By: Marcia Abramson
I was traveling with members of the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association. Members from as far away as South Africa and Alaska were eager to see the Emerald Isle from Dublin to Belfast. My good Irish friend, Maureen Brigid Gonzalez, from the luxurious Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Fla., and her husband Arky Gonzalez, a past president of the prestigious Society of American Travel Writers, greeted me at the airport as we prepared to board the plane.The lovely Ruth Moran of Tourism Ireland and a neighbor from Long Beach was at the airport at 6:30 in the morning to greet us. She is a real Irish gem, brogue and all with a wealth of knowledge on all things Irish which she graciously shared with us. Our first stop was the Georgian-style Jury's Towers Hotel at Ballsbridge, Dublin, where I was introduced to the most delicious satiny Irish Oak Smoked Salmon. I found it to be superior to Scottish salmon, Norwegian salmon and Nova Scotia Smoked Salmon. The only thing missing was the bagel and cream cheese. The home baked breads are a fair substitute but not equal to the Long Island bagel.We were then off to the coach for an overview of the city of Dublin. We passed Trinity College, the oldest university in Ireland, founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, which is noted primarily for the Book of Kells, a 9th century illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels. Maureen Gonzalez briefed me on her family's connection with the Book of Kells. Her father, Michael Carroll, was an artist and a member of the original Irish Republican Army which fought in the 1921/22 War of Independence (The Black and Tan War). Mr. Carroll was commissioned to design the Certificate of Service for the old IRA members, which was presented by the President of Ireland at that time. Maureen recalled that she danced a reel for the President at the ceremony. In addition, she told me that the illuminated manuscript was written in Latin by Irish monks throughout the country with the exception of the Book of Kells which is from an abbey in Kells - An Ceannanas Mor - one of the centers of learning and art in the "Golden Age." Also look for the page that features a tiny pussycat. It seems that the monk who worked on that page had the cold, dank and damp typical Irish night shift. His feet were only covered with sandals and all he had to keep his feet and hands warm was the little white pussycat who sat on his feet and the hand that he was not using to write. The monk wrote a lovely poem in gratitude to Pangur Ban, the name he gave to the pussycat. In the poem the monk referred to the role each living creature plays in life. His role was to write and record the word of God and the story of Jesus and the cat's role was to keep the monk's feet and hands warm throughout the night ... each playing out his role together. We continued our drive to view St. Patrick's Cathedral, the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland, which is identified with the former Dean, Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver's Travels. Dublin Castle was pointed out as a place to visit for its 18th century state rooms and 19th century gothic Chapel Royal. I intended to also get to the National Gallery of Ireland to view the works of European artists with emphasis on the Irish master artists. I intend to get back to the Dublin Writers Museum on Parnell Street. The letters, portraits and personal items of Ireland's contribution to the literary world through the works of Swift, Sheridan, Shaw, Wilde, Yeats, Beckett and Joyce are on view in the magnificent 18th century Georgian townhouse. Future columns will deal with the ancient history of Ireland's fair cities, food and culture.
© Copyright by Marcia Abramson E-mail: mascribe@aol.com
