This evening, I am typing from a hotel near Dublin. The Ireland trip is coming to an end. Tomorrow, we will fly to Prague. Yesterday, Friday, was a wonderful day. We started out with a tour of WESTPORT HOUSE, Westport, County Mayo. This gave us a picture of what life was like for the rich people(not many;mostly English) in Ireland 100-200 years ago. Then, we drove into Castlebar for some coffee. (There are all sorts of small tea/coffee shops all over Ireland with delicious soups, sandwiches, and bakery goods!) Then, I was able to see one of my young cousins, SEAN PAUL (29), who was in the hospital. He has struggled throughout his life with disabilities, and he was battling a very serious infection. He was glad that we stopped in for this visit. We then drove to a new exhibit about the REAL life of the people of Ireland over the last several hundred years. Unlike the very wealthy people who lived in places like Westport House, the vast majority of Irish lived a very difficult life with much suffering. They died young and poor. There is a whole myth about "The Potato Famine" that killed millions of people in Ireland. What killed them was the selfishness of the English government that stole food from the poor people even as they were starving to death.

That evening, my brother, wife, and daughter; me; we joined our relatives for a dinner at a nearby restaurant.(Because the Atlantic Ocean is so close, the fish we had was incredibly good!) It was wonderful just to sit and talk about family. I found out I have a four year old cousin who is deaf in Ireland! We talked till midnight(way past my normal bed time!!!!). A great evening.

Saturday morning, we left Mayo and drove south over 100 miles to a very small town, GLENROE, near Limerick. We went to visit a 95 year old woman, BRIDIE KEENE, who knew my great, great uncle JOHN DUNNE. She was happy to see us. Her memory was amazing. We visited the local church where JOHN DUNNE had been the caretaker over 100 years ago. (The church is 150 years old.) More tea and Irish bread!!!! Finally, we drove about 200 miles to get to Dublin; in the morning we will drop off the rent a car and head to the airport for the Czech Republic!

Ireland is a very special place. The country has many of the same problems we have in the USA: crime and drugs and gangs in some places(Limerick is now very dangerous);many homes with mortgage and foreclosure threats;unemployment; corrupt, greedy politicians. Recently, there were several reports(RYAN & MURPHY Reports) about the sexual and physical abuse of children by priests and religious. Yet, the people of Ireland are sooooooo welcoming and hospitable. Any home you stop at, the people invite you in, offer you great hospitality, and want to know all about America! The Irish, especially those living in the countryside, make you feel very special. In many cases, people live in homes 1/3 the size of our homes. They don't have all of our conveniences(you still see many homes where the clothes are drying on lines hung in the yards). The Irish still have a very deep, strong Catholic faith, even though many of them are very angry at the Church because of sexual abuse! It is very normal for people to pray in their homes; pray at meals; pray for any reason. They are NOT ashamed of their faith. The young people of Ireland are like our young people: full of hope and eager to improve their lives. Many young people, starting at age 9-10, start working on farms, helping out at their parents' work. The young people of Ireland are NOT lazy, and they will do anything to get and hold on to a job! I am looking forward to next year, 2012. We will bring a group of our deaf to the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin (6/12-17; then tour Ireland, 6/17-24). More info on that when I get back.
Tomorrow, 6/19, I will be praying for all our fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, fathers in law, brothers, sons, and uncles on Father's Day which is also a special day in Ireland.