The trip from Los Angeles to Dublin was, as air travel should be, uneventful. Barry Vaughan met us at the airport with the bus. I was hoping that Doug would meet us there, too. His flight was supposed to arrive an hour before ours, but there was no trace of him. We arrived in Athlone about 3:30. In contrast to the effort that it takes to pack – and to prepare to pack– it took almost no time to unpack. I got my clothes hung-up, the bathroom set-up, and the technology hooked-up within an hour. I got a few essentials at the Londis Shop, the Irish mini-mart, and figured I’d have an early evening.
It was not to be. Doug arrived around 5:30 after a series of airline mishaps that was the kind of eventful trip that travelers do not relish. To make matters worse, once he got his luggage in his room, the door shut and locked with him on the outside with a key that would not work. He ended up sleeping in Barry’s apartment. Gavin, our apartment manager was at a wedding on Saturday night and did not come up for air until Sunday afternoon. He told me a couple of days later “that an Irish wedding could kill the best of lads.” Anyway, Doug did not get into his room until Sunday evening, and although there wasn’t anything I could do about it I was concerned that he was having such an uncomfortable beginning to his trip. That’s him above enjoying a cup of coffee at my table on Saturday afternoon.
Barry had suggested that anyone who was inclined meet at Charlie Brown’s, our neighborhood pub, for a ‘welcome to Ireland’ drink at 8:00. I wasn’t tired at all, so I went and at 10:30 all of a sudden Barry sat up straight, turned to me and said, “Do you know what day it is?” When I said Saturday, he said, “Yes, Saturday. Saturday night. And what happens in Athlone on Saturday night?” Then I remembered. “The session at Flannery’s!”
Several of us trooped down, and the session began shortly after we got there. We were recognized by some, including the owner, Ann, who was heard to say a little later, “No talkin’ durin’ the next one or yer out!” We waited with great anticipation for what the song would be –“The Folsom Prison Blues” – which the singer did in his best American accent! As usual, several people played and sang, and the regulars joined in on the ones they knew. The students left about 11:45 and Doug and Barry and I took a cab home at 12:30. That’s the two of them outside as we were leaving.
Sunday we had an orientation session for the students, and then Barry led a walking tour of the town. That’s him next to graffiti on the wall that reads “Polska = skum”. Barry took the opportunity to explain about the ethnic and cultural tensions current in the country due to the presence of large numbers of foreign workers, many of whom come from Poland and other eastern European countries. Ireland as a whole has become a multinational country, and in Athlone on Sunday afternoon, we heard primarily eastern European languages being spoken on the street.
As the group went on to Athlone Castle, Mary and I got our grocery shopping done at the Tesco and took a cab home with our bags. After dinner, Danielle Allison came and collected me and we had quick drink on the terrace of the Radisson looking out on the Shannon. That’s her hoisting my Guinness. My third Irish summer is off to a great start!
If you want to see any of the pictures larger and with better resolution, just click on it!
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