At the beginning of the month we were blessed to make our second pilgrimage to Ireland. For ten fun days we explored historic sites, ate good food, and enjoyed numerous pubs and live music. The scenery on the Emerald Isle is breathtaking. At the same time the tragic history of religious persecution, land theft, and forced starvation imposed upon the Irish people is never far from mind.
I had brought along a few cigars to hopefully smoke on the trip. Unfortunately, smoking is banned indoors in Ireland, even at the cigar shops. For a few days we enjoyed the beautiful and serene setting of the Cahernane Manor House Hotel, in Killarney. The grounds of the manor house offered a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a smoke after a long day of touring, and before an evening of music at a local pub.
This Fratello Bianco Boxer was enjoyed while I watched the sun set behind the distant mountains.
The view was made even more interesting by the sounds and antics of an angry bull chasing the native elk out of his pasture, as well as the bleating of sheep in another pasture.
Over the coming weeks, I'll share more tales of the places and people, as well as the beer and Irish whiskey that we enjoyed during the trip.
'Tis a beautiful land, that blessed isle. Thank you for sharing the pics of my ancestral home; I've never been there.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul. It really is a beautiful place filled with proud, life-loving people. I could go back. In two trips I've only seen road signs for the town from whence my family name comes, never got there. Guess I need to go back. :-)
DeleteCheers!
In terms of tragic history, we read a lot here about the reported declien in Faith over the last decade (keeping in mind that news reports are frequently not really accurate).
ReplyDeleteThere is no Ireland without Catholicism, just as there really isn't a Quebec without the Church either. Things have definitely declined (in ever sense) in Quebec since the Quiet Revolution. Will you be publishing your observations on this in regard to Ireland?
I can't add much except to say I agree. Loss of faith is detrimental to any society. We were on a religious pilgrimage so most of our days were spent at religious sites and with people who were strong Catholics. One third of the population of Ireland in under 25 years old. It's noticeable everywhere you go. Walking the streets of Dublin was like walking on a college campus. The effect of that demographic on the loss of Catholicism could certainly be debated.
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