Irish Troubles? Not with Pat Sullivan

“I feel more and more the time wasted that is not spent in Ireland.”  

Lady Gregory

Since my first trip to Ireland in 1994 with my sister, brother, and our spouses, I have returned many times for a variety of reasons and accompanied by friends and some family members. That first trip was a mere introduction that led to identifying relatives and seeking new friends.

The first trip renewed my interest in genealogy, especially on my Irish side. A researcher in Tipperary correctly matched my Irish ancestors and it was off to Ireland for my second trip, this time with my son, John.  On this next trip, we actually found descendants, distant cousins, in County Tipperary near the Rock of Cashel.

But the most memorable trips to the Island were the travels with a lifelong teammate, fellow coach, and friend, the honorable Patrick Sullivan of Joliet.  Fortunately, those two trips also involved third parties who garnered the benefits of Pat’s and my wisdom, but unfortunately never had the chance to get many words between the bantering between Pat and Tom.

Pat’s nephew, Mark Balog, joined us on the first trip and my son, John, was with us on a second trip.  

Excerpts from my journal, with my comments, might give the reader a flavor of the first of our trips. Our threesome was comprised of Tom Kennedy, Pat Sullivan, and Mark Balog.

August 2004

Monday (8/17):  Left for Irelands at 5:20 p.m. from Denver and arrived in Frankfurt on Tuesday. Left Frankfurt and arrived in Dublin at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.  Rented a car and drove directly to All Hallows College.  I met Pat Leamy and Kathleen at Tom Kennedy’s Pub, then went to Fagan’s for dinner.  Also, earlier, talked with Bob Whiteside, John Riordan, and three others outside.

Comment: I had previously met Fr. Bob Whiteside, rector of the All Hallows Seminary, and he invited us to stay there.  Pat and Kathleen Leamy had previously assisted in my search for Kennedys.)

Wednesday (8/18):  Picked up Pat Sullivan and his nephew Mark Balog at 8:30 a.m. at the airport and drove back to All Hallows.  Then walked to City Centre, about 2-3 miles.  Supper at Fagan’s, then walked back to All Hallows where we talked with Bob into the night.

Thursday (8/19):  Took a bus to City Centre, Grafton Street, and then met with Sibion Warfield at Keho’s Pub.  Then went to see “River Dance” performing in Dublin. Later, met again with Bob that night.

Comment: Sibion, is the daughter of Brian Warfield, leader of the Wolfe Tones. She also knew and had dated Pat’s son, Pat.

Friday (8/20):  Left for Limerick and visited Limerick University, then on to Patrickswell where Lily and Michael Wolfe own the Lurriga Lodge.  Later, we had dinner with Tommy Heyer, the Limerick basketball coach, and his wife, Mary.

Comment: Whenever possible, we stayed at a Bed and Breakfast, where the owners are gracious, and the house guests come from all over the world. Lily’s daughter was also going into town and Pat offered to give her a ride. Lily barked at us, “No! You might give her a lift but not a ride.” We discovered that the English language may have different meanings in Ireland.

Saturday:  Drove to Cliffs of Moher, lunch at Monk’s, then back to Limerick where we watched Tommy’s basketball practice; then toured the parts of Limerick where Frank McCourt (“Angela’s Ashes”) grew up.  Dinner that night with Tommy and Mary.

Sunday (8/21):  Drove to Clonmel, went to mass at St. Peter and Paul Church and checked in to the Clonmel Arms Hotel.  Later, we met Sibion and her father, Brian Warfield, at the bar just prior to the Wolfe Tones’ concert.  Crowd of about 300 of all ages and completely riled up.  Noise in the street kept us up until 2:00 a.m.  Nice talk with Brian after the concert.

Comment: The Wolfe Tones play all the Irish rebel songs, people know all the lyrics, and they go crazy. During one set, a fight broke out in the middle of the floor, Wolfe Tones kept playing, and the fight continued down the stairs and into the street. We were not involved in the fight.

Monday (8/22):  Left for Cashel, visited the castle, and then had dinner with Paul, Noreen, Eileen, Rory, Sean, and his wife, Pat.  At 9:00, we left for Hogan’s Pub for a dance/music where we met more than a few characters.  We stayed at Urlingford that night.

Comment: Paul, Noreen, etc. are my distant relatives in Ireland.  A word about Hogan’s Pub, located in the countryside of Tipperary: Dancing begins about 10:00 p.m. to live music, and continues until 12:30 a.m. Cousin Eileen, age 77, along with other men and women are dancing Irish dances and invite us onto the floor. Great scene of Pat dancing with a rather large framed women who shook all over and had the fastest feet ever seen by either one of us. At the end of the evening, we left along with men, women, and kids who leave in cars and on bicycles. What an evening!

Tuesday (8/23):  Left for Dublin and All Hallows.  Saw “A Night in November,” a one-person play that was great.  Had coffee with Bob later at All Hallows.

Comment: This play was a monodrama centered on the “troubles” in Northern Ireland.

Wednesday (8/24):  Took a bus tour to City Centre, saw the Book of Kells at Trinity College, and later (4:00) met with Joyce O’Connor at National College of Ireland.  Met Sibion at 8:30 at Gallagher’s.

Comment: Joyce O’Connor was the president of NCI and was interested in a partnership with my university in Denver.  

Thursday (8/27):  Left All Hallows at 6:45 a.m. Bob Took us to the airport.

All in all, it was a great trip with Sullie and his nephew.  The next trip with Pat would be with my son, John, in 1995. It, too, was memorable and that journal will be the topic in a future blog. Highlights of the Trip:

• Hogan’s Pub with Irish set dancing, Eileen at age 77 dancing.
• Annette, the big woman with quick feet, shaking all over as she danced with Pat
• The Clonmel Arms Hotel, rocking with the Wolfe Tones
• Being with Pat Sullivan
• Late night talks with Fr. Bob Whiteside
• Being with Sibion and Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones
• Seeing River Dance live in Dublin
• Seeing “A Night in November” with Bob, Pat, and Mark
• Getting to know Mark
• Repartee with Lily and Michael Wolfe
• Touring Limerick’s “Angela’s Ashes” area with Tommy
• Touring Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin

“Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.”

Irish Proverb