Well, today was a busy day, but I did get a nice nap this afternoon before I went to see my chiropractor.   I had Bible Study this morning.   We were nine strong and had a lively discussion about the wedding feast at Cana and the fact that Jesus turned about 180 gallons of water into the best wine served at the wedding.   Must have been some party, even if those weddings apparently went on for several days.

Home again, I got things put away and sorted from the weekend.

What a weekend it was.   My talk went well.   It was well attended and everybody seemed to have fun.

I met the most interesting people.    Sitting in the lobby of the hotel waiting for my ride to the Irish Center on Friday night for the Gala Awards Dinner ( which is always an adventure.   Bobbie - Sharon Shannon was the musician of the year this year.)  I met two other presenters who came for Dublin.   The theme of iBAM this year was the 1916 Rising.  The people I met were Pat Waters and his wife Ann.   Pat does a dynamic musical poetry concert called the Signatories about the 7 signers of the Irish Proclamation.   They are Tomas O Cleirigh, Sean Mac Diermada, Tomas Mac Donnchadha, Patrick Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, Seamas O Conghaille,  Joseph Mary Plunkett.  I had to see it over two days as my talk started in the middle of his.  I have his CD. 

The third was James Connolly Heron, the great grandson of James Connolly, one of the rebels that was executed at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin after the surrender of the rebels in the 1916 Easter Rebellion.  Connolly is famous for his patriotism and for the fact that he was injured and was taken out to the execution site and placed in a chair to be shot.

I also saw so many good friends.   All my Celtic sisters from Celtic Women International to beging with.  I am sated.

Well.  The best news of the weekend is that our Sara, Leslie's daughter, gave birth to Matthew Rowan Howes on Saturday.    He is beautiful and perfect and went home today.    So I am a great grandmother again and happy as can be.   Congratulations to  John and Sara on a job well done.

Dia Dhuit

Mary