Blessed Ireland

 

“Blessed Ireland performing at Malzard’s Pub in Stoneyford, June 25, 2022.”

I saw the announcement on Facebook in late 2021, just a couple of months after Bill and I had last visited Malzard’s Pub for our third time.

Malzard’s, about an hour or so from Dublin, had become the spot where we would enjoy our first Guinness after landing in Ireland.

Another trip in less than a year seemed a little crazy, but how many times do we turn 75?

I read the announcement to Bill and said, “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do on my 75^th birthday than to be sitting at Malzard’s listening to Irish music.”

And, so the plans began.  The scenario would also have to include Willie, Debbie and Annie. So, we brought up the idea around Christmas time, and the kids agreed to set aside the dates.

So, planning began.  We would stay at many of the same places Bill and I had grown to love:  Lawcus Farm Guesthouse near Kilkenny, Rose Garden B and B in Kenmare, Sharamore House in Clifden and Seaview Tavern B and B at Malin Head.

We booked airline tickets through Aer Lingus.  Plans fell into place beautifully.  We were set.

Then, the day before St. Patrick’s Day we received word that our Aer Lingus flights had been cancelled.  The available options for other flights were nothing short of draconian in hours of flying and prices.

So, we remained in limbo for a while. Eventually, we secured flights through Iceland Air and made the decision to spend a couple of days in Iceland on the way back home.  The kids had been there last year and wanted us to enjoy a similar experience to theirs.

Other obstacles kept clouding the vision, but, happily all were overcome and even more happily, we landed in Ireland earlier this week and all came together yesterday.  Annie had traveled to Europe on her own because she had been on a geocaching-related trip to The Netherlands last week.

We have spent some treasured time together as a family here in Kildare, visiting the Irish National Stud, strolling through the downtown square in Kildare and meeting John, the verger at St.Brigid’s Cathedral, having a wonderful dinner at Silken Thomas where Beata has made us feel so special.

 And so, today, on my 75^th birthday, the vision hatched from last winter will come true.

Fred Malzard says to dress for bad weather at tonight’s concert, and, happily, we know the weather patterns here, so we came prepared.

This morning, at 75, I feel a lot younger than I did yesterday on my last day of being 74.  We slept very well last night after two nights of minimal rest. 

This morning, at 75, I also feel so grateful for what I consider two of the most important aspects of living on this Earth:  good health and a wonderful family.  Both are appreciated more than ever at this milestone of my existence.

We will celebrate and enjoy today’s adventures and tonight’s concert and all the time we have together in this beautiful country we have all grown to love.

In short, life is good. Happy to have reached this significant golden age and looking forward to more milestones with those two essential ingredients:  good health and wonderful family. 

On to Stoneyford and Malzard’s Pub and Blessed Ireland!

Note:  the photos are a mixed bag with no real organization, which takes more time than what we have while traveling.  So enjoy the disorganization and the scenes of beautiful Ireland. Also, I want to apologize to my new friend, John, the verger, for the less than desirable light in the photo.