March Madness

Cliffs of Dover

You've heard of the stock market crash - the economic crash?  Well, the Cliffs of Dover at Crab Bay in Kent, England had its very own crash.  The winter thawing and water pushing into the chalk cliffs are thought to have caused the monumental fall of tonnes of the cliffside.  What a mess.
 Fortunately no injuries, other than to the cliff itself.  Many people enjoy walking along the cliff tops and this is sad, indeed.

Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, Ireland

 And now it's time for us to celebrate St. Patrick and what, in our house, is a national holiday! Mick and I are both of Irish heritage and on this very special day, we celebrate it more than others.  My confirmation name is Bridget/Brigid, one of the other saints of Ireland.  To the right is Croagh Patrick, a place of pilgrimage to Catholics from all over the world.  Climbing it in bare feet is not uncommon, as it is done as a symbol of penance.  It's rugged, steep and very difficult to attain.  At the top of the very large hill (not really a mountain, but close) is a chapel and I think the aid station to assist those who have been injured.  This is not a place for the faint hearted - or faint of faith.  Perhaps some day I'll climb it.

West of Ireland in Connemara

This is a beautiful photo of the west coast off Connemara in County Galway.  The Atlantic Ocean crashes against the rocks here - sometimes in gentle waves and often in gargantuan rollers!  It's one of my favourite places to be, photograph and enjoy.

Here again is another photograph of Ireland with the Twelve Bens in the background.  Okay, I'm passionate about the West of Ireland and could easily live there year 'round.  Maybe that will happen someday!!

And now the Student Chapel at Kylemore Abbey.  Unfortunately the school is no longer functioning but you can still tour through the Abbey and grounds, which includes the chapel.  This is well worth the time and offers fantastic photo ops.

St. Bridgid/Bridget of Ireland was a contemporary (kind of) of St. Patrick.  When I was asked to name my patron saint when I was received into the Catholic Church, my original patron saint (for the Anglican Church) was Katharine, but I really admired Bridget for her tenacity and honesty.  She might have been a feminist of her time and she didn't suffer fools but went about her ministry with gentle forcefulness, great faith and vision.  So Bridget was chosen and it seems to match me perfectly.  Her Saints' Day is February 1st.

County Cork, Ireland.  What a perfect photograph.  What more can I say?

Do the Happy Dance as we celebrate the Irish heritage (in most of us).  Raise a glass to St. Patrick and St. Bridget - and enjoy your corned beef and cabbage, a pint of Guinness and good fellowship.  Slainte!!