Last evening Jim Maureen and yours truly set off to visit Clonfert and surrounding area.We went by Clononey Castle and Shannonharbour without stopping and crossed the bridge at Banagher to get to Our Lady of Clonfert Church where at 7pm people were already gathering for visitations and Mass at 8pm.There must have been 500 small candles lit in front of the altar housing the statue of Our Lady of Clonfert.Then we drove to Saint Brendans church nearby.The door was locked so we just looked at the main Archway over the door and looked at a few tombstones including Mansey Howes which we always pronounced Hough.We walked down to road to visit Emmanuel House with the ruins of the Bishop's Palace and Yew Walk on our left.Visited the large meeting/church building and the circular meditation chapel. There was a chorus of birds singing and there was a great peace around.Jim wanted to visit the old shooting grounds that Tom Coleman and he knew so well so we drove down the road that brings you to the railway line across from the power plant and he was trying to figure out some of the old ruined houses where Traceys and Mc Dermotts and Lucas and Comer and Howe families and others lived.Then it was on to my favourite church at Meelich which is the oldest working church in Ireland.Met some angling visitors on their way to have a look at the river nearby.Then home to hear Paudge Bennett and George Stokes singing The Fields of Athenry.
The Trip must have given Jim and Maureen the notion to visit Newgrange today and I would have gone along but was not contactable.