Day 4 and 5 Limerick and Dublin

 

“In the time of incessant 24/7 Speed and Light we invite you to slow down and take life at a much slower pace, nourish the body, rest the mind and reconnect to your True Nature.” -Rigney Family Farm If you are looking for balance in your life, slowing down, or just want to bask in some of God’s incredibly green earth, come to Ireland. It’s so beautiful and among them a lovely people who love to chat. Again, captions precede pictures.  This one my be a little obvious but we’ll explain the importance. This is one of the churches where Gretchen’s family attended. When you meet the Irish, most of them ask you the surname of your family heritage. One gentleman did such today and gave us a website to check out. Rather interesting. You may decide to check it out yourself and put one of your family names in to discover something about your family heritage: https://www.houseofnames.com/ Saint Munchin’s church (not munchkin: Mun-chins) Snap shot of a residence across the street We stopped by a castle upon recommendation of Ann, our new Irish friend. We explored the castle and walked around the grounds that made it feel like we were in the 1800’s. If you can prove my next statement wrong I will bake some brown Irish soda bread for you (that I plan to get really good at). Here’s the statement: (speaking of castles)  Once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.  It’s Kellys’ Corner Shop! Looks like she will have to stay and run it. What’s that? Kelly’s family wants her home by Saturday? Let it be done!  Random ruins along the road through the Burren: Caroline was a gracious host at the Rigney family farm. It was fun to be there Kelly helped out a little and but we didn’t have much time there. Freshly made everything for breakfast- the true meaning of from farm to the table right here.   Chief, the family pet, a big, sweet dog Sunday we went in to town and enjoyed sacrament meeting with the Limerick ward. It was so nice to be able to take the sacrament halfway across the world from home.  (This is from Kelly): While singing the 2nd verse of How firm a foundation, I had a huge wave of gratitude come over me. Being able to know that where ever we are in the world or whatever trouble we are in, the Savior will be there to succor us.  In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health, In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth, At home or abroad, on the land or the sea— As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand, As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.   Nightlife in Dublin Um…do you think locals don’t even think about these statues, ruins and relics  around them anymore?  The famous Ha penny bridge. To save you clicking time and me typing time,  here’s what the web says about the bridge. Kelly says “There’s more to it and it’s a cool short history but I’d rather be outside the hotel room rather than typing at the moment.” The Ha'penny Bridge (/ˈheɪpni/ HAYP-nee; Irish: a pedestrian bridge built in May 1816 over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland. Made of cast iron, the bridge was cast in Shropshire, England. Before the Ha'penny Bridge was built there were seven ferries, operated by a William Walsh, across the Liffey. The ferries were in a bad condition and Walsh was informed that he had to either fix them or build a bridge. Walsh chose the latter option and was granted the right to extract a ha'penny toll from anyone crossing it for 100 years. Initially the toll charge was based not on the cost of construction, but to match the charges levied by the ferries it replaced. A further condition of construction was that, if the citizens of Dublin found the bridge and toll to be "objectionable" within its first year of operation, it was to be removed at no cost to the city. The toll was increased for a time to a penny-ha'penny (1½ pence), but was eventually dropped in 1919. While the toll was in operation, there were turnstiles at either end of the bridge. Wouldn’t it be nice if in Washington they hid construction from view like this?  (Big curtains that look nicer than scaffolding) Kelly says: Staying in Dublin tonight and tomorrow. Seeing some famous sites are neat, however, when I come back to Ireland I may skip Dublin. Downtown at night=college party town.