First of all, an apology! I had mentioned in the last bloggerania that I would try to check in from time to time while away on the trip. Well, since I am still fascinated by 8-track tape technology, I don't have a lap-top...I have a lap and a top but no lap-top. Up until recently, I thought WIFI was a question..."Why, Fie?" Of course, that supposes you know someone named Fie. Almost all of the hotels we stayed at did offer free Internet access but, by the time my wife communicated with all the kids, parents, friends, and creditors, our time would elapse. So, I just did not get a chance to let you know what was happening. I will now play catch-up.

A person couldn't have asked for a better group to be on a trip with than the 30 or so wonderful folks who signed up for the Enchanting Ireland tour. I did my best to be enchanting. We all arrived at KCI on August 27 ready to hit the air. One of the travellers had never been on a plane before but she turned out to be a great flyer. Now, it was a long, overnight flight. We landed in Dublin on Tuesday, August 28 around 10:00 a.m., their time. That would be four in the morning here in KC. For me, it wasn't bad since I'm wandering around in the wee small hours anyway. But it did make for a groggy group getting on the bus. We tore all over Dublin that first day...visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College. We saw the statue of Molly Malone. She is dressed in a very revealing dress. Let's put it this way, I don't think the men of Dublin would have noticed her cockles and mussels. The locals call the statue "The Tart With The Cart."

Over the next eight days, we made a 900 mile bus-trip around the Old Sod. Here's some of what I learned:

*People in Ireland really don't say Top O' The Mornin'. I tried it once and got whacked by an old guy's shillelagh.

*My great grandmother was named Hennigan. According to our driver, the O'Connells and the O'Briens were among the most powerful families on the island over time and those names are still prominent. As for Hennigan, I saw the name on one sign and the driver didn't have much to tell me about the family name. Clearly, the Hennigans were not movers and shakers.

*When you kiss the Blarney Stone, which gives you the ability to lie convincingly for seven years...good thing for a weatherman, a guy holds you by the waist as you lean way back, while clinging to a couple of bars, pucker up and smooch the stone. It costs about 12 bucks. Now, if someone came up to you on the street and asked you to kiss some old, dirty rock while he held you by the ankles AND pay him for the chance, you'd call the police. By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that after kissing the Blarney Stone you could get the Blarney Cold Sore.

*The Cliffs of Moher, or as we say around KMBC, The Cliffs of Larry Moore, are lovely even in a driving, cold rain.

*The best thing to do in Killarney is take a jaunting car ride through the national park. We had a spectacularly funny driver. He sang American country songs, in between the tales he told. In fact, all the hotels played American music over their sound systems. Lots of Sinatra and Ella.

*Of all the sights to see, the people of Ireland are the best part: funny, patient and kind.

As the week goes on, I'll remember more of the trip to share.

Meanwhile, back at home, everyone did well. More about that this week, as well.

It was a good trip but it is great to be home again.