Dingle Distillery Tour.
Take a tour of the award-winning factory that produces some of the best Whiskey and Gin in the world.
Tour of Conor Pass.
Breathtaking views of entire Dingle town and northern peninsula.
Dingle Bay Boat tour.
Learn history of the harbor and hopefully see some dolphins and other wildlife.
Visit the Harry Clarke Windows at Díseart.
The Diseart acts as the centre for a lively community giving expression to and promoting Celtic Culture and Spirituality as an integral part of our local heritage.
Housed in the former Presentation Convent premises in Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis. Founded in 1998, An Diseart developed as a centre for research into all areas of Irish Spirituality and Celtic Culture including theology, language, literature, art, laws, folklore, values, spirituality, history, music, archaeology and customs led by the late Msgr Padraig Ó Fiannachta and associated with his valuable collection of manuscripts and books now housed in the Dingle Library.
Located in this peaceful haven on Green Street, Dingle, Díseart occupies a neo-gothic building designed by JJ McCarthy. Described as “breathtaking”, “magnificent” and “a national treasure”, by some of its visitors, the building is home to a beautifully proportioned chapel in which can be found twelve lancet windows created in 1924 by one of the foremost stained glass artists of all time, Harry Clarke. The windows, along with the tranquil walled gardens, first laid out in 1849, have become a popular attraction for the many visitors in Dingle.
The landscaped gardens are developed in three parts according to plans made by Mary Reynolds.
Since 1998, Díseart Institute of Education and Celtic Culture has occupied the former Presentation Sisters’ convent on Green Street, Dingle. This beautiful, stately, neo-gothic building designed by JJ McCarthy, was home to the Presentation enclosed community of sisters, established in Ireland in the last quarter of the eighteenth century, and who first arrived in Dingle in 1829. Since then hundreds of sisters have given a labour of love and service to the people of this area of West Kerry for over 170 years, educating and helping all especially the poor during very difficult times.
In 1922, Sister Ita Macken commissioned Irishman and one of the foremost stained glass artists of all time, Harry Clarke to design and install 12 stained glass windows in the convent chapel. For the princely sum of £1,000.00, Clarke installed a series of windows that have been described as “breathtaking”, “magnificent” and “intensely moving”, by some of the recent visitors and vividly illustrate Clarke’s unique style with lively animated faces, a profusion of rich vibrant colours and generous ornamentation.
About the Harry Clarke Windows:
1. The Visit of the Magi
And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11).
2. The Baptism of Jesus
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven: “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9 -11).
3. Let the little children come to me
And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them: “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:13 – 14).
4. The Sermon on the Mount
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain ………… And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth…” (Matthew 5:1 – 5).
5. The Agony in the Garden
“Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed the more earnestly; and his sweat became as great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. (Luke 22:42 – 44).
6. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
Jesus said to her: “Woman why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him: “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her: “Mary”. She turned and said to him in Hebrew: “Rabboni” (which means Teacher). (John 20:15 – 16).
David Thomas, leader of Pere Ubu, passed today.
David Lynn Thomas (June 14, 1953 – April 23, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and poet. He was one of the founding members of the post-punk group Pere Ubu from 1975 to 1982, then 1987 through to his death in 2025.
Thomas also lead the short-lived proto-punk band Rocket from the Tombs in which he played under the moniker "Crocus Behemoth," previously in 1974 to 1975.
Pere Ubu Studio albums:
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Though primarily a singer, he was an instrumentalist who also occasionally played melodeon, trombone, musette, guitar or other instruments.
Thomas had a distinctive, high pitched voice; Emerson Dameron comically described Thomas' singing as "James Stewart trapped in an oboe", and Greil Marcus writes, "Mr Thomas's voice is that of a man muttering in a crowd. You think he's talking to himself until you realize he's talking to you."
Visit with my Mom in Williamstown. Excellent Visit once again.
Visit with my Mom in Williamstown.
Visit with Pop in Adams.
Stopped off in North Adams to a somewhat obscure cemetery.
Plaque on Stone at entrance:
Near this site was erected The First Congregational Church. The earliest house of worship in East Hoosuck. This Church and burial ground were within the grant assigned to the Rev. Samuel Todd, its first Minister 1766-1778.
