May 26, 2024
Gougane Barra, County Cork
On Saturday I drove from Mayo down to Cork Co. and the home of my dear friend Edel Foley. We meet each other in Ocean City, New Jersey nearly 35 years ago and have gotten together for several vacations over the years. Edel is always up for a trip to sunshine!! She is going to start the cruise with me out of Belfast on the 30th. Now we are catching up in Cork, before heading up North. Today, Sunday May 26th, we drove down to Gougane Barra, a remote lake and forest area that has a small village population that speaks Gaelic, as their daily language. We had to dodge the rain, but managed a nice walk around before it became lashing! Said some prayers at St. Finbarr's Oratory too!

I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!

Guess who's back for another Friends & Family Visit?!? My cousin Cathy and this time she came with Joanne - one of her best friends from 1st grade on! Girls trip!! They arrived for the entire Fiji leg of the trip November 28th thru December 6th. Exciting!! And they brought a whole suitcase of goodies for me and my friends from the states! It was an early Christmas!









