Island to Island

Top o the mornin' to ya!

Wexford, Ireland 2005 (C) JCS 2005

Happy St. Patricks Day to the Irish at heart. I myself am Scottish, but it was only seven months ago that I was traveling Ireland by rail for an article. Today is bringing back some of those great Irish memories ... my first black pudding, the street artists in Cork, the sun setting over the harbor in southerly Howth.

Here in Western Mass., everyone is gearing up for the St. Paddy's Parade in Holyoke, the second largest in the nation and one hell of a party. I heard of a particularly interesting - and new - facet of the festivities today, called Islands Together. It's a partnership between the large Puerto Rican community in Holyoke and the old Irish guard, blending the cultures through a number of artistic and musical endeavors. Tonight, for instance, two groups - one Irish, one Puerto Rican - will meet to perform their own styles of music, spontaneously and simultaneously. Imagine what this is going to sound like - fiddles and accordions mixed with bongo drums and maracas, mandolins facing off with guitars ... I'd imagine it will be amazing.

Alas, this lass will be recovering from a life well led this evening - taking some time out to watch a DVD, eat some take-out, and go to bed early. But, as I enjoy, I'll also have time to contemplate, and think about other things old and new ... moments, people, assignments, trips. There are a couple of each that I'm particularly pleased with these days.

tags: day  parade  islands  together  gonomad  rico  wexford  journalist  travel  ireland  puerto  holyoke  patricks  writer  photo  st  

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