I wish I'd know my paternal Grandma - the alliteratively named Marie Margaret Mathews Merrill - for one thing, I'm named for her (my middle name is Marie) and for two she was reportedly a fantastic seamstress. My mother told me recently that my Grandma had made a beautiful Irish wool plaid skirt that made the rounds of all the little girl cousins back in the fifties and sixties. I am the youngest of all the cousins, but unfortunately, we had to pass along the skirt to my oldest cousins' daughter, who's only four years younger than I. No idea what happened to it.
On my maternal Grandmother's side, we had Timothy Keefe (b. 1857-1933) , who was my Grandma's uncle. Tim was a baseball player and is actually in the Baseball Hall of Fame!
Uncle Tim was a pitcher and was credited as one of the first pitchers to use the changeup. And thus concludes my entire knowledge of the sport of baseball. Family legend has it that Tim married a New York Showgirl, much to his Irish fathers displeasure and she was paid off to disappear. Don't know if it's true, but it sounds good!Here are some beautiful hotels that maybe if I ever get there I will be able to visit!
Bellinter House
There's such a moody feel about this hotel. I love the attention to the details and the photographic lighting throws some really interesting shadows.
Wouldn't you love to cozy up on the Chesterfield with a good book and a cuppa?
Okay - so this image has two things I'm sick of - a mounted head and a bust. But, at least they are presented in a unique way!
Do we think the headboard is covered in a fabric? That repeat is just insane!The G Hotel in Galway was designed by Galway native Philip Treacey in a classic over the top Hollywood glamour style. While I love the design, it doesn't feel "Ireland" to me. Maybe because I've never been there that I'd be wanting a more traditional old world feel.
Ok ladies - watch how you sit at the bar!
Don't you feel like you'd fall into this rug and not be able to climb out?
This room is possibly beautiful in person, but it loses something in translation.The Coopershill Hotel in Sligo is housed in a beautiful Georgian style house build in 1774. Now, this is what I'm talking about!
I love the tiles, hate the window treatment!
More mounted head...
Loving this pink dining room! That sideboard under the wall o' plates must be 10' wide!
And, for my Irish Daddy, an Irish Blessing:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the Divil knows your dead!
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the Divil knows your dead!
