 
and we 
bought the 
things that appealed to us and we put rich and beautiful creams on our skin and we laughed 
and I had such a sweet time with Celia and Casey and Celeste.  We went back to 
"my" place and had tea and ate fruit and chocolate.  There are so many bicyclists in 
Montreal!  It was great to have the use of Linda's bike while she was away.

This is the 
view from 
the front 
balcony of 
Linda's place 
where I stayed 
through June, 





on Esplanade Street in the Mile End.
It was the perfect location for my Montreal experience, close to my sister and my 
daughter, and in the same neighbourhood where I lived so many years ago.  It 
got very hot toward the end of my month, and although I was sorry to leave this 
wonderful city, and although it was desperately hard to leave my daughter and 
my sister, as well as my brother and sister-in-law, and nieces and nephews, I was 
relieved at the thought of heading toward a cooler July in Ireland.

Celia and I went over to Adrian and Cassie's place one night close to the end of my 
stay.  Joel also showed up - I was so happy to see my two gorgeous nephews again.

SISTERS

My sisters: Cathy and Kathi.

Cathy has been my sister my whole life.

Kathi has been my sister since I was 14, and

she married my brother.

Many memories and shared history, and a 

deep love among the three of us.  

Here we are outside Vanier College in 

Montreal.  I am proud of you both, and am 

glad that we had this evening together, 

sharing a delicious Thai meal, with a chance

to relax together.