Céad Míle Fáilte
Ireland: Land of a Hundred Thousand Welcomes. This
lrish saying is something I’ve seen and heard countless times since I was four
years old. That’s when I made my first visit to Counties Mayo and Cork with my parents.
Over the years I’ve traveled to Ireland many times and have had an opportunity
to experience the warmth and welcoming spirit of the Emerald Isle.
For me this saying has a deeper meaning. My mother
left Ireland when she was sixteen years old. Fortunately, she’s had an
opportunity to return many times. She and my father even lived there for a few
years after they bought a cottage. But
my mom was the only one of her siblings who left Ireland. So, for me and my two
brothers growing up in New York and New Jersey, it was a special treat to go to
Ireland. What a welcome! The excitement of meeting aunts, uncles, and cousins.
It didn’t matter how many times I went to Ireland; the welcome was always
there, always fresh.
People here in the US would often ask “Aren’t you
afraid to travel alone?” Me, “no”. Not when my trip took me to French Hill,
Castlebar, County Mayo. There was family to see. Tea to be brewed. (Oh, as much
as they love me, they wouldn’t want me to brew the tea…too weak), brown bread
and butter to eat. It doesn’t matter where you go in Ireland…someone will
always welcome you. There will always be a cup of tea (cupán tae) if you need
it.
In September I will be in Castlebar for the launch of
my book Death on Clare Island. I will be interviewed on Midwest Radio
and hold a book reading at the Castle Book Shop on Castle Street. I’m excited
about all of this but the most amazing part of it all: how welcoming and
hospitable the radio station and book store owner is. I called and explained
who I am and what I’d like to do. And they said “Yes.” They welcomed me and
will accommodate my schedule and wishes. This is the sense of openness and
community I’ve witnessed in this land of a hundred thousand welcomes throughout
my life.
Several years ago, I published a journal article about how to create and live in community. It takes trust, respect, love, and the idea of liability for each other. Yes, we are all individuals but I believe our sense of being also comes from our relationships with others. Those relationships often shape who we are, our spirit, and our mind.
I guess for me all the welcomes, the cups of tea, the love, the support, and understanding for someone who pops into the country once in a while has been a core part of who I have become.
Star O’Brien, the main character in the Star O’Brien
mystery series also experiences this welcoming spirit when she arrives in Ireland.
I hope that as time goes on, Star will also find that she is part of an amazing
community.
Keep the love going, Martha
