The Year We’ll Never Forget

Well, folks, it's New Year's Eve again! I'm sure I don't need to go through the reminders of what all has happened across the world in 2020. And I'm sure each and every one of you have had unique challenges and heartaches this year, and hopefully a few blessings and joys as well. As you …

Where do you come from?

Have you ever felt like you belonged in a certain place, as though your blood and breath ran through the ground beneath your feet? I used to feel that way about Bozeman, my hometown. I loved every blade of grass, every sidewalk crack, every crooked tree, every gentle mountain breeze, every snowflake. I felt like …

365

We've hit the first milestone - it's been one year since we moved back to Ireland, after five up-and-down years in the USA. It's not been an easy year, but I have to say it's been a good one, all things considered, and overall we're happy with our "final answer." Perhaps it's just a thing …

Full Circle

To make a long story short - we've moved back to Ireland. Quick refresher: I moved to Drogheda in January 2008, to marry Frank Kelly. We spent a few years trying to make a living and build a family here, but the Recession had us beat. We saved up what we could, went through the …

An Irish Christmas

It's dark and quiet as I sit and listen to the clock tick this early morning while I drink my tea. I'm back in the corner of the couch in the kitchen I've sat in a thousand times before, contemplating Christmas, family, and jet lag. We're home in Ireland for Christmas!! This is the first …

‘One Day in December’ – a Kickstarter film campaign

I met an Irishman today. He was an environmental health and safety worker, giving out to someone in the room next door, and my ears perked up to his Dublin accent right away. I couldn’t help but interrupt their conversation, watching as his gruff demeanor melted away when he started telling stories about “the old …

I Am Ireland

"Sons and daughters of the Gael, wherever you be today, in the name of the motherland, greetings. Whatever flag be the flag you guard and cherish, it is consistent with your highest duty to link yourselves together to use your united strength to break the chains that bind our sweet sad mother -- and never …

End of an era.

It's the final week of May here in beautiful California, mild and sunny and relaxed. We had a nice Memorial day weekend of visiting with family, working on things around the house, and exploring the seaside boardwalk of Santa Cruz. I repainted my childhood rocking chair for the kids, from a tired brown varnish to a lovely …

The Care and Keeping of an Irishman

First things first - I'd like to take a second to thank everyone who reads "View from an Irish Back Yard" for helping me to reach 100,000 views in the last seven years of blogging. It's been fun! And you helped me get there. Now raise a glass to the next 100,000! 🙂 Now, on to the real post. …

Laggardly Pursuits

I am, for all intents and purposes, an introvert. I like people, and I'd like to say I make a good friend, but it's hard for me to make the first move.  One exception to this introversion is when I am the one in control of the situation, i.e. if I am the host, charged …