To start the month right, we attended the 60th birthday party of our friend, Richie, who lives in Dunfanaghy. He has a wide circle of friends, most of them "blow-ins" and many of them artists and musicians. Some were from Sweden, England, Holland or wherever. All the blues, folk and traditional music, along with the interesting conversation, made it a memorable and entertaining evening. Not to mention the variety of dishes and birthday cakes that were brought to feed the multitude!
The next day, Sunday, we went to Teach Ruari's in Gortahork for an afternoon session. It also happened to be Mothers Day in Ireland, as their date does not coincide with the American one. Therefore, there were dozens of families celebrating the occasion in the dining area of the pub. We had a lovely session with some musicians that we had met before, and some who were new to us, including some young children on this occasion. But the high point was the arrival of two girls from Prince Edward Island who were friends with the local fiddler, Nina, a girl from France.
Session at Teac Ruairi's
Nina (on left) at Teac Ruairi's
The PEI girls are sisters (twins, although not identical), and they sing and play with a group that is touring Europe. Emmanuelle and Pastel brought the house down with their singing of French mouth music, accompanied by their rhythmic foot tapping (more like dancing) while seated. The next night, being Monday, they appeared at Huidi Beag's and really livened up that session. The music was mighty, and the PEI gals sang more songs, danced several dances, and one of them played the keyboard (the other plays accordion, but didn't bring hers, and there wasn't one available that night). The following day, they rearranged their schedule so that they could be recorded by the local Irish-speaking radio station to be broadcast later that day.
Friends that we had met in Dunlewey many months ago were also present that night at Hudi Beag's. Declan and Brenda live in Dublin, but they have a retirement home in Donegal that they are looking forward to moving into some day. Declan is a musician and occasionally does gigs with his friends in Dublin. He liked some of the songs I sang at his house a few months ago, so when they came to visit a few days later, he brought a tape recorder and I did the songs again so that he could learn them. I expect all of Ireland to be Waltzing with Bears soon! Brenda and I had a lovely chat over the quilts, and she went home with two little wall hangings.
Quilting classes ended on March 6, and I was busy packing all the time at home. I had booked tickets to visit my daughter, Leah, in Greece before leaving Ireland, and had arranged to meet my friends in Meath one last time before going to the airport. I was hoping to get a bus directly to Dunshaughlin to avoid having to go in to Dublin first, but when I asked the bus company about that possibility, I was told, "Well, now, you're going to an awkward place." So it was in to Dublin, and back out to Dunshaughlin on Thursday.
Harriet, Greta, Jennie, May, Attracta & Lisa
My friend Leo had prepared an exquisite dinner with innumerable gustatory treats for all of our friends and their children. As Ollie said, we were "spoiled for choice," i.e., there were so many good things to eat that you wouldn't know what to take first. It was, without a doubt, the high point of my culinary experience in Ireland. As I'm sure you'll agree, old friends are very special, and this gathering will remain one of the best memories of my stay in Ireland. What a treat to see them all together, and to ask them to put their last 25 years into a nutshell! Amongst the guests were Ollie and Imelda, and their children, Fern and Josh; Denis and Niamh, and their three children; Paddy and Ina; and John and Rita (minus their children, who are a bit older than the others). The wine was flowing (i.e., Ina kept pouring and I kept drinking) and the crack was 90, and I think the party finally broke up about 2:30 am.
Leo, Lisa & Niamh
Imelda & Lisa
Lisa & Denis
Josh, Lisa & Paddy
The following day, after consuming some very tasty leftovers for breakfast (you can't beat chicken roulades to start your day), we paid a last visit to Paddy and Ina (the last place I stayed before leaving Ireland 25 years ago). We had another chat over coffee and apple pie (Ina is an expert in the pie department); then Leo took me back to Dublin and Bewley's Hotel in preparation for the trip to Greece.
