The Gathering

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I have been MIA for the last while because life has been very very busy here. The Irish Jewish community is very small but what it lacks in numbers it punches way above it's weight in actions and deeds. At it's height we had 5,000 members and now it's about 1500. We have had several Lord Mayors, Government Ministers, etc and have always figured highly in Irish public life.  Lots of the community over the years  left these shores like the rest of the Irish and can now be found in the USA, Canada, Australia,UK, Israel and further afield.   This year is the year of 'The Gathering, a government led initiative to encourage those with Irish roots to come home and experience a wonderful welcome.  The Irish Jewish Community undertook it's own Gathering. One action packed week where walking tours of 'Little Jerusalem', Tours of our Jewish Museum, Sports events, talks and evenings of music and dinners were organised.  Some of you may know that my eldest daughter Jessica is a Musician  and I nagged her for three months to contact the organizers and offer her musical talent for the event.  To say the week has been a resounding success is an understatement.  I have reconnected with friends from my childhood and teenage years and memories long consigned to the depths have come to the surface.   Wednesday evenings event was a gala dinner in the Dublin Convention center for 500 people.  Jessica sang her own composition and a duet with her cousin Jenni that I am linking here.  ( Jessica's voice is the first one you will hear) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPUh532jdng&feature=youtu.be

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I love when you post your daughter singing.  It sounds like his event turned out to be very special for you - reconnecting with old friends is truly special.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Beautiful voices!  You must be very proud of your daughter.  Congratulations on a great event and thank you for sharing it with all of us. I hope to get to Ireland one day. Just knowing you and your pictures through DK, I think it must be a lovely place :)

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

So beautiful!

[Bonnie and Kona]

You must be so proud of your amazing daughter and your niece! Their gifts are a blessing. Congratulations on an amazing event.

We visited Ireland when our son went to Wales for his semester abroad. Our last name is Joyce so we spent most of the time in the Galway area or "Joyce country". :o) My mother is a Burk so we saw lots of that name, too. It was a delight to see your beautiful country and feel connected ever so slightly. 

I love seeing photos of Riley and Boris. They are just gorgeous. 

[BG and Gavin]

Like! What a wonderful event. Glad you nagged your daughter. Well worth it for that beautiful voice!

[Becka]

Thanks for sharing this, Nicky--I would love to meet some of my Irish coreligionists someday!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So beautiful, Nicky!

I'm glad The Gathering was a huge success! 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Beautiful! Nicky, Thank you so much for sharing!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Nicky, this is so beautiful....thank you so much for sharing it with us.  We've only been to Ireland (my grandparents came here from Ireland) twice and I always felt like I was "home". 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Beautiful voices...