Saturday

Saturday 12^th, 2006

What can I say about St. Cooey’s Well, it was an amazing and extraordinary experience. They have a mass once a year and 4 weeks before we came they planned a mass but it was rained out and canceled. When Brian told them that the Americans and Germans were coming to Portferry, they rescheduled the mass for today just for us. The mass was a once in a lifetime chance to see this with all the Irish, Germans, and Americans praising our Lord God. After the mass finished, the priest told us the local people came out to make the whole area quite beautiful. We then met some of the local men in Ireland and they showed us what to do at the Well; Wash, Eyes and Drink. This was not a normal Well but more like a stream, and it was really cold. It was one of the best masses so far here in Ireland.

Tessa

Well Tessa forgot a few of my favorites from mass: One-we walked up a mile long driveway with shrubs on both sides. Yes this seems normal but these shrubs were freshly cut. And I know from the little shrub cut/clean up that I do at home that cutting shrubs is a pain! We later found out during mass that maintenance men came to Cooey Wells at 7:00am to finish the entire lawn and all the shrubs for the mile long driveway! As we walked down the pathway to the mass, we heard a rosary being said on these HUGE speakers at the top of the hill. Some people at the top sat through mass in their cars or on benches at the top. Just imagine hearing this:

Priest: “Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee, Oh….i see people!.......I think they’re Americans!!, I see people!!!”

(Keep in mind this is in a very deep voice of which we cannot see the man!) You’ve got to admit that when you can’t see them this was a little scary! A rosary was interrupted for the priest to say “I see people, I think they’re Americans!” We still had to walk about 50 feet before WE could actually see him! We were greeted by an amazing area of land with beautiful landscape in the background and an exquisite alter. There were about 75 people from the nearby town of Portaferry which was nice. The mass was wonderful and after we took pictures with the people and thanked them for all the clean-up and warm welcome.

After mass we went to the aquarium park to eat lunch and walk around. We didn’t go into the aquarium however because we can do that at home. Instead, we decided to do something really cool! We got onto the bus and pulled up to this ferry that takes you across the water to Downpatrick. We pull the bus up to the chained fence. Most of us think it’s the type of ferry like Mackinaw where the humans get on the boat. When we pull up to the fence, there are cars on the ferry and you just pull up and load about 12-15 cars and they take you across and you just drive off. You don’t ever get out of your car. Well Brian makes the comment about the bus actually going on the boat. A sign nearby says limit 8 tons. Well what do you know? Brian goes up to the guys by the ferry and within seconds we get a wave to pull the bus through! Let me just paint this picture for you: Our charter bus with 22 Americans, 16 Germans and a few Irish was driving onto a ferry. So we were on a bus on a boat on the water!!!! How unbelievably cool is that? Some got off and others stayed on the bus. I stayed and I’m glad I did because we all got to watch Tommy (our awesome bus driver for the past week) turn the bus wheel and pretend to drive the ferry, and Fr. Brian narrated our crossing. The sight of a charter bus and 5 other cars on a ferry must have looked pretty cool from far away. We approached the water and turned the key and drove onto the road right off the ferry! Never thought I’d be doing that ever in my lifetime! After a few stops we drove up to the statue of St. Patrick and walked up a huge hill to stand next to the statue which was put there in 1932 in commemoration of his stay in this area. From there we got fantastic pictures of Ireland and Downpatrick! It was absolutely b-e-a-utiful!!! After the pictures and great view, we all took turn rolling down this humongous hill! Tessa & I then went down the biggest hill of all and did a few somersaults, which eventually turned into sideways rolling down a hill. After that we drove to the church where St. Patrick was buried. We saw his grave and shopped in the gift shop there and enjoyed learning about St. Patrick’s life. We are now back at St. Malachy’s College having tea and snacks. Some are playing cards, reading and playing games in the basement. I’m off to unpack my things from the day and play spoons! Cherrio! (Yeah that’s our new phrase!!! Oh and Matt wants to bring back a phrase to everyday use in America. It is: “Shiver me timbers!” Pass it on U.S.A.!)

Beth Menestrina