Have you ever gone about your business, your daily life, thinking all is well and you’re doing just fine? No worries, none major that is, and your to-do list is manageable and you’re even ticking off some “done” items. The sky is blue, the sun is shining and there’s a pervasive (uh oh, insert organ music) sense of all’s right with the world. Last Friday, that was my attitude, I felt positively chipper and took a few minutes to read some blogs. One was a post about St. Patrick’s Day and the writer even had a photo of herself, green streaks in her hair, table dressed beautifully and I thought, “But isn’t St. Paddy’s Day the 17th? Isn’t today the 15th?” And, the more I thought, the more I thought myself wrong. That’s right…I managed to convince myself my rightness was wrong and so I posted St. Patrick’s Breastplate a full three days ahead of schedule!
Yes, my name is Sandra and I’m an eejit! But I can forgive myself whilst looking at my photos taken during my Irish holiday last year. Later, I’ll do a travelogue but for now, will show a few photos taken in Ireland. While at Cliffs of Moher, I walked from Hags Head, the southern point to the northern tourism center, some 5 kilometers. The footpath went along the cliffs and, with a very strong wind, was invigorating, exciting and, sometimes, caused the heart to beat rapidly as cliffs edge was a few, very few, feet away and more than 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean!
If you’ve never heard of, nor read, St. Patrick’s Breastplate, please go here. First you’ll read the poem, then you can hear a choir sing the heavenly music and you can read a bit about the history of the piece. I don’t even mind if you have a Irish brew while you do it.
If I’d planned better, I would be watching an Irish film tonight. Some of my favorites are The Quiet Man – but anything that has the wonderful Duke and marvelous Maureen O’Hara (who’ll be 94 in August) has to be excellent. Here, she speaks of her favorite leading man and here, the portrait mentioned in the video. The Maureen O’Hara Magazine, here, is raising money for the restoration of the Quiet Man cottage.
Other favorite films include The Secret of Roan Inish which is visually lush and hauntingly beautiful; but, how can it be otherwise, having been filmed on the west coast of Ireland in Donegal?
Two that I’ve not seen, but think I want to, is The Wind That Shakes the Barley and The Secret of Kells.
A definite want to see is Circle of Friends, a film adaption by Irish novelist Maeve Binchy. I also want to see The Lilac Bus and Tara Road, both written by Mrs. Binchy and made into films. My list includes The Field, The Last September and Waking Ned Devine.
Mrs. Binchy is one of my absolute favorite story tellers and she weaves…the perfect word!… her stories from book to book, trailing characters along like seemingly random thoughts. I think she would have been a wonderful friend. She was frequent in her praise of her husband, kind toward her readers and her last book, A Week in Winter, was set on the west coast of Ireland and finished only days before she died in July 2012. Gordon Snell, a writer in his own rights, thought the book should be published anyway and presented to her readers. God bless him for that gift, I finished it tonight. Read here for a lovely tribute.
She said, “I’d like people to think I was a good friend and a reasonable story-teller and to know that thanks to all the great people, family and friends that I met, I was very, very happy when I was here.” She certainly made me very happy; I could get lost, and have done, in one of her books to the exclusion of everything else, save feeding the animals. I always felt I was reading about people I know, that I’d met and am always pleasantly sad to finish one of her books.
I traveled in both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and out of a possible 32 counties, I visited 20 or 21 which isn’t bad for two weeks travel time. While in Belfast, I stayed with blogger friend Mags, and her family, she of fraiselachrymose blog. Absolutely delightful, she, her husband and their two boys. I want to go back! said in a whining voice.
Bennett is my last name and it’s said to have originated in Scotland (Benet) by way of France (Benoit) and now found all over southeast Ireland. It’s from ancient Latin, Benedict, meaning blessed and I am…greatly blessed.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!
Blessings ~ Ireland ~ Mags ~ Cliffs of Moher ~ John Wayne ~ Maureen O’Hara ~ Maeve Binchy ~ Irish movies ~ Trinity College ~ Book of Kells ~
Meegan, Dreaming in the Gloaming says
Love reading this post! The Quiet Man is one of my all time favorite movies for as long as I can remember. I used to watch it with my wonderful Grandma every year at St. Patricks day until she passed. Now I watch with my little ones. And Maeve Binchy is one of my all time favorite writers!! I reread my copies of her books over and over. I discovered her in my early 20's after seeing the movie Circle of Friends, which I loved but doesn't follow the book exactly. Now I'm wanting to run to our storage unit and drag out some of her books. I CAN NOT WAIT until we are settled in a house and all my books surround me!
ByLightOfMoon says
I love this post and who cares what day it posted, I am late reading it and I adore it!
The photos are your memories and are just fabulous!
I love the Yeats poem and Maeve Binchy too! Thanks for the links!
Smiles, Cyndi
Theresa says
I just wanted to stop by and say thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your kind comment:) Mildred has some me soooo many dear friends! Have a blessed evening, HUGS!
Anonymous says
I'm with Sandra (above comment)…I get more and more goofy the older I get!
Want to wish you a happy spring.
Our long time family friend, Mary, passed away this a.m. I was blessed to be able to spend Christmas day by her side. I spoke with her last Wed. and we said "I love you."
Sandra says
I have been and eejit many many times and the past 5 years it gets worse each day.
goatldi says
You are in good company. I loose dates, not days, all the time. Look at it this way. You got to celebrate twice! Great entry.
