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.