ArdEaglais Bríde, Cill Dara

Eddie and Marese came to pick me up to go out to Kildare for a visit with my newest nephew, Adam (Oct 22, 2013).

First we had to have tea and cake at Timmy and Helen's.  Then we drove out to Mary's in Rathcoole for more tea and cake. Finally, we reached Kildare about 3 in the afternoon (and had more tea and cake).

It was a nice visit with Mary and Éamonn in Rathcoole.  While we were there, John and Michael dropped by.

Playlist:  Gabhaim Molta Bríde, Aoife Ní Fhearraigh

MÓRSHIÚL NA CÁSCA

A fine day for a parade.

I took the LUAS into the city centre to see the official Easter parade but when I got there it was all over.

I went for a pint at Briody's to get my bearings.  Then I went up to Parnell Square where the Sinn Féin parade was starting from.  I was still too early so I had a coffee and a scone at a little cafe on the corner.

At about 2:30 I wandered back to the Garden of Remembrance for the beginning of the parade.  I tried to get a selfie with Gerry Adams but there were mobs of people around him getting their pictures took.

We marched down Parnell Square to Parnell Street, then up Summerhill and Seán MacDermott Street, and around by Cathal Brugha Street back into O'Connell Street where a platform was set up in front of the GPO.

Playlist:  Roddy McCorley, Tommy Makem

OLDE WORLDE CHURCH CAFE

 Priory Café at the Carmalite Church

I walked into town from Walkinstown, a journey of about 10km.  It takes me about an hour.  I go through all the old neighbourhoods: Crumlin Village, 363, Dolphin's Barn, The Coombe, Patrick Street, Christ Church and into Dame Street.  I follow the old route of the 150 bus.

After my walk I was ready for lunch.  I went up to Bewely's in Grafton Street (the only original cafe left, though changed quite a bit from what I remembered).  It was crowded and I would have had to wait for a booth, so I decided to go back to Clarendon Street to the little church café tucked away in the courtyard behind the church.

I really like this place.  Homey, quiet, dignified are the adjectives that come to mind.  I had the vegetable soup and a salad of greens, bellpeppers, and carroty coleslaw. I stayed for about an hour and went back out into the bustle of Holy Saturday Dublin feeling refreshed and recharged.

(Note to alcohol licensing authority:  If you close the pubs on Good Friday people will drink twice as much on Holy Saturday).

Playlist:  Streets of London, Ralph Tell

RUAIDHRÍ JACK

Ruaidhrí Jack is talking now. A lot.

He has grown quite a bit and has lost all the baby fat from last year.

I think he is going to be tall like Brad and Aimée.

He is hoping his sibling will be a girl.  He has already picked a name for her:  Peppa Pig.

ARRIVÉ

The flights weren't too bad.  I had a stopover in Philadelphia for about an hour; just enough time to walk about the airport.  It was already dark there and pouring down rain so I didn't get to see very much.
The people sitting beside me were very chatty in the last hour before touchdown in Philly.  I heard their whole history but I wasn't included in the conversation.  He had half-sisters and half-brothers that he was only now finding out about.  She had half-siblings too but her life wasn't as traumatic.  He was 37 and had nursed his dying mother in the past two years.  She didn't reveal her age but was disappointed that he didn't want to have children (with her?).  As we waited on the tarmac for disembarkation, he showed his tattoos.  Despite prodding from me, she declined to show hers.  Ahhh, the lives of straight people.

Dublin was resplendent when I arrived.  The flight from Philadelphia was only 5 hours.  I only had to deal with one seat mate, a woman from Miami who lives in Kerry.  She slept most of the way across though she did ask me to poke the snoring Hindu lady behind us at one point (Let sleeping Hindus lie is my attitude, but she did persuade the flight attendant to do her bidding).

We were a little early getting into Dublin.  I breezed through Passport Control, passed the long line of Americans waiting to get a leprechaun stamp in their passport.

Timmy came and picked me up, though I had to wait for about an hour.  Helen called me to let me know that he was on his way, but I couldn't call her back even though I had credits on my phone.  Baahhh, Meteor (It might be time to change my phone carrier).

I felt pretty okey when I arrived at the house.  I tried to stay up as long as I could but I started falling out around midday.  I went up to my little nest and slept for eight hours.

BON VOYAGE

Here we are out front of the house getting ready to go to the airport.

It seems a bit strange to be going by myself.

I know I've done tat in the past but it has been a long time.  At least Rich and Mercedes will be coming later in the Summer.  I am looking forward to being in the village by myself.  There are people I want to get to know better.