Donna says
This post was absolutely delightful! I'm so glad that you got to see Ireland and the experienced its magic. I've been twice and would dearly love to go a third time, but I don't think I will have another opportunity. I've read some of Ms. Binchy's books and they are a delight. Ah, you MUST see Waking Ned Devine. We have the DVD and watch it on an annual basis, hooting with laughter and crying the whole way through.
Star says
I am also a fan of Maeve Binchy's books Sandra. I'm glad you enjoyed your holiday in Ireland and look forward to reading more about it soon.
Jill Cooper says
Oh I so love her books also and I think I've read every one of them. I especially loved the last one too. And I feel the same as you – don't want them to end and want to find out what happens in those families! Hope we both see some spring weather soon. Hugs!
Deborah Montgomery says
haha Sandra! Of course, that was me that confused you. Problem is, there are these link parties that I participate in, and have to get these posts out so they can be included!! So that meant posting several days ahead. Always trust your instincts!! It is the 17th!
Love Maeve Binchy,too, and the Quiet Man.
BTW, I'm going to copy my blog as you suggested, for safekeeping. I see that some bloggers even have theirs printed into a little book once a year. And your hint about the no-reply blogger really was helpful! thank you!
Deanna says
I didn't even wear green on St. Pat's Day….I thought about childhood times and when my children were young encouraging them to wear green. Maybe next year the green will come out. My Grand daughter thought pinching was fun.
I hope that one day I can see the green hills of Ireland.
Blessings to you and I'm so glad it's Spring,
d
Farm Girl says
Aw well it has been one of those kind of weeks here too.
I love your recommendations. I am always looking for movies and books.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Andrea Ostapovitch says
Some fantastic suggestions here, especially the one about having an Irish brew. I just love Guinness! and an Irish accent makes me swoon. I truly can not wait to travel there one day. thanks for the great post!
Sparky says
Good post Sandra. You're been to Ireland! I'm PEA GREEN with envy! *lol* I'm very Irish (direct descendant of MacMahon, O'More, O'Molloy, etc.) and would love to visit some day but I doubt we'll ever be able to afford it. My two favorite Irish movies is "The Secret of Roan Inish" and "Waking Ned Devine". They both make me smile.
Thanks for sharing your trip and the recommendations.
God bless. ~:)
Lisa Richards says
I do enjoy taking virtual trips via others photos! And thanks for the nice long list of possible movies to watch! I love The Quiet Man (have it on DVD). I'm going to check and see if any of these movies are available through YouTube. Seems like a nice night to watch one!
So glad you got to meet blogging buddy, Mags!
Midlo Mom says
Don't worry Sandra, I'm an eejit too! I also love Maeve Binchy and Irish films. I watched "Young Cassidy" yesterday in keeping with the holiday and loved it. Check it out, stars Rod Taylor (verra' handsome) and a young Maggie Smith.
Debbie says
You are greatly blessed, and I'm so jealous that you've been so many places and I none! 😀 My bucket list contains the names of Italy and Ireland. Don't know why. I had the chance to fly to England a while back and a friend takes a group of her French students to France each year and has invited me to go help. The idea of being in France with a group of High School aged kids who can speak the language and I can't is a little scary. My daughter is living in Okinawa Japan, and I got as close to visiting there as getting my passport. Couldn't find anyone to go with me. Anyway, it isn't on the list and my finances are way limited. Too close to retirement. So I'll have to live vicariously through my blogging friends. Where are we going next. Barbadoes? Great! Take plenty of pics!
Pom Pom says
I love all the photos, especially the one of you and Mags! LOVE!
Karen says
Well now I have a list of movies I'd love to see!
And anxiously await your travelog
Buttons says
Oh I wondered on your timing but most of the time I have no idea what day it is either. Oh what a wonderful trip you had. Hug B
FlowerLady Lorraine says
Good morning Sandra ~ Another great post. I saved 'The Breastplate' to my computer, as it really spoke to me, heart and soul.
How wonderful that you were able to visit Ireland and what a memorable trip it was for you.
Maeve Binchy is one of my very favorite authors too.
We are having a LOT of wind right now, 5:15 a.m. a thunderstorm is expected and heading this way. We could use some rain, so I hope we get some.
Have a lovely week ~ FlowerLady
annie says
A lovely wonderful post!
Would love to go there …someday..,,,! I love the movie The Quiet Man! I have a copy, well used. When my boy was little we used to check out Darby O'Gill and the Little People. We all loved that, the library no longer owns a copy, but just thinking about it, I might try and trace one down, sentimental kid thing from my boy's years, grin!
Lynne says
Wonderful post Sandra to read at the close of St. Patrick's Day. What a wonderful trip for you to have had. Thirty plus counties . . . amazing. You have seen much, much more than I have. We belong to an Irish American Society here in Muskegon. Each year we view an Irish film together. Maureen O'Hara had a home near Bantry where we visit.
Debby@Just Breathe says
I've never been to Ireland but I would love to visit someday. Your photos are lovely. I had to Google what eejit meant!
CelestinaMarie@SouthernDayDreams says
Hi Sandra, What an enchanting post for this special day. Love your pics and I can imagine your trip was wonderful. We hope to visit one day and go to Dublin.
Hope you did watch a movie. I love Maureen O'Hara and anything she has acted in.
Happy St. Patrick's Day and blessings for you be many!!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs!!