Historical Kinsale, Ireland Since the influence of the Anglo Normans in the twelfth century and its first charter in 1334, Kinsale has enjoyed a reputation as a port of consequence, mainly through fishing and shipping. From the beginning of the 20th century, Kinsale's economy declined and many of the town's fine houses and buildings became derelict. But all was not lost - the story of the transformation of Kinsale from a run down and jaded town into a pretty, lively and prosperous one is a story of foresight, co-operation, but above all, civic determination that began in the 1960s and continues today. Kinsale, as the late Seán Ó Faoláin once observed, is a town 'crawling with history'. Enjoy the experience of well preserved medieval buildings and streetscapes. Visit the Norman built 12th century Church of St. Multose, and 15th century Desmond Castle (being developed as a wine museum). Kinsale sightseeing would be incomplete without a visit to James Fort - built in 1604, and Charles Fort, built in 1670. A visit to the Regional Museum in the Old Courthouse with its local, marine and Lusitania artifacts will add another dimension to the town's chequered history.

Dennis Thoren - Keith Graff

Dream Land There is a place in Ireland Where I would love to roam It is a place where years ago Some dwellers called their home It has medieval buildings That were built with finest stone Oh, what a thrill it must have been To call these dwellings home The structures were majestic Some reaching to the sky They sit atop a mountain Scenery pleasing to the eye Just give me one sweet wish in time I'd walk amongst the walls And touch the surface of the stones That came from Natures all The ivy walls and towering homes Upon a cliff, tis high So give me one sweet dream to dream From Ireland I'd view the sky ImAuthor4U © 04-15-01

John C. McCornack

Irish Lass If I forget to say I love you or show how much I care remind with a gentle kiss atop my auburn hair Of all the joys and wonders with you I now possess lest, I should let them pass me by in simple carelessness It only takes a moment to touch your loving hand to kiss your gentle forehead as you never do demand So I will be more careful as days go quickly past just to remind that I love you and forever I'm your lass mcs ©

Nuclear Free!

A Blessing from Saint Patrick May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields and, Until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. St. Patrick was a Christian missionary given major credit for the conversion of Ireland from paganism. So many legends surround his life that the truth is not easily found. St. Patrick became a hero in Ireland, so much so that there are no fewer than 60 churches and cathedrals named for him in Ireland alone. Perhaps the most famous of these is the giant St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, the grounds of which bear the mark of the site on which St. Patrick baptized his converts.

More St. Patrick Genealogy The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship. Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan. At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God. He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity. His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the pagans that had overrun the country. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland. Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity. His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since. Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday. One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

Jody Mac's Golden Fried Chicken

Irish Proverbs * It's easy to halve the potato where there's love. * The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves. * The beginning and end of one's life is to draw closer to the fire. * The well fed does not understand the lean. * Every terrier is bold in the doorway of its own house. * It is not a secret if it is known to three people * The older the fiddle the sweeter the tune

Irish way of Thinking Donald MacDonald from the Isle of Skye went to study at an English University and was living in the hall of residence with all the other students there. After he had been there a month, his mother came to visit him. "And how do you find the English students, Donald?" she asked. "Mother," he replied, "they're such terrible, noisy people. The one on that side keeps banging his head on the wall and won't stop. The one on the other side screams and screams all night." "Oh Donald! How do you manage to put up with these awful noisy English neighbors?" "Mother, I do nothing. I just ignore them. I just stay here quietly, playing my bagpipes."

What Ireland is all about

Ireland would be so much fun I’d go there in a minute The landscape is just lovely And such special people on it. M. I. Lusby 2-16-12

A Man Called St. Patrick Wouldn’t you love to meet St. Patrick? A guy with much style and fame He was the patron saint of Ireland Maewyn was his given name. Sold into slavery at sixteen He found his heart with God For six years he was kept captive He prayed for freedom to trod Once escaping he studied at a monastery He set up many monasteries in his land Schools and churches he also arranged Much good was felt at St. Patrick’s hand His mission lasted for thirty years Yes, he lived life the Christian way He died on March 17 in AD 461 From that time on folks celebrated the day So when the March 17th is upon us Be sure and wear green that day Because of a famous and great man Let’s all celebrate this holiday! Marilyn Lott © 2006

Learn to know Don 1. For over forty years, Spanish Cove has been progressive minded. 2. It began in 1974 with a dream of creating a community of retired teachers and the purchase of an apartment complex. 3. In the late 1980s, the Sherman Huff Plaza was built to meet nursing care and dining needs. 4. Those needs were soon outgrown and so the idea to develop a state of-the-art health center was birthed. 5. By 2001, the Pavilion was completed and the Plaza was converted to become a center for wellness and activities. 6. I am quite certain the road for progress in our campus history was not an easy path. 7. I am sure both the Plaza and Pavilion were upsetting to some who just wanted to live out their lives without any more changes. 8. While I can understand this thinking, it is not the way most of us have lived our lives. 9. Fortunately for us, neither was it the predominant way of thinking of our predecessors.

Photo by Marilyn Rosemary So Green Rosemary is an herb I cook with Usually they are rather small But this one, my friends Has grown extremely tall. Her greenness is just perfect For this St. Patrick’s Day I pick pieces of her for meals But she still stays this way! Elizabeth Anderson 3-2-14

Historical Photo by John Memories of the good times at Cloud Chief My Grandmother and my Mom

A Spanish Cove special memory Walter, Cletis at a meeting of the Literary Preservation Society