More Research

We went to the Ulster Historical Center and listened to some interesting speakers.  Then we got some help with our research, but had to leave too quickly to get much done.

We drove out to the Northern Ireland Genealogical Library and after having lunch in the building spent the afternoon going through their collection of  parish registers, etc.

We are in Belfast

Yesteray we left Dublin and drove north to Belfast.

We went to the Boyne Valley and learned about the Battle of the Boyne between William of Orange and King James.  We stopped at Newgrange and toured an ancient mound that is so old its purpose is unknown.  We had lunch at the Newgrange cafeteria before heading on to Belfast.

We toured the city and went on a tour of the Titanic Museum.  It is an amazing place.

Today we visited the Public Archives of Northern Ireland and didn't make any progress on our genealogy but now know some parishes where Thomas Jones was not mentioned.

Circles represent the sun

The Titanic Museum

Wall between the Protestant and Catholic sections of Belfast

National Museum of Ireland

Today I was going to go to the National Library of Scotland or the Church of Ireland Archives.  However, I was too tired, so we visited the museum instead.  Among the many things that we saw were prehistoric bodies or parts of bodies that had been pulled from the peat bogs.  It was quite amazing that they had been preserved all those many years. Many of the artifacts had been pulled from the bogs.

We learned about the history of Ireland - bronze age, Vikings, medieval period etc.  Very interesting.

I haven't adjusted to the time here so I came home for a nap while Bob went shopping.

Tombstone

St Patrick's Cathedral and Merrion Square

While I spent a useless day at the Archives of Ireland, Bob visited St. Patrick's  and Merrion Square.  I had a problem getting back to the hotel because I got off  the bus at the wrong stop.  Eventually I made it back. We had supper at an Italian restaurant near the hotel.

Johnathan Swift's Grave (He was in charge of St. Patricks)

St. Patrick

 ..

Oscar Wilde

School girls in the Park

We are in Ireland

We arrived at the Dublin Airport and were picked up by our guide (Austin) for the tour.  We went to the Glasnevin Museum and had lunch at the museum cafe.  We had a tour of the Glasnevin Graveyard and saw graves of some of the people who are historical figures in modern Ireland.  Later we went to the National Botanic Gardens and then for a drive through the city.  I was tired and stayed on the bus instead of touring the Botanical Gardens.

Bob at the Airport

The Tower is Daniel O'Connell's Tombstone

Mid April

We did our last missionary apartment inspection and turned over  the books and keys to our replacement couple.

Sue-anne, Bob and I made a quick trip to Edmonton for Aunt Fran's funeral.

The tulips and some of the iris are in bloom. We have had warm weather and cool weather but little moisture. Bob has dug the garden.

It is a beautiful day to start our Irish adventure. We are on the way to Calgary to catch a flight to Toronto.

Canmore

It was spring break for Calgary school students this week.  Edward and family rented a condo and invited us to spend some time with them.  We drove to Calgary Monday morning and visited Nathan and Liam (who was recovering from appendectomy surgery) before meeting Edward and family at Canmore.  We stayed in Canmore until Wednesday morning and then went back stopping for lunch at Nathan's and arriving home about 4 p.m.

Bob's ankle after he got out of the hot tub

Three Sisters

Relaxing