St Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick's Day 2026 

We got all dressed up here... even the dogs. Meet Socks (L) and Shadow (R). The naughties dogs in the world, but also fashion icons.

These are Caroline's regular glasses, she gets laughed at 364 days a year and on just the one day she looks normal. As for me? It's a case of which bowler hat will I wear today?

I thought this might interest you. Can you spot your grandfather? I think he's around 23 or 24 in this picture. It came from a cousin, so no idea what newspaper it featured in. Either way it's a bit of fun.

It's mid-March already - this is the time of year my Converse come out... but it's still a bit wet and cold so that pleasure will have to wait for a bit. Anyway here's some photos I've taken over the past few months on a rusty old film camera I love very much!

From the top deck of a Dublin Bus

My music teacher

Busarus, Dublin Central Bus Station

A Windy Walk on Hook Head, Wexford

Much love Dad x

Burns Night 2026

Dear Tadhg & Isaac,

I know it was Burns Night on Sunday, but as I was away we did the deed on a Saturday night but I don't think Robbie Burns would have objected. 

It's not easy to get Haggis in Ireland, but I got one in the end at at M&S in Cork. 

Then some local spuds (yes we used more than one), and a nice firm turnip.

There was some furious boiling...

and I had to choose a fine bottle of Scotch...

Serving Suggestion

But we got there in the end, and very tasty it was too. I hope you had a good evening where ever you were - we didn't have any bagpipes and there were no kilts, but we toasted your health. Here's to 2026, and success and peace and love from all here. x

2025 Draws to a Close

That was the year that was...

Did 2025 just whizz past? Bloody hell, that was fast. 

Firstly apologies for not posting more. It's been a bit manic this end. So as the year draws to a close I thought I would send you a visual post card of my year... I hope your year went well, and if you fancy talking please just say hello.

Being Ireland it rained a lot. Especially when I was outdoors or sitting aimlessly in graveyards

There was clearly a miracle in the local village, that or a UFO sucked people clean out of their seats

If you are ever in Cork, I can often be found here (inside that is...)

I did a bit of travelling, to Eindhoven for example

To a mandolin retreat to Glasgow

And Italy...

But now it's getting frosty, it's almost time to wind down 2025. I hope you had a good year and that maybe, perhaps, possible we could meet up in 2026. That would make my year.

Love Dad x

Happy Birthday

So here we are 2025... 7th January 2025... which means it's a birthday. Bloody hell, where did the time go?

So here we go HAPPY BIRTHDAY TADHG. 24, there's an age. When I was 24 things were pretty hopeless. The 1980s was not a good time to be 24, or twenty anything. So I hope that where ever you are and what ever you are doing, it's fun, because you'll only be 24 once. And I hope you have more fun with it than I did.

Since I don't know where you are, or what's going on, or even if I'm sitting here talking to myself (hopefully not) here's a one sided update. 

Things are tough right now. Tough as in hard. Sleepless nights tough. It would be good to have a real chat, so you know the full picture, not just a one-sided projection - maybe one day. That would be nice. A good day. 

Until then here are some photos of what's been going on...

Two stupid dogs on Youghal beach

A bunch of flowers for your birthday

A self-portrait taken on a 100 year old camera using wet plate on glass

Much love Dad x

Ghosts & Christmas

It's Christmas 2024. Where does the time go?

My last entry here was over four years ago, written in the shadow of Covid. Now I write again, in the shadow of yet another Christmas, and then sure as day follows night, a new year. Tick. Another year. Where does the time go?

It's been so long, too long. How are you, what are you, where are you? Questions, questions. I look on line, scour the internet looking for clues, but mostly not understanding any platform post-Facebook. What do I know? Isaac was looking to go abroad to teach. Tadhg was playing basketball in America. I even found some footage of him shooting baskets - at least that is what I think it's called. 

Have I changed? Undoubtedly. Years are cumulative, the more that pass over you, the more they leave their mark. You are both too young to understand that, but time just nibbles away at everything. 

Anyway this is just a note, like the one pinned to Voyager 1, shot into the unknown never knowing if it'll ever be read. 

If you are out there then when you are ready, please get in touch.

I found a roll of film recently. From a more innocent time, the ghost of a long lost Christmas.

These were taken over New Year in Scotland, mid 90s.

I miss you both very much.

Much love, Dad x

 

What's Another Year?

 

New T-Shirt!

 Daniel is trying to tell me something... October 1st, so early birthday present?

A Real Letter (sort of)

 

Happy birthday Isaac

Happy birthday Isaac - love from Dad and all the family x 

7 Years Ago

Wow! As the man said when his wife thew the clock at him - 'time flies'! Just look at these amazing photos from 2011 - both Granny and Grandad were both still with us; Daniel is just a little lad and everyone else is having a great time with the hens. It must have been Easter, the cherry blossom flowers are on the trees - but not this year. It's been soooooooo cold! Enjoy!

