Co Clare

© Dennis Flaherty

Irish beauty in co Wicklow

Gentle Reader,
We appreciate beauty not the "fake plastic kind" but the beauty of God's creation for example. This location was sought out as a peaceful retreat by St. Kevin because of its remoteness and serenity, but several disciples who wished to follow his teachings built a temporary hamlet of churches, chapels and living quarters in the valley below the site of his hovel. This soon grew and eventually, at the height of its popularity, was one of the main religious universities in Ireland.

The name Glendalough comes from the Irish Gleann Dá Locha meaning the glen (valley) of two lakes. The monastery site is located between two lakes (Lower Lake and Upper Lake) and is one of the most popular tourist sites in Wicklow.

The monastic site includes a 33 metres tall round tower and St. Kevin's Cross, a Celtic High cross. The round tower was built during the era of the Viking invasions in Ireland (up to and around AD 1066), in order to protect the religious relics, books and chalices used around the monastery at the time.

The Irish Church of St. Patrick

I found in each great church moreo'er,
Whether on island or on shore,
Piety, learning, fond affection;
Holy welcome and kind protection.
I found the good lay monks and brothers
Ever beseeching help for others,
And in their keeping the holy word
Pure as it came from Jesus the Lord.

Written by Aldfred, king of the Northumbrian Saxons, who was educated in an Irish monastery. These lines were in reference to the Irish Church founded by St. Patrick.

Train of Life

Some folks ride the train of life

Looking out the rear,

Watching miles of life roll by,

And marking every year.



They sit in sad remembrance,

Of wasted days gone by,

And curse their life for what it was,

And hang their head and cry.



But I don't concern myself with that,

I took a different vent,

I look forward to what life holds,

And not what has been spent.



So strap me to the engine,

As securely as I can be,

I want to be out on the front,

To see what I can see.



I want to feel the winds of change,

Blowing in my face,

I want to see what life unfolds,

As I move from place to place.



I want to see what's coming up,

Not looking at the past,

Life's too short for yesterdays,

It moves along too fast.



So if the ride gets bumpy,

While you are looking back,





Go up front, and you may find,

Your life has jumped the track.





It's all right to remember,

That's part of history,

But up front's where it's happening,

There's so much mystery.



The enjoyment of living,

Is not where we have been,

It's looking ever forward,

To another year and ten.



It's searching all the byways,

Never should you refrain,

For if you want to live your life,

You gotta drive the train!