Day 11, May 17: Giants Causeway, work at Corrymeela, Ceili Dancing

Lynda lead us in devotions with a brief discussion of Jay and Mary ( a nun and priest). They were married and when Jay passed away and she became a Catholic priest.  She also started  a school in Troy. 

Lynda started our day off with an Apache and Celtic Prayer.

We left for a short bus ride. I closed my eyes and just listened for awhile to all the sounds on the bus, the different conversations, the laughter and stories. It was like sitting around the dining room table with family. The ride along the coast was breath taking. The different colors of green in the fields. All the sheep with their young.

We arrived at the Great Causeway. It took us a bit to finally get our tickets after we found the correct place for the bus to park.

My first reaction when seeing the cliffs, rocks and sea was WOW!

I walked on the rocks for a little but then I just sat and looked out to the sea. it reminded me of Maine in some ways, the water washing over the rocks. If only the rocks could tell their stories. Four of us got our picture taken near the organ pipes. Glad we did since I found out later we needed proof we had actually walked all that way.

 

 

We had a short time in the gift shop which was good. 

We had great lunch at the Smugglers Inn that Rod said was the Snugglers. Yes, Kathy even ate her peas.

Back to Corrymeela where Lynda tried to get us to sing on the bus. No takers!

We then spent some time doing gardening at Corrymeela under the watchful eye of Yvonne and Alastair. We all worked in the two gardens. Half of us worked and planted tulips on the side of the main entrance. We worked with Alaistar Kilgore the volunteer gardener. The other group chopped Australian flax. We cleared the area of debris. 

Before

After

And much more:

 

While we were having tea Alaistar came in to thank us for our work. He was very pleased with everything we had accomplished. We were fortunate to have great conversation with him.

Dinner was a little different than last night since 50 children joined us. The noise level was quite high. 

They have a service at the Croi in the morning with 30 minutes of silence.  The group at my table had our 30 minutes of silence tonight.

Then we went to Ceili Dancing with an Irish Dance Instructor . A few of us learned some new dance steps.  We all might be a little sore tomorrow.  It was very enjoyable with plenty of laughs. Owen even joined us and seemed to like it also.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Submitted by Kathy Mascelli