O Ireland, What Hospitality
“...O, Ireland, O, Ireland!
We’re never far apart.
For you and all your beauty
Fill my mind and touch my heart!”
-E. Gary Brooks
We’re never far apart.
For you and all your beauty
Fill my mind and touch my heart!”
-E. Gary Brooks
I recently made a business trip to India. Before landing at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, to make my connection to Delhi, a flight attendant began making announcements. The last bit of information she conveyed was connecting flights and from which gates they would depart. Thus began the long list: Albany, Birmingham, Colorado Springs, Dallas, Delhi, Dublin...ah, Dublin! A smile instantly crossed my face and the lady next to me asked if that was my destination. I told her that it wasn’t but that the mere mention of the word evoked such joyous emotions in me and that everybody would feel that way if they visited the Emerald Isle.
Both sides of my family claim Irish ancestry. Ever since I can remember, my parents, my six siblings and I went to the St. Patrick’s Parade every year in downtown St. Louis. As a youngster, the floats grabbed my attention. I began to appreciate the traditional music and dancing when I was in my late teens. I bought my first Irish trad CD in 1997, I saw The Chieftains in 1998 and my life has forever been changed.My first trip to Ireland was in 2002. I distinctly remember being amazed as I strolled The Temple Bar area in Dublin and all the pubs that advertised live traditional music. I was in heaven! Most of the pubs were completely full and tourists were being turned away at the entrance. Sunday at 8:00PM isn’t a busy pub night in St. Louis, but it certainly is in Dublin.
Anja, the German woman whom I befriended at the hostel where I was staying, and I were fortunate enough to find a table at The Temple Bar pub. We listened to the musicians while I experienced my first-ever Guinness and she told me of her love for Ireland. This was her fifth trip to Ireland and she had visions of opening a coffee shop in Dun Laoghaire. When asked why she loved Ireland so much, without hesitation, she replied, “the people!”.
Anja and I departed ways three days later, as we each were traveling to different parts of Ireland. But, much to my delight, I found that she was correct. The people were extremely friendly. I remember walking in Cork, with map in hand, trying to find the train station. I tried to blend in with my dark clothing and matter-of-factness, but I guess my look of bewilderment (and New Balance tennis shoes!) gave me away. A random passer-by asked where I needed to go and he showed me the way to the station. While walking, he asked how I was enjoying this country of his. Another time in Killarney, I brought my fiddle to a session only to find out it was a performance aimed for tourists. The men sat me down, found a microphone and let me play all the tunes I wanted. I visited Belfast in 2007 and, while placing my order at a cafe, an elderly woman heard my accent. She asked where I was from (I wasn’t wearing tennis shoes this time!) and told me that I must visit Belfast again very soon. All of these people made me feel accepted and truly welcomed. I often don’t feel that way in my own city, much less across the pond.
I would be in error if I didn’t mention Ireland’s beauty. When Anja took me to Howth and we were above the city looking at the Irish Sea, she said that it was no wonder that immigrants longed for their homeland after they reached their destinations of England, Australia and America. I concurred; who would want to leave this land of infinite beauty? I am always still in awe at the green rolling hills and quaint farm houses as I travel across Ireland. The Giant’s Causeway, The Burren, The Cliffs of Moher and The Ring of Kerry are just bonuses to a country that exhibits paradise wherever you turn. Every time I leave Ireland, I know that my next trip can’t come soon enough.The music, the people and the sheer beauty are reasons why I always want to travel to Ireland. By the time I had thought of these things, I was half way to India. I’m not fortunate enough to have business that takes me to Ireland, but one only needs to visit my office and home to know that the Emerald Isle is the place that’s closest to my heart.
This article was previously published in the Midwest Irish Focus.