US-Ireland Alliance

MITCHELL SCHOLARS VISIT GLENSTAL ABBEY

APRIL 2013.  Several Mitchell Scholars visited one of my favorite places, Glenstal Abbey which is outside of Limerick, on the road to Dublin but less a destination than part of the journey – like Ithaka.   They spent time with the wise Patrick Hederman  and were entertained by the beautiful singing of Noirin ni Rian.  (Noirin’s son Eoin -- as in Eoin & Moley --  is married to Mitchell Scholar Andrea Laidman – so it’s family.  If I do nothing else, I at least introduced the two of them to each other :)  After it was over Noirin sent me an email – and I love her turn of phrase for describing the Mitchells:  “What a wonderful little shoal of beautiful, wise fish you sent our way today!”  An icon chapel, vespers, chants, nature (thank you Brother Antony) and great company -- lovelier days there are not.  A Mitchell on the trip told me after that she had been told by Mitchell alums "what a life-impacting trip it had been for them, and now I see why.”