2009 holiday included a great deal of travel; I needed break when I got back!
To get things moving we attended Michelle's wedding (Celine's niece) to Seamus in Greencastle, Co Tyrone, the same church Celine and I got married in 40years ago this August 2009.
Irish-Australian comic Jimeoin turned up with his mum and dad Kathleen and Jim.
The reception was held in Cavan Crystal Hotel, Cavan town

Whilst in Greencastle I found out a bit about the Ogham Stone which I knew for many years was on Celine's family property. It is now a favourite tourist visiting site and is very busy especially in the summertime.
Ogham is a script that consists of a series of notches, and apparently represent different letters of the alphabet. This particular Ogham stone was erected around 200- 400 AD in the late Iron Age

We then set out for my family home in Killenaule Co Tipperary. All the family came home and we had the usual family reunion which is very special. My mother is going well and still well able to keep us in check!
Whilst I was in Clonmel I visited the monument erected to the late great Irish tenor, Frank Patterson.

Another great Irish artist was my cousin Pat Lyons All Ireland accordion player. Pat passed away some years ago and the locals built a monument to him above his home in Ballynonty, at the top of the Reen.

When I return to Ireland I always visit the place where I was born at the gate lodge leading up to Roan house (See Photo). The two room gate house is long gone but the memories are still with me. Eight of us lived their and I had some of the happiest days of my childhood.