Clonmacnoise

Peace, perfect peace.

We came into the disused monastery grounds, past those giant Celtic crosses and up to the top of the grassy hill.

A view across the green fields, down to the Shannon, wide at this point, and across to the fields stretching away in the distance.

15 miles away is Athlone and the school to which my grandfather went with Eammon deValera.

My three year old daughter is toddling after a sheep. No idea why. The sheep doesn’t look happy and bleats.

We are here, my whole family and I. We are happy and we are at peace.