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In June Betsy, Kevin, and Martin Breen, the New Orleans branch of the Silgen/McNulty clan of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, travelled to Ireland. The plan was to get introduce Martin, age 16, to the land of his ancestors, escape the summer heat of Louisiana, and to visit Sister Kathleen McNally, a Dominican nun who taught at Martin's grade school and retired to her native Ireland about a year ago. We arrived in Dublin and were invited to stay at the 19th century Georgian house Sister Kathleen shares with 5 other Dominican nuns in Ballsbridge, right across the street from the US embassy. We spent 4 days there, exploring the city and taking trips by bus to New Grange (a huge Bronze Age burial mound), Tara (seat of the ancient high kings of Ireland), Powerscourt (an 18th century country estate with beautiful gardens) and Glendaloch (site of St. Kevin's monastery). Then we headed west to Galway and spent 3 days listening to Irish music, exploring the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, and wandering around Galway city. We wanted to visit Belmullet, home of the McNulty's, found no easy way to get there (without a car), so we returned to Dublin for 2 more days of music, museums, and last minute shopping on Grafton Street before flying back to New Orleans. A splendid time was had by all and we hope to return to Ireland soon. |
