We are on our way to Ireland, making up a trip that was cancelled at the beginning of the CoVid pandemic.  The Motto of Ireland is IB4UD – Ireland Before You Die. 

Our Uber was early but our flight is now 3 hours delayed. At least we can spend our time in the Air Canada Signature Lounge.

Because of the delay, Air Canada gave everyone a meal coupon but there is exactly 1 place to get food in the international terminal. Not good Air Canada. A bit of an empty offer for international travellers.

We finally got our seats and settled in for the overnight flight. 3D and G.

Cead Mile Failte (Kade Milia Fallcha) literally means one hundred thousand welcomes in Irish.  

Ireland is divided into four provinces; Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connact.  Those are further divided into counties, 26 in the Republic of Ireland and 6 in Northern Ireland.  We are going to try and see them all!

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland along with Ste Brigit of Kildare and St Columba.  St Patrick is basically regarded as the founder of Christianity in Ireland.  He was a Roman-British missionary in Ireland after being kidnapped from his home in Britain when he was 15.  March 17, St Patrick’s Day, is said to be the day of his death.  The absence of snakes in Ireland is the basis of a legend that they had all been banished by St Patrick – he is said to have chased snakes into the sea after they attacked him during a 40-day fast he was undertaking on top of a hill (even though post-glacial Ireland most likely never had snakes).  The snakes may have been a metaphor for Druids, who Patrick drove out of Ireland when he established Christianity as the new religion.

Brigid, who had a reputation as an expert dairywoman and brewer, was reputed to turn water into beer (my kind of gal!).

We expect to land in Dublin mid-morning tomorrow.