Early this morning after finishing the daily sandwich production line, we checked out of the Galway hostel and began our 4 hour trek to Dublin. Before we arrived in Dublin we stopped at Clonmacnoise or the City of High Crosses. Built originally by Saint Ciaran in the early 6th century, the area now consists of the ruins of many old churches, memorials, and graves sprawled out over about a square mile. We took specific time to write in our journals and many of us found this to be a very special time that allowed us to truly connect with God on a deep and extensive level. While sitting on a wall writing in my journal I found myself pausing to take in the scenery. Looking out in front of me was the beautiful Shannon River, directly behind me was a 6th century tower and behind that, the seemingly never ending rows of crosses and church ruins. This was the type of view that allowed us all to take in the essence of the millions of pilgrims that had visited the crossroads before us and also to take in the natural and manmade beauty that surrounded it. This experience truly brought us peace and understanding of the lives of others as well as our own. We arrived in Dublin a few hours later and had the benefit of getting a quick overview of the entire city from the comfort of our bus. The entire group settled into our new hostel in downtown Dublin, we then went to a local pub for dinner and some live music. After enjoying dinner, we had the lovely experience of walking along some of the streets and getting a feel for the culture of the city. The group then grabbed some decadent ice cream, enjoyed the street performances, and then made our way to the Hard Rock Café. Enjoying the beautiful weather and sights we all have come to see Dublin as a bustling city that embraces its own unique style and culture which offers much for us to experience and learn over the next few days.
Amy Buckius for the Confirmation Class Pilgrims
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