Summer 2011

Dear Friends,

The West's Awake !!!

I have exciting news to announce. Recently I have been collaborating with Mary Pat Kelly, author of the book Galway Bay, and Catherine O'Connell, Irish singer from Chicago. We are presenting a program we call:

Songs and Stories of Galway Bay.

Mary Pat tells the stories about her Irish ancestors who fled Ireland during "The Great Potato Famine" while Catherine weaves in songs that bring the story to life. Mary Pat's forbears eventually settle in Chicago and struggle to put together a life for their families in the dark era of "No Irish Need Apply."

At any rate, so many have asked us about doing a trip to the West of Ireland together that we gave it serious thought and decided to give it a go. If you want to be kept in the loop about the plans, please send me a note with your contact details. You can contact me through this website at Mary@TheBridgetoIreland.com

Mary Pat, Catherine and I have set aside two possible times:

The last week in April 2012
and the middle week of July 2012.

Please let us know when you would most likely be available to travel. We are looking at 8-9 days in the West of Ireland with a possible extension of 3 days to see other sites around the country depending on the interest of the group.

We would like to have no more than 30 people so that there will be ample room on the bus to move around and get to know each other. We will stay at 4-star hotels in Galway and Connamara, and we will trace the roots of Honora Kelly, Mary Pat's great-grandmother. We expect to spend some time in the Aran Islands and in Mayo, the site of Croagh Patrick and the ancient Famine Road.

We anticipate that 9 days will cost approximately $3100 not inclusive of airfare. There would need to be a single supplement, of course, and the extended days would add proportionately to the cost. Breakfast and dinner will be included. We'll sing and dance, eat and drink, pray and walk and reflect on the immigrant story that touches so many of our lives as Americans no matter our nationality. We may even stop in a pub or two just to soak up the culture!

Let us know if you want to be kept informed of the details as they evolve. We'd love to travel with you!

And isn't there something Irish about “The Three Marys?” We three Marys would welcome you to join us on our trip “home.”

Take care and God bless.

Slan,

Mary Evers
Mary Pat Kelly
Catherine Mary O'Connell.

Indeed, The West's Awake!!!!