Friday, May 12: Last Day of the Trip

All rose and got packed for the trip home. Unlike other days, it was overcast and gray, reflecting our sadness of ending our journey in Ireland. We gathered in the large room just before departure, saying goodbye to Corrymeela staff and most importantly, Barney the dog.

Thursday, May 11: Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Karen Eyben of Waste No Time

Pat, Mike and others spoke with Reverend Gordon who experienced marches and riots in Albany, New York in 1967. He then returned to Belfast and worked for peace and reconciliation as a pastor.

After breakfast, we went to the Giants Causeway. 

There were a lot of active and friendly school children but we worked around them mostly. Deb used the bus to get to the hexagonal columns area. Some made it to the far end of the mid cliff walk. Some of those went up the steep path and stairs to the top of the cliff. 

Great lunch at the Smugglers Inn with desert included!

On to Dun Luce Castle where Nina McNeary, who is an archaeologist told us about the sequence of construction from oldest to newest. The McCuils(sp) knew how to Court the British king while keeping many things Gaelic. 

On the ride back, driver Patrick stopped in the car park where we could photograph the Carrick-aa-Rede Bridge. 

On the way back to Corrymeela, some were dropped off at a beach while some went up the hill to Corrymeela.

Karen Eyben from Community and Family Projects. Talked to us about several projects, including Waste No Time. Her progress is incredible. She advised we observe and ask questions as the best way to help with understanding and reconciliation. 

We went out to hear some traditional Irish music. 

Submitted by Rod Aldrich

At the Giants Causeway

At Dunluce Castle

Swimming' In Ballycastle Bay

Outside the "Traditional Music Hall"

Wednesday, May 10: Ballycastle Museum, Rathlin Island

Another beautiful day, although some wispy clouds, and somewhat cooler.

A silent service in the Croi, and then preparations for our trip into Ballycastle. We met Kevin McGowen, our guide for the day, and also the historian for Ballycastle.

A short bus ride into Ballycastle and then we went into the Ballycastle Museum. Kevin is the curator there and gave us an overview of the area's history. He also noted that they believe one of the walls of the museum was actually a wall of the castle. The floor of the museum is the original floor of the indoor market.

One of the museum's prized posessions is a marching banner from the 1904 Great Procession where groups from each of the nine Glens of Antrim carried a banner representing their Glen. Kevin believes the Museum has one of the only banners remaining, the Taise banner:

The group was well pleased with the Museum and Kevin talk about the area and the Museum artifacts.

We then headed for the Ferry for our trip to Rathlin Island. The sky hd cleared and the water was calm. We were fortunate to take the new Ferry over, which is very fast and took only 45 minutes to make the 6 mile trip.

On Rathlin Island we boarded the Puffin Bus and were driven out to the Bird Sanctuary. The Sanctuary has guides and provides binoculars as it is situated high on a cliff overlooking a nesting area for northern birds. We saw Puffins, fulmars, guillemots and razorbills. One of the volunteers there said they had counted over 60 Puffins.

We also went through the upside down lighthouse. So-called as the entrance is at the top and the light is at the bottom, though it is still very far up on the cliff.

After the sanctuary, the Puffin Bus driver took us for a quick tour of the island near the harbor.

Lunch at the village cafe and then we walked along the shore and Kevin noted the former Kelp factory where they processed kelp, saw a gathering of seals near a tidal pool and went passed the Rathlin Island Museum.

A full day and then we had a lovely ride back on the older Ferry which was much slower, but the water was calm and the weather was perfect.

After a quick dinner at Corrymeela, we helped Rachel plant some things in the Corrymeela garden and green house. Then a relaxation session with Rachel, which we all needed.

A relaxing, informative day at Corrymeela.

Submitted by Mike Thomas

Ballycastle Museum

Ferry to Rathlin Island

At the Bird Sanctuary

Having Tea and Coffee in "The Manor House" on Rathlin Island

Time to Leave Rathlin as the Rabbits have Arrived

Not Dead, Just Relaxation with Rachel after Gardening

Tuesday, May 9: Derry, History, Walk Walls, Free Derry Museum, Bogside Artists

Another day in Corrymeela with nothing but blue sky and sunshine and a new place for breakfast and new experiences. And Pat T also saw a sea otter in the sea. Great start to the day.

Driven by Patrick, and shepherded by Lisa, Garth and Olivia, the Team headed out to Derry. Lots of great chat on the bus with sheep, cows, sheep, horses, sheep, lambs and sheep in the fields we passed.

We picked up Adrian in Derry and began our visit to the old city. We walked over to the walls and walked a little way along them. Adrian then summarized about 500 years of British and Irish history related to why England had to maintain control of Ireland. His thought was that it was primarily to assure secure access to the Atlantic Ocean, which then assured England's access to its colonies as the British Empire expanded.

Adrian then talked about the troubles and how he was only nine years old when Bloody Sunday occurred on January 30, 1972. From the vantage of the walls overlooking the Bogside, he pointed out locations where the violence of Bloody Sunday had occurred.

We then walked to the "Free Derry Museum" and met a museum manager whose brother had been killed during Bloody Sunday and who had spent a good deal of his life trying to get justice for all those injured or killed during that awful day. On the outside wall of the Museum was a sound wave of the song "We Shall Overcome" (see picture below).

Our last guide was Tom Kelly, one of the three Bogside Artists who painted and maintained the famous wall murals in the Bogside about the Troubles. Tom is always fascinating to listen too, but this time it was a little sad as one of the three had just died, and Tom said they might not continue to maintain the murals, and might leave Derry.

Adrian then took us to a spot on overlooking the City on the other side of the Foyle where we took pictures of the entire city. A very lovely view.

We ended our day at the Croi, a worship area at Corrymeela. A short service with singing concluded another beautiful day.

Walking the Walls with Adrian

The Free Derry Museum

Sound Wave for "We Shall Overcome"

Some of the Bogside Artist Murals