Starting with some nervous moments on Saturday night during the voting of the Eurovision Song Contest when Jedward started scoring high points for a bit (good god the country can't afford a win) the week was jammed packed with such a mix of emotions I can't believe I've survived it relatively unscathe. With the arrival in Ireland on Tuesday of Queen Elizabeth II for a historic 4 day visit; thoughts of how it would go; will the minority trouble makers cause a scene; will there be any major breaches of protocol sparking international tensions were abound. The city of Dublin was on lock down and many holding their breath and crossing their fingers.
Alas, very little to worry about. The Gardaí & Army boys did a fine job in herding the eejits well away from the Garden of Remembrance on Tuesday and the biggest talking point of the day was how she bowed her head in respect "for our dead killed by her country men". Watching news coverage through the week and catching up on those I missed on rte player I have to admit a huge sense of witnessing something historic in the making and a pride in the Irish people who gave the Queen of England a real Irish cead mile failte!
http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2011/0520/media-2962359.html
Yes there were tears... but they were not the only tears this week. As if that wasn't enough to jam into one week, add two deaths and a birth. The passing of a friend taken from us far too young and that of Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, a man dedicated to making this historic occasion happen brought many a tear and reflective moments. The flip side was the birth of Mia Rose Margriet Lovelidge! As one friend put it...Life delivers little miracles sometimes. Welcome to the world sweet pea.
So it's now Sunday evening, the tears of joy, sadness, pride and hope have subsided (thankfully) and the people of Ireland are relaxing and getting back to normal...oh wait, President Obama arrives tomorrow morning!
What a week!
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