I give thanks to God and the Irish
St. Brendan, Clonfert Cathedral and how the Irish helped me through a bad time
My last day in Ireland was beautiful. Ireland basked in rare sun and cloudless blue skies the first week of September. We stopped in a Holy place, an historic place, Clonfert Cathedral, founded by St. Brendan the Navigator in 563 A.D. St. Brendan is the patron saint of sailors and travelers.
And an unfortunate traveler am I. The day after I arrived in Ireland while touring Lord Dunsany’s Castle, I noticed symptoms similar to a small stroke: double vision and crushing headache. I checked into the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Naven, County Meath. They gave me a bed in the Men’s ward. I was the youngest one there.
My symptoms worsened. I was treated with such kindness and sympathy that I was both grateful and embarrassed. I have never been treated so nicely in any medical facility here in these States. I did despair, night after night, worried for my wife and mother-in-law, our vacation ruined, no diagnosis and no prognosis despite many tests. A guy can have some very dark thoughts in such a state.
Thankfully, my wife and mother-in-law were treated kindly by our B&B host and hostess in Trim. They checked in on me at the hospital and helped my wife enjoy a day in Dublin. The people in Trim are awesome.
One very late evening, I was again feeling low. I prayed, but no solace came. The night nurse, a big and gentle African woman with an uncanny blend of Irish and west African accents, noticed my anxiety. “You must know that God has you here now for a reason. He has kept you away from something or something away from you.”
The next day, feeling even worse, I learned I had Covid.
God had kept me from my 80-year-old mother-in-law and my wife. A kind Irish nurse came to see me that day, telling me I would be isolated. “I love your accent,” she said, surprising me. I have an accent?
“It is that soft and warm American accent from the old westerns… like everything is going to be alright.” I was nearly sent to tears. I still am just writing this.
A bit ashamed of my self-pity, I set myself to work. This was one of those times a smart phone really DOES help. I arranged a ride for my wife and mother-in-law to Galway, reserved rooms, cancelled others and paid for tours. Nearly all I called were sympathetic to my plight. All were polite.
After a few days, I was feeling good enough to check myself out and meet them in Galway. We were able to enjoy a few days in the area: the Burren, the Cliff of Moher, Dunguaire Castle. An altered, but not fruitless vacation. I bought a wool sweater in Galway on the hottest day of the year.
On our way back to Dublin Airport, we visited Clonfert Cathedral. Neither my wife nor my mother-in-law knew anything about St. Brendan. I have been in awe of the man for a few decades. He is buried there, at Clonfort, near the church he built. He did not want his body distributed across Christendom as relics. I am a very Catholic Baptist at times.
So this Thanksgiving, I thank God, St. Brendan and the Irish, who gave me kindness when I needed it most. I will return.
I pray you all have your health, faith and family in this season.
Please enjoy the music below.
PS: I still do not know the cause of my illness. Many symptoms are still with me, but milder. Was Covid the cause or coincident?
Oh, my goodness, Harry--what a way to ensure your vacation was memorable! So sorry you got hit that hard. Glad you are on the mend. I didn't have your symptoms, but also had a horrible bout with Covid at the beginning of the year. Dare I tell you how long it took for me to feel better? The good news is, I did recover and have no lingering symptoms. Hope the same for you!