Reunion

A few pics of the recent Murray/Hughes/Cummins family reunion. A great night was had and many new friends were made. I must have met 50 or 60 cousins hitherto unknown. Glad to see number 1 son is following in the family singsong tradition.

A day at the seaside

Here are some photos taken today at Cahore and Kilmuckridge. It was a gorgeous day and having a pint at the Strand was a real tonic in these gloomy times we find ourselves in. Happiness does not have to cost the earth. Along for the day was Jades long time beau Bernard.The beautiful imp in the hat is Roisin, our niece.

Eoin's 19th

The lanky one deigned to grace us with his presence last week....possibly because we threw him a party!Although we don't have any shots of the actual party ( the sitting room was off limits ) here is one of himself blowing out the candles on his cake. It wasn't staged at all.

Paddies day!

A shot of my two favourite girls just before the start of the parade in Gorey.Two of my nephews were following in the family tradition by playing with the Tallaght Youth Band in said parade.What a fabulous day...I hope it is a good omen for the summer.

Purgatory!!!

Gave up the shmokes today....holy jaysus I'm gaggin'.

Wonder boy!

Eoin just got a paying gig with Opera Ireland for their upcoming March performances.Jade was accepted to transition year.Brenda got 98% in her recent exams, and on top of all this I'm still on the sane side of the crazy divide!Things are goooood!!!

Knocknalour in the snow.

Snowed in today, the Youngs and the Duggos set about building a snowman and pelting the bejaysus out of each other with snowballs.

Strange day at work.

Last thursday was an odd one.Started off in Cahirciveen, had jobs to do in Glenbeigh and Ennis and had to make a meeting in Carlow for five pm. So, we took the Tarbert-Killimer ferry. With uncommonly good timing we arrived at the pier just as the ferry hove into view.Within ten minutes we were underway. We spent a very pleasant interlude leaning on the railing taking in the sea air and in no time ( twenty minutes total ) we were disembarking. Taking a ship to work is an experience I haven't had since I lived in Sydney, over twenty years ago now. It made for a refreshing change. 

Some pics from crimbo, featuring me Ma on the outside of some good red, me brotheron the outside of seconds and thirds and a pic of Bren that she'll kill me when she sees it.

Roy's 65th

A few shots of the aforementioned party in late november last year.A blast and no mistake.

UCD award

Number one son again distinguishes himself. Here he is pictured with Ma and Da Deshoon showing his UCD high achievers award. He received the award in a fine ceremony in O'Brien Hall in UCD last Friday week. Bren and myself were the proud onlookers.

Obama

Blow me down with a feather.I never thought I'd see the day.Maybe there's hope for the world yet.Hip hip.........

Here are some pics of our fantastic day trip round the dingle peninsula last weekend.I hadn't been there since I was a tot.The scenery really is awe inspiring.What you can't see in the first shot are the hordes of wind and kite surfers in the background.They flew like birds.I was uplifted and jealous simultaneously.We then drove up the Connor Pass (pics 2 & 3) and got caught in a traffic jam on the way down (pic 4).

Spent the afternoon in Dingle drinking guinness and scoffing hearty seafood chowder.Heavenly day.Reminded me of similar pleasant afternoons spent with absent friends.You know who you are.

Nightlife in Tralee proved surprisingly good.Mr and Mrs Deshoon danced saturday night away with gay abandon!!Sadly, all good things come to an end.We returned to real life on Monday.

Ragnarok.

Is anyone else out there amazed by the speed of the worlds descent into hell in a handbasket.How did this happen so fast? There is a long cold winter ahead, I fear. Where were the senior execs, the regulators, the central banks and the governments. What completely useless and overpaid morons.
On a lighter note I enjoyed a great game of golf on Tuesday.Taking my hard earned were Declan and Roy.Bren and I shall be heading for exotic Tralee at the weekend. By the looks of the weather it could be an indoor weekend. Not that I'm complaining. They're my favourite kind.

Golfing heaven

A poor representation of the view down the 18th at Rathsallagh( taken with phone). This noble course was negotiated with varying degrees of success by myself, Declan and Tony( a business acquaintance). A most enjoyable day, during which I played some of the best and the worst golf of my career. I cannot wait to play again. Without Tony. His incessant ramblings shall henceforth be avoided at all costs.

Hair today, gone tomorrow.

As requested, a shot of Jades groovy new hairdo. A completely candid shot with no posing whatsoever.

In which young Master Eoin goes off to college.

Prideful jubilation tinged with wistful sadness.Our firstborn has left home.Sniff.Sniff.So now we have two spare bedrooms.I have always felt that empty rooms in a home are vaguely melancholic.
Eoin started in UCD last week and wouldn't you know, he is taking to it like a duck to water.He started on a wednesday and thursday night he was at a medsoc do in beaujangles!Free wine don't you know?He has joined the rowing club(he says they pressgang anyone over 6 foot who isn't a rugger bugger).
He is staying with his Nana Christine.She is already spoiling him rotten.He plans to take pics of his dinners to tease the bedsit brigade(who subsist on noodles and toast).
What an adventure lies ahead of him.It is exceedingly strange to feel envious of your own son.Mostly,though where Eoin is concerned I am proud as punch and happy as a pig in shit.

suzannes wedding

My baby sis got married a few weeks ago. It was a beautiful ceremony with much in the way of tears and laughter. The reception was a grand affair in the fabulous Mount Wolsey Hotel. Best wishes to Sue and Tom ( the lucky fella ). Here are a few shots.

Al Fresco

Here are a few pix of our new deck. Myself and young master Eoin are very proud of our handiwork. Said outdoor living space has already been christened with a barbeque, at which nearly twenty members of the family were fed and watered.A sing song followed at which my mam and clare sang all night accompanied by me and my dad on guitar. Great craic!
Tonight the clan Deshoon are off to see Eoin blow his horn in the national concert hall. Porgy and Bess, no less!