I received this picture during the week. There was a caption as well but I thought I’d see who might come up with a good caption so be creative and hit the comment button!!
Category Archives: Photography
A flashback …
Was looking through some YouTube video clips I’ve posted and this one - an aside and a little joke ….
A man walks into a restaurant and as he goes to a table a lady sitting at another table sneezes. As she does her glass eye flies through the air. The man makes a diving save and grabs it as it flies. He hands it back to the woman and, as he goes to move on, she asks would he like to join her for dinner. Being on his own, he does. The lady orders a full dinner, wine and all that goes with it and insists on paying. The man protests but she is adamant that she is paying. ”Are you always this nice to strangers?” he asks. ”No”, she replied with a smile “but you caught my eye”!!
Anyway, as I was saying, this video “caught my eye” .. it’s a few views from the rooftop of St Aidan’s Church Monasteraden, taken when Michael Roddy was doing a bit of work around the church and allowed me do a bit of photographing.
How things have changed!
A light-hearted (but not totally far-fetched) look at how things have changed over the years ….
Goodbye Snow!!!
How I’d love to be able to say that. It snowed during the night and the place is covered this morning. Not cold though. Sadly, it’s likely to get colder during the day and then the freezing sets in and that’s pretty much it …. I really don’t want snow at Christmas this year. I don’t think anybody does. It looks lovely but that’s all. So, for what it’s worth, I want to say “Goodbye snow … see you again at some stage but NOT now”!
On the other hand, my dog Alpha said “hello” to snow today. Even allowing for the difference in dog years, I’m not sure he’d remember much of it from last year so he was a little bemused when we went out this morning to open the church. Mad for off, I had to keep him back for a while but then decided he might like to run. I was right!!
What happened all the black stuff?
and the green stuff?
Okay, let's go!
This stuff is cool!
Who's idea was it for me to sit in this???
Yeah, it's not all it's cracked up to be. I'm going home!
Take me home, country roads!!
For something completely different (and senseless!!)
Earlier today I got an email and it made me smile. Okay, there’s no doubt the subject matter is serious and beyond a joke but I think the photos are class and, as I said, it made me smile. Maybe it’ll do the same for you. (I got it in picture format but found a video version on YouTube so being lazy I’ve opted for the latter rather than having to save and upload all the photos …..)
Eleventh of the Eleventh Eleven …..
It’s one of those dates …. there were twin brothers beside me at home and they were born on the 6th of the 6th Sixty-Six, ensuring their birthday would not be forgotten. Likewise I know at least one mother in waiting and if her baby is born today, it’s a birthday that will be easily recalled. ”I was born on 11/11/11 …. ” you can hear it slipping into future conversations.
President of Ireland - Michael D. Higgins
Today (just in a few moments time actually) the ceremony begins to inaugurate Michael D. Higgins as the 9th President of Ireland. Again, an anniversary that will be easily remembered.
Hopefully it will be a good Presidency for him, his family and for all the people of Ireland – at home and away.
We think of Mary McAleese as she leaves office and rejoice that she did well for and by Ireland over the past fourteen years. There weren’t many parishes she didn’t visit during those years and some of her finest visits were those private ones to homes where tragedies struck and she came to spend time with troubled people. We’ll let her enjoy a “Presidential Salute” again today ….
Today too, marks the end of the First World War in 1918. We do well then to pray for peace throughout the world – a world that seems slow to learn the lessons taught by the atrocities of war.
Each day brings its own memories – some we want to hold on to and some, perhaps, we’d prefer to forget. Wherever you are today and whatever you do, I hope you have good things to remember come midnight tonight.
___________________________
An aside!
I just watched the Innauguration Ceremony and Rita Connolly sang “The Deer’s Cry”. I just recorded it from the TV recording with handheld camera so not best quality of image but as for the sound and singing – Absolutely class!
Back at base
Arrived home on Thursday. All went well. Went to see Alpha and, since I’m still typing – you can see he didn’t bite my hand off!! Left him with Brendan and will collect him on Friday evening. Brendan worked wonders with him but I’m not sure whether he’ll progress or regress when he gets back to me! Progress hopefully ….. We’ll see.
Alpha - today - Looking content!!
"My ball" .... and that's that 
(The picture below is an old one of Alpha – taken a few months ago …. those were quieter/easier days )
Farewell – Heading to “oceans” new
Fr John McCarthy
Fr John McCarthy is one of the priests here at St Agnes’ Cathedral. We share an Ordination Date (though a good few years between the two!! He was ordained three years ago). John spent about twenty years in the US Navy before deciding to become a priest. He believes his vocation came through his work with the Navy and that it was there he should minister. He has spent three years in this parish and will, in the early days of September, resume his life with the US Navy but this time as a chaplain. I wish him every happiness and blessing. He’s a good man and has been very welcoming and kind in any dealings I’ve had with him.
John very kindly contacted me following the deaths of my parents and I appreciated that very much. He’s a reassuring presence and I’ve no doubt he’ll bring much goodness and hope to all with whom he lives and to whom he ministers. His new base will be in Georgia.
The staff here organised a BBQ on Wednesday last to celebrate his new venture and wish him well on his way. They presented him with a remote controlled ”sailing boat” – to help him re-adjust to the waters!! I think he’ll be dealing with slightly larger boats and submarines but it was a humorous gift!! The joke wasn’t missed.
Including a few photos below. I hope those featured don’t mind!!
Where do you go?
Since August 1997 I have been coming to Long Island, New York for a few weeks each year. It started when I worked in the Marriage Tribunal, Galway and our office used to close for the month of August. I spent two “Augusts” in St Patrick’s Parish, Huntington and, since August 1999, I have been coming to St Agnes’ Cathedral in Rockville Centre. I enjoy coming here a lot, meeting people and priests here in the parish and having a chance to visit family and friends in New York and beyond. It’s a lovely opportunity to get away and, being the creature of habit that I am, it’s an easy choice! I went out earlier and took a fairly short video clip of the cathedral and surrounds and thought I might include it here. (In hindsight I shouldn’t have included the background music so hit MUTE!!)
