The Confessional:




An Irishman goes into the confessional box after years of being away from the Church. There's a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On the other wall is a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates.
Then the priest comes in.
The Irishman begins: "Father, forgive me, for it's been a very long time since I've been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be."
The priest replies: "Get out. You're on my side."

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okok, I thought it was a good one.

Besides, I just returned from Ireland, I should know!




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Above: my nieces Adrienne and Cambria and my nephew Brandon

Above and below: my new nephew ????????? Coming Soon!



is he cute or what !

Day 10: Part 1 Thursday July 22

Before we leave for Dublin, we take a stroll along the city street and visited a local church.



Above: Entrance to the hotel the morning we leave. But we take a walk first.

Above: street corner ... flowers everywhere

Above: Side street

Above:

Above: Tabernacle reservation in the sanctuary

Above: Side chapel for Baptisms

Above and below: tile designs in various areasAbove: of the church


Above: Sanctaury of the Church

Above: The ceiling of the church


Above: these are the backs of the pews. Look at the craft work


Above: This is perhaps my favorite photo. Just call me Irish!

Above and below: a beautiful Church





Note: Last night for dinner we ate at a local Italian restaurant. Very small interior but did have an upper level. We were served by the owner/chef himself and his (not so happpy) teenage son (I think maybe the son wishes he were hangin' out with his friends). I had spaghetti and meatballs, Father Allan had spaghetti carbonarra. We also indulged with a glass of wine each. Dessert? Of course: brownie for me, chocolate pudding for him.

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Day 9: Wednesday July 21

We leave Cork today and head toward Waterford where we spent a few hours and then on to Kilkinney where we stayed the night. It was one l-o-n-g day!

Above: Dark clouds (visible in the next picture also, common in Ireland and within a few minutes it's clear skies. A church to the right and a clock tower straight ahead.


Above: O, my gosh, another Pub!!!!!!!!

Above: the canal twists through the city. Restaurants along side.

Above: flowers are everywhere. Note: along the top of a shed and above stones at the edge of the canal.

Above: this picture and the following are of a Church we visited on one of the side streets




Above: look down one of the streets with curb-side restaurant

Above: This and the following pictures are street views of walking through Waterford. Actually these pictures don't do the city justice for some reason. The town center was closed off to traffic and old streets opened for walking, etc.

Above: In Waterford where we ate lunch.


Above: interior


Above: interior

Above: interior ... for lunch I had potato skins, delicious, he had a cibatta chicken sandwich ... of course we both enjoyed an Irish brew


Above: Reached Kilkinny and our Hotel for the night. The Hotel was: Kilkenny River Cross

Day 8: Part 2 Tuesday July 20

We leave Blarney Castle and set out for the city of Cork. What an experience the roads were.



Above: Lunch in a local pub on the road to Cork. We enjoyed ham and cheese, mine, and cajun chicken wrap, his.


Above: We parked our car about two blocks away from the hotel (that's the way it's done here) and walked across this canal. Sights are magnificent.


Above: another view from the canal


Above: The Imperial Hotel in Cork. Our lodging for the night.


Above: the lobby of the hotel with huge spray of flowers in the center of the entrance way.
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The Day that Almost Wasn't

I began my day today as I do each morning with my 5K run. As I jog into my regular pace I begin to meditate on the Mass for later this morning, it's the feast day of Saint Andrew Kim and Paul Chong and 103 others who were murdered for their faith ... in Korea. I begin to cross a street in regular pace and a truck pulls into my path. The jerk ('scuse me, Lord). It's not like the driver wasn't driving along beside me for at least half a block, not like he didn't have his headlights on, not like I wasn't wearing an oversized florescent shirt and running shoes that reflect light. Geeze! Had I not stopped with a quick halt mid point in the street, this guy would have hit me, and he wasn't driving very slow.

So, perhaps these Korean saints protected me this morning. In gratitude for what may well have been their assistance I offer this clip:








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Thanks, again, special Korean saints. I am indebted to you.
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Catholic High School Class of '64 celebrates their 64th at St. Joseph Parish Hall on Saturday night, September 18, 2010