Newbridge Gathering

We had a lovely day on Sunday. We gathered for 11.00 am Mass in the Parish Church. Afterwards we went out to the grave, to pay our respects. Then we let the kids run around Donnelly's Hollow for a while. I counted 5 sons; 1 daughter; 4 daughters in law; 8 granddaughters and 7 grandsons. Quite a gathering of the clan: Rebecca, Caoimhe, Hannah, Laura, Matthew, Peter, Simon, Roisin, Rosha, Ronan, Sarah, Senan, Conor, Lisa, Kevin, Melinda, Greg, Geraldine, Paul, Colette, Brian, Sheila, Martin, Mags. Only Colin; Louie, Eoghan, Katy, Mairead and Phil were missing. We had a nice lunch; watched Leinster trounce Bath; and finished up with coffee and Choclate Fudge cake in Kevin and Melinda's.

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Joan Dobey

Today is Joan's third anniversary. I could not help but remember her (and Brian) when we were down in Tara Cove last week-end. When I was filing the new Tara Cove pictures (see below), I found this picture of her from July 2000. We miss her and this coming week-end we will all get together in Newbridge and remember her.

May she rest in peace.

Winter Sunshine, Tara Cove

Mags and I took Senan and 3 of his friends down to Tara Cove last night for his 12th Birthday. It was a slightly risky plan for this time of year. We brought lots of board games in case we were rained in. The Friday evening was wet and damp - we played Monopoly and ate pizza and had a good evening. Saturday morning was glorious, there was bright sunshine and you feel the heat of the sun. We went for a walk on the beach. It is so different in winter - the sea is in further and the beach has a lot more stones. The waterfall and stream at Dag's Pool were in full flood. The boys chased in and out of the waves and they all got shoes wet and some got even wetter. It was so peaceful and other-worldy as Tara Cove is when there is nobody around. We had a big fry-up for lunch and headed back to Dublin around 3.30.

Senan's 12th Birthday

Today is Senan's 12th birthday. We went to Milanos for Pizza.

Snow in Siena

Siena, 30 December, 16:10 by Giuliano Cadelo.

A different view of Siena, just a few days ago. The Campo, famous site of the Palio, covered in snow. Picture idea from Elitre's great site on the Palio and Siena.