Going To Killarney Town One Day

So Grandma I'll wait patiently
until I hear you say,
I've grown a bit, let's pack our clothes
for we are on our way.
From "Killarney Town" From Sweet Tomatoes~Poetry For Children

Mission Statement

My Mission Statement

To leave a rich legacy of Poetry~

Memories of love and friendship for my family,

through my writing and time spent with them.

 

 

 

 

Fall In Love With Poetry

Seasons

In each and every one of us

there lives a magic place,

a secret meant to share with all

to wear upon our face.

 

The reason I know of what I write

I’ll tell you since you ask,

it’s in my soul, a part of me

I brought it from the past.

It’s flutes and bagpipes~ Shamrocks too
the forty shades of green,
awakening to the Seagull’s cry

an evening by the sea.

My wings they glimmer as they lift

to depart from a time now gone~

soaring on a virgin path

to live with purpose and song.

Memories From Home ~ In Ireland

One evening while I was in Ireland, Emily and I were on our way over to the church just around the corner from Murphy’s. We were going to attend a recital of sorts put on by the Kerry Girls School of Music, but we stopped for dinner first. 

We were both wanting lamb and as we were walking over to the church we came across The Flesk Restaurant. We went in and was seated near a window where we could watch people hustle by in the pouring rain. On the one wall were beautiful scenes of Killarney’s mountains and lakes, complements of local artist Paul Downey.  

The waitresses were very attentive; fresh bread and water, we ordered a glass of wine and get this, Pinot Noir was one of the house wines. With lamb and mashed potatoes on the menu, how could things get any better?

 Emily noticed on another wall behind us, plates, like license plates that said American Legion on them. They were from different states, AZ. N.J. MA. Etc. When the waitress came back over, I asked her about them.  

 She very enthusiastically told us about Dermot O’Leary, the owner of the restaurant how he had served in Vietnam in the late ‘60’s, and how he wanted to have an “Irish Post” here in Ireland.

 I don’t know if it was the Pinot, the pouring rain out the window or maybe just the American Legion plates, but I had to fight back tears as I thought of my brother Tim who had also served in Vietnam in the late ‘60’s and passed away just two years ago now from Lymphoma.

 I’ve attached a little bit from the internet that I found about Dermot and his restaurant. 

One major event each year, not surprisingly, is St. Patrick’s Day. Legionnaires from across Ireland gather in Killarney and carry the colours through the city, typically winding their way to the Flesk Restaurant, home of Father Francis Duffy American Legion Post IR-02. “The reception we get in Killarney is unbelievable,” Kane says. “American visitors want to get out and walk with us.”

The Flesk is not an ordinary Irish eatery. Its walls are strikingly similar to many U.S.‑based American Legion posts: they are adorned with license plates bearing the names, towns and numbers of other Legion posts around the world. U.S. tourists who happen upon the Flesk are astonished to find The American Legion’s emblem hanging on the wall along with all the license plates.

“They can’t get over it,” says Flesk owner Dermot O’Leary, a Vietnam War veteran and Legionnaire who was drafted into the U.S. Army after he went to New York looking for work in the early 1960s. “It happens all the time. They can’t get over the fact they have found an American Legion post in Ireland.”

 His restaurant is named after the beautiful Flesk River, that can be seen from Muckross Road. I just happened to have taken a picture of it last year when I was walking along Muckross to the Abbey. Now it’s nice to know its name and have some history.
 Dermot O’Leary passed away last year.

More Than a Fascination

Ireland graciously enters your life, leaving you soaking in the poetry of your soul and gently begins an affair with you. It doesn’t ask permission ~ just creeps in with its rhythm; a cadence that sets your spirits soaring.

 There is a secret that lives within the soil and throughout the mountains and something magical that comes from the water that surrounds it. It is more than the stories of fairies and leprechauns; although that is a very big part of it. The charm comes too, from the smell of the rain and the song in the pub and the sound of church bells 15 minutes before mass. 

In response to the question I’ve gotten so many times. 

“What is it about Ireland that you love so much, what is it that makes you want to go back to the same place over and over again?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Killarney To Dublin and Home

Well it wasn’t easy but once again I got myself on that plane Tuesday morning in Dublin. Leaving is always very hard. I sort of do the leaving in layers. I took the train over from Killarney Monday and checked into the Hilton at the Dublin Airport for my last night in Ireland.   

After a late lunch/ early dinner I got comfortable in my room with my journal entries, the computer slide~ show rolling all my pictures and a glass of wine. It was wonderful watching  all the memories I made this trip, the places I went, the friends I saw on this visit and all the new friends I made.  

I packed those last few things and prayed to God the suitcase would close ~ when it did, I was overwhelmed with the excitement of getting home, home to Denny and my wonderful family whose love and support make it possible to have these amazing times in Ireland.

Flutes~Violins and an Inaugural Poet

Tonight I met Richard Blanco in Newcastle West. Eileen invited me to go along and what a wonderful evening it was. Richard was chosen by President Obama to write and read the inaugural poem for his second inauguration in January, 2013. He is currently in Ireland as Writer in Residence for the Limerick City of Culture and visiting writer for Limerick City and County for 2014. The event was held in Desmond Hall.

Also, reading her poetry was Vivienne McKechnie who published her first book of poetry “A Butterfly’s Wing.” The event began and ended with music by two young local musicians Siobahn McMahon and Clare Murphy, violin and flute.

So nice to have been included in such a beautiful event

 

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Zumba~ Killarney Style

I went to the Zumba class just down the road this morning. It was great to see the girls I had met there last year. Natalie is great at what she does. She lives just outside Dingle and holds Zumba in Dingle and Killarney. She had us shakin to "Stayin Alive" and songs from "Footloose." I’m glad I found her and able to take part while I’m here.  

 

 

Innisfallen Island

It was hard saying good bye to Lyle and family as they drove off to Kinsale, Cobh and Tipperary working their way back to Dublin to fly out, but so glad to get to see them not only in Dublin but Killarney as well.  

Emily and I made a couple of ham and cheese sandwiches and went over to Ross Castle to catch the boat to Innisfallen Island. We have been told this was definitely a site to see. It’s a short 15 minute ride on the beautiful Lough Leane Lake, the largest of the three Killarney Lakes. As you can see the ride over was beautiful. Our captain was Charlie and he had some great stories to tell us on the way over. The Innisfallen Island was beautiful with its old monastery from the 7^th century. The weather was wonderful., warm and dry

 Innisfallen Island~ and the view was well worth it even in that small boat.