West Side Story

By Kathryn Ivey

Ron and I have made our way up the west coast of Ireland into Northern Ireland and back down to Dublin. It has been an interesting journey to go from the countryside to the cities of Belfast and Dublin, and to go from the Republic to the North.

On our way out of Galway, we drove to the Cliffs of Moher...and I'm not sure how to articulate what we saw! It was overwhelming. The cliffs plummeted to the sea and the sheer size of the coastline against the sea was unbelievable! We unfortunately hit it on a very, very windy day - we're talking gusts that made you feel like you had just jumped out of an airplane (hence my hair in the photo below). However, we had tons of fun taking in the views while balancing to keep upright!





We then headed up the western coast to spend the next few days at the Holy Hill Hermitage, an ecumenical monastery right outside the town of Sligo. We both were not sure what to expect, but in the end it was a very fruitful time. Holy Hill is a monastic community that is committed to helping people of all faiths experience the Lord through the beauty of His wilderness, reflection, and time away from the hustle and bustle of the world. The sisters we met had a tranquil and thoughtful way of life coupled with a warmth and lively spirit. We stayed in our own small "hermitage" (pictured below) and really spent our time reading and writing! I read 5 out of the 7 Chronicles of Narnia within 2 days! They had an amazing library with over 6,000 books, a great fireplace, and a lampost alluding to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Our hermitage also gave Ron and I quite a romantic setting as we shared a twin bed every night we were there - romantic in a sarcastic sense of course!



The hermitage was located right outside of the bustling town of Sligo. However, the only time we really spent in Sligo was when we snuck away from the hermitage to eat McDonalds and use the internet (which by the way was only available at the McDonalds!). But seriously, we did have a wonderful time at the monastary, and we also were able to go on a driving tour that took us to various spots that inspiried many of the poems W.B. Yeats wrote-and the scenery was breathtaking! Below is a picture of some swans during our drive around the "Yeats Spots."



We then took a pitstop on our way to Belfast through a quaint coastal town called Portrush on the northern coast of Ireland. Even though we were farther north than Juneau, Alaska, the weather was beautiful!! We found a hotel that looked out over the beach, and we took a quick stroll through town before heading out again.....to the Giant's Causeway! This geologic anomaly was yet again, breathtaking! Thankfully we had a day full of sun as we hiked up to the edge of the cliffs and then down below to where the hexagonal, black rock formations jutted from the shore. The waves sounded like jet airplanes as they rolled across the rocks. Again, we where overwhelmed by the expansiveness of the scenery.





From the northern coast, we traveled to Belfast to visit our new friends Richard and Lisa Treacy. We met them for dinner at their favorite place in Hillsborough south of Belfast. We instantly connected and had great conversations. They were so gracious to invite us to stay with them for a night. We had a wonderful and relaxing time at their home. The best was sitting at their kitchen table one night drinking tea with biscuits and enjoying the craic (that's the Irish phrase for having fun conversations) until 1 AM!!! The next morning, Richard took us around Belfast with his buddy Don, who was the former chaplain for the prision that held both IRA and Ulster terrorists during the Troubles. It was eye opening to see all the murals painted on various walls around the city stating their loyalty and threatening retribution to those in opposition. You could really feel the tension that still existed to a certain degree in these areas. Don has started a cool business in which at first glance is a secondhand furniture/clothing retail shop for those in need, but with a closer look, it's really his way of helping to reconcile the Catholic community and the Protestant community. Often, he will receive a used couch from a Catholic person and it ends up in a Protestant home. He prays for the families as this interchange is made. What a vision!





We were sad to leave Belfast and our new friends, but we were due to arrive in Dublin. We made a pit stop on the way to Dublin to Adrien Bailie's showroom. Adrian, a friend of the Treacy's, is a top interior designer in Ireland. The Treacy's were generous to set up some time for me to meet Adrian and "talk shop" with him:) I thoroughly enjoyed our time there, and seeing Andrian's creative/beautiful style really inspired me! You can check out his website at
http://www.adrian-interiors.com/.

Our next entry is coming soon which is about our time in Dublin and then Scotland! We miss you all immensely, and with Christmas just 4 days away, it does get lonely at times thinking of not being with you all during this time. Howver, the Lord has blessed us greatly with the friends and family we have spent time with thus far! We have really come to realize how important community is!!! We love you all, and will be in touch soon!

Peace, Love, and Merry Christmas!

Kathryn and Ron