Christmas 2017

It's been a while since we last posted here and in that time a lot has happened! We've just had Christmas, the first without Granny Nora and as we were all under the weather, it was certainly a different celebration this year. Here's a nice photo of Granny and me taken in the full of her health at the dining table in Castleknock, to bring back some happy memories of the time we all spent there together. We eventually got to Dublin on 27th December; we were all still a bit sniffly so as you can see we had to get a driver as I needed a nap. We caught up with Uncle Paul and Auntie Niamh and they both send their love. Also Ciara and Aoife say hi, they are now even taller than I am, so I think it is time we stopped feeding them. Santa came here and hopefully he found his way to you too. As always, I look forward to going shopping with you for your presents - so have a think about what you would like and let's get shopping. Anyway, here's hoping we catch up in 2018 and that all is good with you there. Love always! Dad

With the leaves turning and the temperature dropping, it doesn't feel like summer anymore. However, with Isaac's birthday in August, we've great memories of super parties with Bouncy Castles, three different types of cake, blackcurrant jelly and a very special night when we made a wish, and Tadhg and Isaac lit a wonderful lantern which floated away in the night sky.

It's the summer holidays, and that must mean a visit to the Hook Lighthouse, thanks to Tim and Judy - and a perfect opportunity to drive the car! Tadhg was so good and careful at driving even though Daniel wasn't very impressed.

However, when Isaac drives, it's a different story altogether - speedy Gonzales or what?!

And Daniel has been bursting to have a go ever since, just to be like his big brothers.

On this lovely summer's day, we remember with love and affection Donal Mulryan, grandpa to Aoife, Tadhg, Ciara, Isaac and Daniel who died on 19th April 2012, a few days short of his 80th birthday. He was a wonderful grandparent to all of his grandchildren, and these photos show how much they loved him. 

Tadhg, Isaac, Daniel, Grandpa Donal, Granny Nora, Aoife & Ciara all squashed on to the couch at Castleknock

An earlier pic of Granny Nora, Ciara, Aoife, Daniel, Tadhg, Grandpa Donal with Isaac sitting on his knee!

Grandpa Donal & Granny Nora

When Grandpa Donal died, Dad made a garden in Conna in his memory, with a bench under a cherry tree and lovely flowers. Granny Nora cut the ribbon and Ciara played her saxophone and we always think of him when we are in his garden.

The Irish Cancer Society had an appeal to which we made a contribution to in memory of Grandpa Donal. Daniel put his name and his brothers' ages on the back of the daffodil for Daffodil Day from his three grandsons, Tadhg 14, Isaac 9 and Daniel 6.
 

To Grandpa Donal, love Isaac 9 + Tadhg 14 + Daniel 6 xxx

Happy Easter 2015 from Dad, Caroline & Daniel - we knew you'd have loads of chocolate eggs already in Scotland, so we put lots of other things in the eggs we made for you - enjoy!

Eggs for Tadhg & Isaac peeping out

Happy Easter Tadhg love Dad, Caroline & Daniel

The contents: a splat ball, an eraser and sharpener, fun snaps, measuring spoons, chocolate egg, bunnies, egg & coins

Happy Easter Isaac, Love Dad, Caroline & Daniel

The contents: a splat ball, an eraser and sharpener, fun snaps, Junior tangle, chocolate egg, bunnies, egg & coins

Happy St Patrick's Day!

We had fun choosing and making cards for St Patrick's Day celebrations, and send Tadhg & Isaac all the luck of the Irish!

Slainte - is that an Irish monkey?

With very healthy carrot enclosures

Daniel waiting for his Patrick's Day haircut

Card for Tadhg & Isaac coloured by Daniel

The first time he's got all the letters the right way around - and a shamrock for you both too!

In his St Patrick's hat

Happy Valentine's Day! Daniel had great fun choosing Valentine's cards and presents for Tadhg & Isaac which were posted in a great big box - hope you enjoyed the surprises

Happy Valentine's Day Isaac from all the cats Jasper, Fugly, K2, Shrek and Mazda - you're just 'purr'fect!

Happy Valentine's Day Tadhg from all the dogs Yo yo, Bella and Bonny (Niamh, Ciara & Aoife's new labrador) - you're just 'woof'derful

Daniel with Valentine's parcels for Tadhg & Isaac

All packaged up!

What's peeping through?

For Isaac

With love for Valentine's Day

Isaac love Daniel

For Tadhg

With love for Valentine's Day 

Tadhg love Daniel (only 1 letter the wrong way round!)