Weekend Two

Temple Bar

Weekend two actually began on Thursday evening when we attended the first of our TradFest events -- a concert in Christ Church Cathedral by Ralph McTell  -  - OK, he's not Irish, he's British, but we have had his "breakout" CD for years and were anxious to hear him live - - old folk singers age like fine wine.  It was also a great opportunity to see the inside of the Cathedral in the evening, and it did not disappoint.

Christ Church Cathedral

Friday evening's event was just as enjoyable, but completely different - - -a small, very funky theater hiding in the rear of a bookstore was the venue for a concert of emerging artists.  The first act comprised of two young men, one playing Irish Harp and pipes, and the second on Bodhrahn. Absolutely brilliant!  That was followed by a lively group of seven musicians playing everything from Reels to Tom Wait !!

Sunrise from my kitchen window

Saturday morning dawned with our first true headaches of the trip - - we blamed it on the "small funky theatre" allergies, but in reality it may have been just as likely that we needed a day of rest!!  We did venture out after lunch to the Christ Church Cathedral again - - the grounds were set up with a traditional Irish Village, complete with sheep, ponies, and Molly Malone.

Meath Beo Rural Village and Animal Farm

The Crypts were open with an exhibit of King James Bibles dating back to , well, King James - - 400th anniversary of the translation.  Also a craft fair, story tellers, and displays of the various ages of the Cathedral from its Catholic beginning through the changes after the Reformation.

A trip through the farmer's market provided some great local apples, and an outdoor stage concert, and we were happy to call it a day.

ISunday we had planned to meet friends back in Temple Bar for the outdoor stages, but it was a truly rainy day (not the intermittent showers that we've had so far). . . so we met instead in a pub which was located in a re-purposed bank building from the days when banks were real palaces of commerce.  Directly across from the current Bank climate. . .



Occupy Dame Street

Rather than Traditional Irish music, the entertainment of the evening was traditional American Jazz - - - small world. . .

Sunday Skype appointments included our Indianapolis son Ed, dil Lindsey and grand-daughter Jayme, as well as my Mother. It took Jayme a few minutes to figure out what she was seeing on the computer screen, but when she did, she lit up and started to babble like crazy - - made my heart happy! 

Mother still can't get over the fact that we can talk so easily from across the world. . . seems like science fiction to a 90 year old!

Mark took the camera on a field trip today, so this is late getting posted. . . next stop is Galway on Wednesday for a Fulbright event. . . I'll post soon thereafter.

Thanks for all the positive comments dear friends. . . thinking of you often.

Pat