A GOOD NIGHT OUT

THE CHRISTMAS

GATHERING AT DOONASS

Bridie and Kathleen in fine form !

Last night we had our seasonal family get-together at the Anglers Rest in Doonass adjacent to the famous Falls. The small circle comprised of brother Tony and his wife Kathleen, uncle Frank and Aunt Bridie. Tony and Kathleens daughter Deirdre was otherwise engaged as was my own Margaret and our remaining uncle Joe lives in England. Across from the pub/hotel is the graveyard where mother is buried and also Kathleen’s parents. Doonass was a favourite Sunday-drive destination when we first got a car and on many an afternoon we picnicked by the rushing Falls or strolled along the banks of the river.It was one of my mothers favourite places and she loved to drink in the tranquil atmosphere and marvel at the natural scenery which induced its own charm and balm. To this day Doonass retains its sweetness and spectacle and is still a green oasis set beside the rushing streams of the Falls. So, a suitable venue for our Christmas-drink and an evening of talk and reverie.

The Three Wise Men..Frank,Tony and me !

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Our family gatherings usually revolve around nuggets of the family history retold and recalled by Frank out of his prodigious memory and corroborated and sometimes corrected by Bridie.The rest of us contribute, careful of committing any faux-pas en route for which the verbal chastisement from Frank would be swift and severe. His keen ability to recall events and people from long ago does not allow for any margin of error from other contributions, so while the atmosphere is relaxed ,there is also an element of concentration required lest one makes a complete idiot of oneself ( as I frequently do !).
One such story recalled last night bears re-telling. As a young woman mother flitted from job to job usually housekeeping, and after leaving the employment of a Mrs. Monsel she was owed wages for work done. Despite several requests from her the money was not forthcoming so mother asked Frank to help. At that time he was a member of the Defence Forces and he called to see Mrs Monsel in the North Circular Road area of Limerick. Frank arrived at her door in full military uniform and few words were required before she paid up in full. The sight of the uniform wonderfully concentrated Mrs Monsels memory. In fact this was probably one of the more successful manoeuvres performed by one of our troops in the 1940’s !

Making A Pint !

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We nearly had the Anglers Rest to ourselves as there were less than half a dozen other patrons in the pub. It’s hard to know how Declan the landlord ,can run a successful business in these circumstances ,although he told us he was having music on the following night and a large crowd was assured. Rural pubs are facing a bleak future as more people opt to stay at home because of the stringent drink-driving laws that are now being strictly enforced. In the cities there isn’t a problem as taxis are easily and cheaply accessed but in the country it is a different matter. We were quoted a price of 150 Euro for the round trip to Doonass by one taxi company, as it turned out I drove to the venue and Tony arranged with a neighbour who drives a cab to collect us for a fraction of the cost.

It was especially gratifying to see Bridie looking so well last night after her surgical procedure in Cork only a short time ago. I recall only four weeks ago sitting with her in Doctor Faheys office as he explained the 1 in 100 risk of stroke during the procedure which he advised her to undergo.I must admit I would have baulked at that point, but Bridie is made of stronger stuff and forged ahead. And if her healthy demeanour of last evening is anything to go by then she definitely made the right decision. Maybe with both my parents dead and only a few relatives remaining each seat occupied last night was a real gift from God.

A Hale and Hearty Bridie.

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This is a good time as the year turns to count our many blessings and appreciate the family ties that bind us together. As Tony observed, the traces of so many families who lived in The Yard are now razed and all over the relatively short period of twenty or thirty years. It reminds me of the Psalmist long ago who left us this timely piece of advice “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

Gerard O'Shea