Category: Uncategorized
Driving in Ireland
Danny’s First [legal] Beer
If Danny’s follows the path of far too many Irish men, we’ll know where it all began. Here he is with our host, John Saunders.
We visited Johnnie Fox’s after our first day tour of the countryside outside of Dublin. It’s a dusky old pub, established in 1798, full of old framed newspaper pages commemorating great events in Irish history. Sitting at the top of a hill outside of Dublin and fed by a narrow, curvy road, you wonder how its patrons, after many pints, were able to navigate their way home without incident. No doubt many didn’t.
And, yes, the Guinness tastes much better in Ireland. Danny said, “Tastes like a milkshake.”
Not a good sign.
We interrupt this program…..
Sadly, I have not been able to find an internet connection that allows me to upload pictures onto the site. I’ll keep trying. So, check back if you want to see:
Danny’s first legal beer
Bridget imprisoned in Timoleague Friary
The family looking at Torc waterfall in a driving rainstorm
Peggy O’Donovan’s massive spread to great the distant cousins
And more…
The Merry Ploughboy
We wound up the evening at an Irish pub close to John’s house called the Merry Ploughboy. The place was packed, even on a Monday night. The music was fun, with lots of audience participation. Then they brought on the Irish dancers, that were clearly influenced by the Riverdance phenomenon. Very athletic dancing and occasional ethereal mood music.
They also involved the audience in the dancing, even pulling our Bridget on stage for a performance.
Good Germans
Ireland was neutral during World War II. There is no way the p
eople of Ireland could officially join their oppressors, the British, in their squabble with the Germans. Nevertheless, the government was supportive of the Allies. The people of Ireland, however, did show some sympathy for German soldiers, particularly pilots who crashed in the countryside. John took us to a very picturesque little cemetery for German soldiers from both World War I & II.
A Tour of the Countryside
John took is for an auto tour of the countryside. While his home is but 7 miles from Dublin center, we were in rural Ireland within minutes. Wide expanses of bog land and rolling hills. After many miles of climbing ever higher into the Hills, John pulled over to show us the most spectacular private residence I have ever seen or heard of. Looking over a cliff d
eep into a valley, there stood a magnificent country mansion, fronted by a vast expanse of green lawn leading to a mountain lake. The little specks on the lawn were wild deer grazing. And the sound was of an unseen rushing waterfall. The house is owned by an heir to the Guinness fortune. Unfortunately, it was impossible to capture this view in one picture, so here’s three. You make out the mansion just over the grass with the roads leadin
g to it in the first photo. The next picture shows the lawn leading to the lake. And, finally, the view of the whole lake. Nice crib, huh?
The View from Farnham Hill
Pictured is John Saunders, my wife Rita and my daughter Bridget. They are standing on a porch just off John’s second floor bedroom. You can see the wrought iron fence opening to the property and just to the left of that, the little patch of white is the empty guardhouse. While the day is overcast and it doesn’t show in the photo, you can see the city of Dublin over the top of the tree line. Just beyond the city, you can even see Dublin harbor.
Farnam Hill Revealed
Here’s a view of John’s home that doesn’t nearly do it justice. The inside is spectacular, full of large windows that bathe the interior in light and, of course, green.
At Farnham Hill
Arrived at Farnham Hill, the home of John Saunders, Regional President for Continental Europe for Fleishman Hill. He has a beautiful home, very modern on an expanse of green, as befits its Irish location. I will post a picture once I get past some technical difficulties.
The house was previously owned by a British businessman who was kidnapped by the IRA only steps from the front gate. It turned into an international incident. And, while the businessman was eventually freed, two Irish police officers were killed in the rescue.
As a consequence of this history, there is a guardhouse at the gate and a very large security camera. These now lay dormant, relics of a previously violent time.
John, his wife Jean and his daughter Caroline are the warmest of hosts. They gave us some sustenance and sent us off to bed for a nap to recover from the trip across the ocean.
Barack on Fatherhood
The man is amazing. He continues to impress and move me. His sermon on father’s yesterday was remarkable.
Here’s a passage I really liked:
I say this knowing that I have been an imperfect father – knowing that I have made mistakes and will continue to make more; wishing that I could be home for my girls and my wife more than I am right now. I say this knowing all of these things because even as we are imperfect, even as we face difficult circumstances, there are still certain lessons we must strive to live and learn as fathers – whether we are black or white; rich or poor; from the South Side or the wealthiest suburb.
What impresses me most about him is his humility. But I’ve struggled to identify that humility, because he’s clearly got an ego and he knows how smart he is. But I think I’ve finally figured out the kind of humility that so impresses me, it’s his moral humility. He’s always acknowledging his own “imperfections.” I believe that’s genuine. He knows he’s smarter than most people and he knows he is one of the great communicators of our time. But he doesn’t believe that makes him a better human being.
Here’s the whole speech:
