The Journey Begins

I am about to embark on the trip of a life time.  I am going to Ireland.  My parents and paternal grandparents have made this journey before me.  Now, it is my turn to visit our ancestral home.

This blog will be dedicated to this sojourn to the place of my beginnings.  You will get to see what I see and hear what I think along the way.  In a way, you will get to travel with me.

The name of this blog is “Ar Siul le Shillelagh” or in English; “Walking with a Shillelagh”

Walking; because that is what I do.  I walk, or hike whenever possible.  Walking is what you do in Ireland. To see, to hear, to smell, to taste, to experience Ireland, one must walk.

Some of you are thinking, “Yea, walking, I get it.  But what in the world is a “shillelagh”?  I doubt there isn’t a man or woman of Irish descent that hasn’t heard the word.  Wikipedia tells us:

“A shillelagh (pron.: shi-lay-lee; Irish: sail éille [ˈsalʲ ˈeːl̠ʲə], a cudgel with a strap) is a wooden walking stick and club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty stick with a large knob at the top, that is associated with Ireland and Irish folklore.”

So I will be exploring Ireland with my trusty walking stick (which will be purchased upon arrival).   

This trip has been 10 years in the making.  Originally, my wife and I were going on the occasion of our 25^th wedding anniversary.  Circumstances did not allow for such a trip.  So, we set our sights for 2013, the advent of our 35^th wedding anniversary.  Come to find out, 2013 is the year of the Gathering.  Imagine an entire country setting aside a whole year for my visit.  I am flattered.

Some real quick thanks are in order.

First of all, the Google+ community +Ireland  , they have become like a second home for all things Ireland.  If you want to know or go to Ireland, go to this community first.  It’s just like being there.

+Eileen O'Duffy  for her invaluable help, willingness to get us prepared and encouragement to come

+Neil Jackman  and +Abarta Audioguides for their epic and historic contributions to our trip (literally)

+The Gathering Ireland  for making the information available on all the activities in the country

+Phil Kingsley  for giving us some excellent tips on sites and places

Judy Malloy and Nicholas Downs for info on places to see and books to read.  (Doolin, here we come.)

Mandi & Matt Kurtz  for taking care of Noah for 3 weeks, no easy feat to be sure

Last, but certainly not least, my wife Dodi.  That’s right Dodi McGlynn; kind of sounds like a great name for a leprechaun.  Her attention to detail, her administration skills makes it possible for us to even leave our home, let along go to a foreign country.  But more than that, her willingness to go on an adventure with me makes this trip complete before we have even left.  The hours of planning at Panera Bread, dreaming around the dining room table and reading endless books were a joy all to themselves because we did it together.   After 35 years, she needs a medal or sainthood for enduring the endless adventure of our lives together.  Maybe, she will just have to settle for a jewel as a token of my love and gratitude. 

My dear, I give to you an emerald, the Emerald Isle.