Tag: Ireland

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused

On By Margie.MercIn No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge10 Comments

When I was visiting Ireland, I visited several museums and read about the famine and mass emigration that happened due to a variety of reasons. This slide below is pretty unfocused but the next slide explains in sad detail some of the ugly truth…
Ireland, 1847- exports were enough to feed 4x the population of Ireland
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Ireland exports to England in 1847

And one more, a tad unfocused item found in another Irish museum.

Irish Coffin Ships
Coffin ships: Setting sail in 1846/7

Up to the middle 1840s, ships from Northern Europe sailed only in spring and summer to ensure they avoided ice and bad weather on their transatlantic voyage.

But in 1846, the most severe winter in living memory, immigration ships continued to sail from Ireland. Most headed southwest, to US ports. Alarmed at the level of destitution and illness arriving with these vessels, the US Congress quickly passed two new Passenger Acts in order to make the voyage even more expensive. That following March, the minimum fare to New York rose to £7, an amount way beyond the majority of families facing starvation in Ireland. Even so, all tickets had been sold by the middle of April.
Found on Irish Geology

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Created for: dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/weekly-photo-challenge-unfocused/

If You’re Irish …

On By Margie.MercIn No Comfort Zone-2012 Challenge15 Comments

My mom was Irish so we grew up singing lots of Irish songs. We sang them pretty loud to cover the fact that maybe we didn’t know all the words or that we couldn’t carry a tune but we sang them with pride!

I remember this one clearly and enjoy singing it all these years later … ‘Twould be lovely if my mom were here to sing it with me…

If you’re Irish come into the parlour
There’s a welcome there for you
If your name is Timothy or Pat
So long as you come from Ireland
There’s a welcome on the mat
If You come from the Mountains of Mourne
Or Killarney’s lakes so blue
We’ll sing you a song and we’ll make a fuss
Whoever you are you are one of us
If you’re Irish, this is the place for you

And this was pretty special too. I grew up singing this song – ever heard it before? It’s called “That’s how you spell Ireland!”

I is for the Irish in your bonnie eyes my dear
R is right for when you’re right, you have no cause to fear
E is for Eileen, my mother’s name I mean and
L is for the love I have for that sweet colleen
A is for the angels who are watching over you
N is never fear, keep smiling through
D is for your daddy’s lesson that I pray will be a blessing

And that how I spell, Ireland

Green river in Chicago to celebrate St Pattys Day

Green river in Chicago to celebrate St Pattys Day
Green river in Chicago to celebrate St Patty's Day
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And a very special Irish Blessing to you all:

May the roads rise to meet you,
May the winds be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

Weekly Photo Challenge: Windows

On By Margie.MercIn Education, Photography, PostADay2011, Weekly Photo Challenge14 Comments

A menu and a view in Ireland!a dining room window in ireland

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Textured

On By Margie.MercIn Photography, PostADay201113 Comments

Irish HomesteadNotice the varied texture on this old Irish Homestead in County Cavan. The wrinkles, crinkles, tears and ripples make this building burst with texture. I hope you enjoy it!

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Entrance (into a new life?)

On By Margie.MercIn Photography, PostADay201111 Comments

bride and groon walking with bicycleI took this photo in Doagh Famine Village in County Donegal, Ireland. The image was pretty powerful and I felt the message was that this couple will survive or die fighting. Wouldn’t you love to hear their story?

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Entrance (to the other side)

On By Margie.MercIn Education, Photography, PostADay20118 Comments

entrance to cemetary in IrelandVisiting cemeteries in Ireland was as normal as visiting churches, pubs and gift shops. The history shared on the gravestones made you wonder about the babies and parents that died on the same day. Or the stones that included a poem, love story or gave location of where the person traveled.

Cemeteries are well-kept, the grass is trimmed and flowers are blooming. The Irish dead are revered today, as they were decades ago.

Burke gravestone in irelandThe family tells it’s story on the gravestone. This cemetery is where my mother’s family was buried. It was a very special afternoon …

gravestone————————-

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Entrance (to an abandoned Irish cottage)

On By Margie.MercIn Education, Photography, PostADay20119 Comments

Entrance to an Irish HomesteadIn Ireland, the countryside is littered with abandoned cottages. These buildings once housed entire families for generations but now are crumbling eyesores.

In the boom years, the Irish build new houses on their property and left these to erode with the seasons. Unfortunately, with the decline of each cottage, we lose a bit of history. The family that lived on the land may have moved to better accommodations but the extended family is left without a story.

Imagine – for a moment – that each county – clan – or family worked to restore a cottage or two. Now image working with organizations – bicycle groups, walkers, Study Abroad Students, marathoners, quilters, photographers, book groups, historians (to name a few) who might want to visit the cottages and learn the history of the family, village, community, churches, etc.

Bus tours could roam from county to county to visit the churches and cottages. Gift shops, restaurants, businesses and such could grow again with a focus on Ireland.

I say – Go for it – then send me an invite and I’ll be there!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Entrance (to an Irish Cottage)

On By Margie.MercIn Communication, Education, Photography, PostADay2011, Relationships3 Comments

entrance to cottageEntrance to an Irish Cottage at Doagh Famine Village in County Donegal.
Last summer, my sister and I went to this museum located in the northern tip of Ireland in the Dingle Peninsula. . What a great history I received by attending!

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Doagh Famine Village 2011: “Living on the Edge”:

Overview
The Famine Village tells the story of a family and community living on the edge and surviving, from the Famine of the 1840s to the present time.

Comments from Marge: This museum is a MUST see! You will learn so much and walk away with insight and awareness that makes the rest of the visit fall into place!

If you go – be sure to write and tell me about it!

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Weekly Photos Challenge: Entrance

On By Margie.MercIn Photography, PostADay201113 Comments

Took a lovely tour inside Cabra Castle in Ireland last year. I felt like a queen sitting on these steps!

woman sitting on red carpetCabra Castle is less than an hours drive from Dublin Airport, and is the perfect location for a weekend break in an Irish castle. The castle is situated in the wonderful County of Cavan, which features a variety of activities and places to visit.

entrance to Cabra Castle in County Cavan Ireland

History

The Two Cabra Castles, and the Pratt Family
(1699 – 1964)

The original Cabra Castle, the ruins of which still stand on high ground above the Wishing Well – not far from Cromwell’s Bridge, was situated to the west of the Kingscourt – Carrickmacross Road.

The Castle and the land surrounding it is believed to have belonged to the O’Reilly Family until it was confiscated in the mid 17th century by Cromwell’s orders and given to Colonel Thomas Cooch. Colonel T. Cooch was born in Donegal in 1632 and was the grandson of Sir Thomas Cooch K.C. Sir Thomas Cooch K.C. had migrated to Ireland very early in the 17th century and was given a grant of 1,000 acres in Donegal by James 1.

Colonel Thomas Cooch, first owner of Cabra Estate, married Elizabeth Mervyn, sister of Audley Mervyn (Speaker of the Irish House of Commons), and they had an only daughter and heiress, Elizabeth. >>Read More

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Worn

On By Margie.MercIn Photography, PostADay2011, Weekly Photo Challenge2 Comments

Worn down and retired …

Old typewriterAn old typewriter found in an Ireland museum.

rotary dial phoneRotary dial phone – all worn down!

Old Fashioned Cash RegisterThese were a challenge to create, move and operate!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Worn

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