a simple yarn

Hours Knitting = 0; Hours In The Car = 6; Hours Driving (Not Knitting) In The Car = 6

One fact which is evident when family come to town is that I spend more time doing ‘touristy’ things. And so, the other areas of life-knitting, weaving, spinning, etc-are set aside for awhile to share the local sights.

Today, Rock of Cashel.

Tomorrow, Glendalough.

Warning: Family Factoid to Follow
While at ‘The Rock’ we took a tour of the cemetery which surrounds the ruins. Was surprised to see a rather newly erected headstone amongst the ancient markers. ‘Look!’ said Sister-In-Law-Carla, ‘there’s our family name.’ Right, I thought, what a jokester. But lo and behold, there it was…

You see, what makes this noteworthy is that, unlike so many other North Americans, neither Husband-Will nor I have any particularly close connection to Irish heritage. Celtic, yes…Irish, no. Welsh, yes…Scottish, yes…Irish, no. No ancient Irish granny changing her surname from McMarling or O’Marling upon entering Ellis Island. In fact, we are the only ones in the Dublin phonebook with this moniker, to my knowledge. What I’m saying is…it’s not Irish…..and it’s not common.

But look, photographic proof that some distant relation-an ancient granny perhaps, or at least someone bearing the name-is buried at The Rock of Cashel. Very cool indeed.