 My husband Dave and I recently returned from our almost 40th anniversary excursion to the remote parts of Western Ireland where we engaged with the wonder of children in the many simple and God given blessings that Ireland still has to offer; as well as better understanding its historical woes.  We selected to rent a car so that we might meander gracefully through small towns, villages and historical sites in the vicinity of County Mayo and County Clare.    Our destination of choice was anywhere from the surrounds of Shannon where our plane landed to the mountainous region of Croagh Patrick to the mystical island of Achill.  In these parts, a living reed gateway expresses itself just as wonderfully as what would have been a semi intimidating entryway had there not been the sweetest guard cat!  The slower, friendly pace was appealing as was refreshment along the way.  Burrischoole Friary (1400s) was one architectural find with a sorrowful history. "Almost all the friaries and abbeys across Ireland were suppressed in the wake of the Reformation in the 16th century. Very few were rebuilt after that time and now only the ruins survive, pleasing, if poignant, late Gothic relics of what must have been among the most striking buildings in the countryside of pre-Tudor Ireland."      There were days when we maneuvered by car and foot around the docile and impressively resilient livestock en route to historical ocean cliff locations and sometimes ancient ruins. 
 During these fleeting hours of adventure and especially when we were nearest the ocean, I was reminded of one meditation by St Catherine of Siena where she wove tightly together, like a fisherman's basket, the image of an ocean's abyss with the infinite goodness of God and of the Eucharist: "O unfathomable depth! O Deity eternal! O deep ocean! What more could You give me than to give me Yourself?"  You are an ever-burning Fire; You consume and are not consumed. By Your fire, You consume every trace of self-love in the soul. "  "You are a Fire which drives away all coldness and illumines minds with its light, and with this light You have made known Your truth. Truly this light is a sea which feeds the soul until it is all immersed in You, O peaceful Sea, eternal Trinity! "  "The water of this sea is never turbid; it never causes fear, but gives knowledge of the truth. This water is transparent and discloses hidden things; and a living faith gives such abundance of light that the soul almost attains to certitude in what it believes." More photos from the seafaring region:           Wayside religious markers and memorials still dot the landscape and we pulled over whenever possible to pray as is the tradition.  wayside shrine established in the 1600's "The title Star of the Sea is one of the oldest and most widespread titles applied to Mary. The hymn is frequently used as a prayer for safe-conduct for travelers.The melody is found in the Irish plainsong "Gabhaim Molta Bríde", a piece in praise of St. Brigid of Kildaire. The popular hymn Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star, is loosely based on this plainsong original. "  It was a pleasant trip and good for the soul.  Comments are closed.
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"...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." St Paul
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