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Day 10 Itinerary
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- Dingle
- Ballybunnion
- Limerick
- Ennis
Day 10 Impressions
Reflecting on the Trip - Jen
When we were getting our bags from the overhead compartments to exit the plane, Marty turned to Reagan, Jamie, Emily, and I and gave us our goodbye hugs. I said to her something like, "I never imagined such generosity and kindness from a man I met once and a family that isn't mine." I want to offer my most sincere gratitude to the Kelly family for all they did for me on this trip - most of all, for the joy of the adventure.
This experience really touched me on many levels. One of my favorites was the laughter! I couldn't stop having fun on this trip because everyone in the Kelly family loves to smile and is SO funny - or thinks they are. Get this, they even have this traditional donkey that they pass around when someone says or does something dumb. The original donkey (one of Pap's) broke its leg on the flight from Pittsburgh to Boston, but that's ok because I hear that many of Pap's animals were missing extremities - Anyway, I left the donkey (which I earned many times for many dumb things said in haste) in a hotel room on the first night, but we were in Knock a few hours later and someone (Nevin? Colin?) saw a bin of donkeys and picked one up - and it had a broken leg too! But seriously, I had a great time with this family because they are genuinely good-hearted people.
Another fascinating experience was the intensity of the family tradition and family togetherness. Reagan and I grew up in very different types of families, his rooted strongly in their Irish heritage, history, and principles. Spending time with this group experiencing their native land and their personal history was very powerful. I really feel very proud of the Kelly family for taking the opportunity to go through this journey together and to have fun together and to enjoy each other so much, through kidnappings, sweltering bus rides, and winding roads to nowhere. It really gave me a deeper understanding of the meaning of family and to the time we spend with our flesh and blood. I also have different attitudes toward religion and religion's place in history, and I want to thank the Kellys for showing me the bright side of religion, which has been rather dark in my past.
Not least, witnessing structures that were thousands of years old and built by our ancestors gave me a much deeper sense of my own place in history. I've never been interested in history; it was my worst subject. But in Ireland, everywhere you look, there are ruins. You can't help but think about it: so many people came before me, lived a very different life than I do. It's humbling. The rolling hillsides, the pastures of sheep(!), the breathtaking views, dolphins swimming near the beach, so much natural beauty that I don't see here in Ann Arbor. But not beauty like the Bahamas, it's natural earthiness that makes you feel close the people that walked the very same land thousands of years ago. Because it looks exactly the same.
Finally, the people in Ireland were super super nice. It was refreshing, to think that there are places in this world where people are overtly nice to one another! So, on this adventure, I got a taste of the past and a hope for the future.
- Mike
Our trip is almost over. We have planned and planned for this. Now it is almost gone. But the memories and the bonds forged here will last forever. It was a true blessing to be able to do this trip. I thank God for the opportunity and the family with which to do it. I also give thanks or my dad, who first instilled the Irishness into me and finally left us the means by which to accomplish it.
God save Ireland!
Day 10 Photos
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