A good few months ago it was told to me already. And it would take place early in the summer, sometime during the lovely month of May. Presumably  temperature would be reasonable by then and with a wide variety of flowers abundantly blooming in the fields.

Summer, eagerly waiting for things to happen

As part of the preparation  a couple of weeks ago there was a coming together meant for all the people on Inis Meáin. It took place in the Halla, the hall which is called after Naoimh Eoin  (Saint John). As a means of savings lovely home baking was sold there.

Community hall

Well, summer came and so did last Friday and with it the event….

an early morning

what is up for today?

It was still quite early in the morning when I set off. Although the air did not feel really cold, because of the fog, it felt dreary though. I was wondering whether the plane would be able to fly anyway. Ach well, there was still some time left before and moreover here in the Atlantic the weather can change in a split second…

When the door was answered, It was not that I only saw a fully packed suitcase determinedly put already next to the door and with it some attributes meant to make walking a bit easier. No, not at all… inside, all dressed up, excitingly waiting for things to come. I felt myself again, fado, fado ó shin ( a long time ago) eagerly waiting for the bus to come for the yearly school outing.

It was not long after that the van came and I waved goodbye. Sometime later I was happy to hear the plane. The event was proceeding….

Quite a few of the seandaoine (elderly people) had left Inis Meáin  for a couple of days to go on the yearly outing.

The atmosphere on the island was somewhat different during these days: it felt empty. I missed them and I was happy to see them back home, fully satisfied and with many stories taken with them!

Slán go fóill,

Elisabeth from Inis Meáin.

Anamchara retreat. Click the image for more.