It’s a gray day as we leave Dromoland Castle on our four-hour drive to Dublin Airport. The sky is gray, and the clouds are weeping. Heavy rain. Rain, rain, go away, come back… in California! Martin is driving. The windshield wipers are going at high speed. The windows are fogged up. There is nothing to see. Everyone is quiet.
There is no Irish music this morning. The key newspaper headline is “Political Earthquake” – a downgrade from yesterdays “2016 Rising.” The election results are final and the results dampen yesterday’s gaiety with some ambiguity, foretelling that a new government will be formed, but it will be more drudging than hoped for.
Circling back to the beginning of this trip, I talked about the United Nations’ Human Development Index and ranking of 200 nations. Ireland was ranked #6, Norway #1 and the USA #8, as a desirable place to live. I would concur. One thing that Norway and Ireland share is their love of life.
My thoughts start to return to what is happening in the United States. Norway and Ireland also share a puzzling credulity of the American public in accepting the babel coming from the Republican candidates. The opening question we’re frequently asked (cautious so as not offend us): “What do you think about what’s going on in the elections?” Next: “Can you explain it to us?” Followed by: “Do you think the people will elect Trump?” At this point, we usually apologize to the them, for the Republican candidates’ behavior.
WAIT! We need to refuel. Martin pulls into the Barack O’Bama Plaza in Moneygall– an American size gas station with lots of pumps, a convenience store, and fast food alternatives. It also has a Barack Obama Visitor Centre – Martin has surprised us again! Why here? It is the ancestral home of Barack’s mother’s family. He visited this area as he was discovering his heritage – a benefit of becoming President.
Finding The Apostrophe In His Name
Ronald Reagan’s Visit
Barack Obama
It seems a fitting way to circle back and wrap up our trip. While the Visitor Centre carries the Obama name, it is really about the relationship of Ireland and several of our Presidents. As an example, they attribute the end of the ‘Troubles’ in 2004 to the Clintons’ four visits to broker a resolution. So rather than a few photos of landscapes, churches, and castles, I selected photos we took of exhibits at the centre. What comes through over and over again is how close the Irish feel to our country. Despite all the nonsense and absurdity going on in our political process at this time, we’ve repeatedly had leaders who presented the best in us. We ARE better than the current behavior.
Andre Helping Michelle O’bama Up The Steps
Yes, There Is An Italian Connection!
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