Erected by its sussessor The First Congregational Church of North Adams Massachusetts at its centennial 1927.
Beaver Pond Wildlife: Part 5 - Fall to Winter
Watched Part 5 today. It is a wonderful video from RA at New England Forests.
According to the webstite, this film series spans a year's time at typical beaver ponds in New England.
In this, Part 5, we'll see:
New England fall foliage change.
Various creatures in winter.
A bit of the history of beaver exploitation.
And more.
Shift at JMH & TA.
PT in afternoon.
Blood Work for Annual Physical in early morning.
Beaver Pond Wildlife: Part 4 - Mid-Summer to Fall
Watched Part 4 today. It is a wonderful video from RA at New England Forests.
According to the webstite, this film series spans a year's time at typical beaver ponds in New England. In this, Part 3, nesting season has wrapped up for most bird species near the pond, but there's plenty happening both above and below the pond's surface.
PT early morning.
Yard Work on Patio with DL.
Condo Meeting during evening.
Park Ranger Sees Two Sasquatch: The Appalachian Bigfoot Files
From Savoy Mountain State Forest in 1992, at the Tannery Falls Parking Area.
My sister sent me this video link, which certainly appears truthful "Bigfoot at Tannery Falls".
JMH and TA during the morning to early afternoon.
Beaver Pond Wildlife: Part 3 - Early to Mid Summer
Watched Part 3 today. It is a wonderful video from RA at New England Forests.
According to the webstite, this film series spans a year's time at typical beaver ponds in New England. In this, Part 3, nesting season has wrapped up for most bird species near the pond, but there's plenty happening both above and below the pond's surface.
Also, finalized our tax returns in West Hartford (great news for us).
Haircut in the 'Locks.
Guitar III
My on-going pathway of learning guitar...
The second Lesson Book I have completed thoroughly was:
Mel Bay's New Sounds for Electric Bass and Guitar by Roger Filberto.
This was something I had learned long ago when I studied Bass Guitar during the summer I began High School.
Originally completed from November 1977 through February 1978.
Worked my way through this once again, but this time with the Guitar.
Shift at JMH & TA.
PT at LED late afternoon.
Michael Hurley, singer-songwriter and 'Godfather of freak folk,' dies at 83.
"It is with a resounding sadness that the Hurley family announces the recent sudden passing of the inimitable Michael Hurley,” Hurley's family said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “The ‘Godfather of freak folk’ was for a prolific half-century the purveyor of an eccentric genius and compassionate wit. He alone was Snock. There is no other. Friends, family, and the music community deeply mourn his loss.”
Hurley, born in Pennsylvania, honed his cracked perspective on bluegrass, blues and folk in the Greenwich Village folk scene in New York in the '60s, after producer and folklorist Fred Ramsey picked him up on a hitchiking ramble. He released his debut album, 1964's "First Songs," on Folkways, the acclaimed home of Woody Guthrie and curator Harry Smith’s "Anthology of American Folk Music."
Hurley's talents were manifold — he designed and illustrated most of his charming hand-drawn album art, and learned a diversity of instruments including banjo and fiddle. His songs had a stark, strange quality that could be both beautiful (as on "Be Kind to Me" and "Valley of Tears") and surreal ("What Made My Hamburger Disappear?" or "You’re a Dog; Don’t Talk to Me"). He was a childhood friend of future Youngbloods singer Jesse Colin Young, who would champion Hurley's skewed vision by releasing 1971’s "Armchair Boogie" and 1972’s "Hi Fi Snock Uptown" on his Warner Bros. imprint Raccoon.
1976's "Have Moicy!" became an underground cult favorite, and his rapidly expanding catalog would grow to more than 30 LPs. This collaboration with the Unholy Modal Rounders (a spin-off of the Holy Modal Rounders) and Jeffrey Frederick & The Clamtones, received much critical praise. Music critic Robert Christgau ranked it as his favorite album of the year.
His song, "Hog of the Forsaken", was used in the closing credits for the pilot episode of the series and the closing of Deadwood: The Movie.
Discography
Locally, I Unloaded fifty bails of Hay with my Pop at the Auction mid-morning, and another two pick-ups worth from other farmers dropping off hay,
Shift at JMH early.
