Dia Dhuit (Hello)

I hope that you all had a very happy Valentine's Day. With St. Patrick's Day almost upon us, I have added some new recipes for your culinary enjoyment. There is a recipe for Irish Currant Scones for your tea break. A delicious Chunky Bacon and Cabbage Soup recipe makes a great lunch idea. For a spectacular dinner, I have chosen a Roast Prime Rib with Spinach-Porcini Stuffing, Irish Whiskey Gravy and Horseradish Cream Sauce. Lastly, there is a wonderful Irish Cream Pudding Parfait with Oatmeal-Walnut Crunch. I hope you'll like these as much as I do. I have already started searching through my cookbooks for some new Irish recipes for Easter that will be added to our April newsletter.

Roast Prime Rib with Spinach-Porcini Stuffing, Irish Whiskey Gravy and Horseradish Cream	Irish Currant Scones	Irish Cream Pudding Parfaits with Oatmeal-Walnut Crunch	Chunky Bacon and Cabbage Soup

Terry and I have started thinking about our next trip to Ireland, even though we have not come up with a date at this point. We have a few new friends that we would like to meet, including Peter Heaney of Lough Rynn, and film maker Ronan Gallagher, also from Lough Rynn. We would like to say hello to Myra Reynolds, the editor of the Leitrim Guardian and, of course, visit with all of our old friends. I would also like to meet my Polish cousin, Anya, who moved to Dublin a couple of years ago with her husband. She is a distant cousin from my mother's paternal side of the family and a descendant of my grandfather's brother.

We have received several submissions from our customers who are also planning a trip to Ireland in 2009. At least two of them are going to Co. Leitrim to research their ancestors. Terry and I will continue to look for his branch of the Reynolds family, which will probably include searching through more cemeteries with Gerry Bohan, if he is agreeable to it. I love doing genealogical research, even if it's not for my own ancestors. I will be sure to let everyone know when we make our final plans. Maybe we could meet some of you in Ireland.

I recently had the pleasure of exchanging emails with Gerry McLoughlin of Abbey Property Sales and Abbey Auctioneering and Sales Ltd. I was inquiring about short term apartment rentals for our next trip to Mohill, and he had several possibilities. Along with Denise Armstrong, Gerry has real estate listings which include all types of property. If you are in the market for a new home, commercial property, a farm, developmental land, foreign property or building sites, Abbey Property Sales has it all, as well as an auctioneering service. For more information, please contact either Gerry or Denise at info@abbeypropertysales.com.

We received a submission from Nigeria and the person was interested in enrolling at the Free University of Ireland (Saor Ollscoil na hÉireann), after reading our article. If you would like more information about the school, please click here www.saor-ollscoil.ie.

We also received a submission from a man in New York who had read my story 'One Summer in Drumgrania'. He was sure that it was the same farmhouse where his grandfather had been raised. He said that Michael Heslin of Carrick took him there to see it, and I'm certain that Michael is the nephew of Francis Heslin from whom we rented the house. Michael owns a small antique shop on Bridge Street in Carrick. Terry and I have been there and have spoken to him on past trips. It's interesting to communicate with someone who has been to the same places that we have. Small world.

Well, that's all I have to report this month. I will look forward to writing the April newsletter including the Easter recipes. Until next time ... I hope you all have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Éire go brách! (Ireland Forever!)

Sláinte,
Tyna