Dublin has been lovely to know but now, off to Derry we go!  Dear friend Cora and her daughters Eleanor and Kelly await us for a few days.  They are a part of our Holy Names High School family, returned home for a while, and we feel lucky to be able to see them after a year or so.  Eleanor studies law at Queen’s University in Belfast and has come home in time to spend it with us.

The Busarus Station in Dublin had a 12:15 bus trip that took us through beautiful, green spaces dotted with cozy, colorful farmhouses and well-manicured gardens and fields.  We packed sandwiches and other goodies to enjoy on the trip.  Friendly riders gave us a seated tour of the areas and villages we passed through.  Now and then we dozed while weaving our way towards Northern Ireland (U.K.) and our final destination.

Cora picked us up as planned – it was so great to see her. She delivered us to Clarence House, two doors from her place, then dashed off to pick up Eleanor from her rail trip from Belfast. We had a reunion dinner near their Lawrence Hill neighborhood. After we entered the walled part of Derry to Pather’s Pub to enjoy live music and a Guinness, or two.

Waiting at the depot.

Our Derry nest, Clarence House

Reunion dinner, Cat and Eleanor

One gate at The Wall.

Live Dublin pub musicians. “Oh, oh, I wish I was back home in Derry!”