Hello Everyone, Can you believe it is November already. Time is flying. This was our second trip this year to Ireland. This blog is unusually long as we did so much. Our main focus was the Brendan and Martin Mulvihill Traditional Music Week in Glin, Co. Limerick. Kudos to Clara Poffenberger for all of her hard work in putting this festival together for another year. This little village is so sweet. It is like stepping back in time, as the commercial element has yet to happen and I hope it never does. We travelled with several family members and played as the Martin Family Band with our dear friends and clogging dancers Kim Forry and Jan Scopel. It was a grand time for all!

The first stop was in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford to visit our lovely friend Maura Flannery. I say Maura is the unofficial mayor of Enniscorthy. She is a dynamo and is very civically involved giving tours and helping many charities. Maura arranged a lovely concert for us at the I.F.A. Centre. Thank you to Breezy Kelly from Donegal her “Baking for Peace Day” cake was delicious.

Next we arrived in Glin, Co. Limerick, where the family kept busy performing, teaching and enjoying the glorious traditional music inspired by the Mulvihills. I was happy to have my grandaughters Elora Jeanean Paul-Martin and Georgiana Summers performing. They brought the house down. It was very touching to be here for such a momentous occasion. It is bittersweet though thinking of Brendan’s passing. He was a very talented, kind and exceptional fiddler who has passed on his legacy to the world. I am glad that my daughter Emily and son in law Josh could benefit by his apprenticeship and friendship. I hope the music of the Mulvihill’s will be shared with many for years to come.

Lastly we visited Doolin. Where we always stayed at the lovely Doonagore Farmhouse B&B. It was really nice to be there in the off season without all the hoards of tourist. The downside was the very next day the ferry stopped running and many of the shops were closing. But we got a trip to Inneshere on the last ferry. So a visit early in the Fall is good. Staying in the city center in Dublin was a bit harrowing like driving in NY. but kept us close to the Dublin airport. We do prefer the Shannon airport as it is smaller.

Maura arranged a lovely concert for us at the I.F.A. Centre. Thanks Maura for all of your hard work!

Glin is such a charming town. It sits right along the Shannon River. I started this painting last year and finished it up on this trip. I gave it to Jack, the owner of the Castle House. The painting below is “Evening at Doolin Castle” which was also a present to Mary and Pat Sweeney, owners of the Doonagore Farmhouse B&B where we have stayed a number of times over the years. It makes me very happy to reciprocate their kindness.

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Glin Performance with Shannon Dunn sean nos dancer, our daughter Emily Martin on mandolin, long time friend Cleek Shrey on fiddle, the great Billy McComiskey on box, Donna Long on keyboard. What a line up. The music was brilliant and the stories even better. Loved Billy’s recollections of the early days in NY and later in DC with Brendan. It was a wonderful tribute.

Food and drink the spice of life. We celebrated Grampa Carl’s 80th at Foynes Inn . The next day was our 58th wedding anniversary. I bought myself a wedding band, about time right? Last night at O’Connors in Doolin with Jan & Kim ……whew thats alot of celebrating.

Loved having all the kids along. Last night in Dublin at the festive Guiness Brewery and of course a trip to the Cliffs of Moher. I was impressed with the renovation enabling anyone to ascend the top of the hill to O’briens tower and a great view of the cliffs.

I managed to get couple paintings done during this time. I would love to go back and spend a couple of months painting everyday! Who wants to come with me? Ireland is always so inspiring and I have such fond memories. I hope you will all get a chance to visit someday if you haven’t already. It truly is a magical place.

Slan, Jeanean