Kanes in Ireland

Kanes in Ireland

Life's best with family beside
They can ease life's trouble-filled ride
And 'tis best I do think
If you share food & drink
And by twelve all your problems divide
--------------------------------------------------------------------->- Ger

Eventually, there were twelve of us on the trip. Some had been thinking about this trip for a while. Actually, Sheila and John did the original thinking - and it was a trip to Italy, not Ireland, that they had in mind. But when Kate said she'd really like to take Joe and Sarah to Ireland, Sheila and John said "Let's go." Theresa immediately joined up and I (Gerry) followed along pretty quickly - a rare chance to see Ireland with my family. Betty, Patty and Patrick fell in line soon - not wanting to be left out - and the plans quickly developed - rough itinerary, airline tix, houses, cars. It all came together without much fuss (at least on my part) thanks to a lot of work - especially by John & Sheila, Kate, Theresa, Pat and Betty.

The Limericks

Several months before we left, we'd talked about each of us learning or memorizing some bit of Irish poetry or writing that we'd share during the trip. None of us followed through - except for Kate. She decided limericks were just the thing and had written nearly a dozen (unbeknownst to the rest of us) before the trip started. Soon after we arrived in Ireland, Kit began regaling (and challenging) us with her limericks. The challenge was quickly taken up and soon everyone was spouting limericks - no sooner had some amusing or entertaining event transpired than someone would clear their throat and say "I was just thinking ....." This became the standard way to introduce a new limerick. Often you would see someone drumming their fingers on the table to the limerick rhythm (da dumdum da dumdum da dumdum, da dumdum da dumdum da dumdum ....) or (especially with John) see someone's eyes glaze over as they stared off into space or walked aimlessly about -- then you knew there was a limerick being hatched. I attempted to capture all of them and put them at Limericks. I've also scattered them through the travelog where they fit in.