Notes from Tarmonbarry

It has been a relatively busy day with only limited road travel.  We rose about 8am+ having slept well (and late) and scurried to make breakfast at 930 am.  The breakfasts, both Continental and Full Irish, are outstanding.  We've yet to do the Full Irish but we came close Saturday in Ashbourne. The Continental is more than enough.  The fruit, meats, and breads are sumptuous.  We're on a Continental plan anyway and any more to eat would be a waste.  For example, this morning I had toast, Irish creamery butter (haven't seen margarine or oleo yet-thank heavens), strawberry conserve (in a little personal jar), smoked salmon, fresh OJ, coffee (my separate pot), and a bowl of delicious fruit dampened with orange juice.  I mention what I ate because for lunch it was salmon again; that's 3 meals in a row for salmon.  Not yet out of my system!  Maybe tomorrow too?  The salmon servings have been fresh and I've convinced myself that the fish were caught in the Shannon.  I haven't asked for fear of learning that they might have come from some farm in Idaho or ...  

We quickly worked breakfast so that we could make 1030 am Mass at the church in Whitehall where Sheila's father attended.  We didn't want to be late again.  Unlike 2001, the church seemed larger as if they had moved the altar back and inserted more pews.  Unlike 2001, this time we sat and did much better in blending in to the congregation.  The church was full and I thought the church was fuller than in 2001.  Sheila disagrees but I think I'm correct.  There has occurred substantial development in the area and it stands to reason attendance would be greater.  Of particular note for those of you who who have difficulty singing.  Take comfort in knowing that at the church in Whitehall you are accommodated.  There are no hymnals.  A choir, including all ages, approaching about 30 (full congregation about 200) in number, sat to the side in front and did all the work with their voices.  It made me think that they screen new attendees for singing skill and if found to know one note from another (with their voices, of course) are then drafted to serve in the choir.  The others are then left to sit in their pews only to listen.  In fact, the choir was quite good and it was more comfortable to just listen.  In mentioning the choir it was amongst the choir members that we spotted Mickey Kelley who looks only about a day or two older, but no more.  We talked for a while and we were pleased to have seen him again.  He had other plans for the afternoon (my guess is the Ireland-Italy rugby game on TV) and we were quick to point out that we also had other plans for the afternoon and that we would be traveling to Galway in the morning.  He was most appreciative of Sheila's and Pat's Christmas cards and notes.

Next stop: to visit some of Sheila's father's haunts including Roosky and Strokestown, something we failed to do the last time here.  We also planned a stop in Carrick on Shannon where I looked for a card reader but without success.  I came close in a store (which was open) called TESCO, a miniature Wal-Mart.  I found a reader but the print was in Polish and  I found nothing to indicate that it would work on the Mac.  I needed Wackerbarth to help.  We also walked all the commercial streets (or so it seemed) in Ck on S and found that all the stores that might have  had a reader were closed.  As a result, no photos for the blog yet.  Tomorrow night, for sure, as we travel through Athlone tomorrow and end up in Galway following our planned stops and visits.  I am confident!  By now, of course, each one of you is asking "Why Polish?"  There is an answer.  The four most spoken languages in Ireland are: 1. English, 2. Chinese, 3. Polish, and 4. Gaelic.   The Irish are concerned that Gaelic (Irish) has been demoted; perhaps the price of the "Gaelic Tiger?"  It was also in Ck on S that we ate a late lunch, thus qualifying as dinner, which included the salmon.  Scrumptious!!

We travelled back to Tarmonbarry, surveyed (in the mud and whatever as Matthew would say) the Lodge and found it to be pretty much the same.  I took a number of pics (you'll have to wait) and Sheila acquired some more contraband.  There has been considerable development in Tarmonbarry including some rather large homes in the area of the Lodge but we are not certain the farm land has been sold off to others.  There still remains a clear line of sight to the Shannon from the home sight.  It's clear the Keenans are using the Lodge for storage (must be no zoning laws in Roscommon) and the pics will show the present state (I hope and I regret the clutter that's likely to be portrayed).  You would not believe the development in the area of the Keenans, the Pub and their hotel.  Look up Tarmon Harbour on the web.  Our impression is that the euro problem, much like our dollar problem, is having a negative effect on development and there are homes (vacation and otherwise) t0 buy.

Enough notes for today.  Tomorrow:  Check on Eileen, the Noonans , then to Athlone, some stops along the way to Galway, including Clonmacnois and Athenry (remember "Fields of ...) and, of course, shopping for an effective card reader.  The fun continues.

The query for the night for each of you:  What are "soft margins?"  The Irish do have a way with their use of words!

Til tomorrow.