I discovered my love of Ireland back in the early 90’s on family trips, but it was in 2006 when I found my Irish man to love and a 'home' where I long to be.
I still remember the first time we met. I was traveling alone with my little rental car and three maps. I was booked into the Connemara Coast Hotel in Galway, enjoying a pint with some new friends. He walked in and our eyes met.
His eyes could see right through me. What I thought was a brief encounter turned into a love I had never known before. A carpenter by trade but a farmer by birthright and love, he showed me places and things that you would never find in travel brochures. He showed me the 'real' Ireland and what it meant to live in Ireland and live like an Irish farmer.
Never in my life did I think I would be gathering turf for the fire that kept us warm at night, working a farm and sitting in an authentic Irish kitchen with a woman, his mother, who did not take kindly to a 'Yank' invading her territory or possibly taking her only son from her.
My stay at the Connemara Coast Hotel was ending and I was traveling to a town called Doolin staying at the Aran View Hotel, situated across from the famous Cliffs of Moher. I thought I would never see him again, but feeling what I was feeling, he found me in Doolin and it has been a journey of ever-growing love since.
I hail from New York and my journey 'home' the same time each year has always led me back to his arms. Over the years as we have both grown older, our love grows ever stronger.
Separated by 3,000 miles, extreme individual and economic uncertainty has kept us apart until the two-weeks a year in which I travel over to be in his embrace.
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He stays for his love of his mother, land and country. I stay in America, captive without a work permit or working visa for ireland .
All I have to hold onto is the pictures, calls and memories’ and the dream that one day it will no longer be the same time next year but rather together every day-- waking in his arms and minding him, as he has always minded me.
My grandfather, reared in County Kerry, always told me we are each dealt a deck of cards. It is what we do with the cards that make the difference. The catch is you only have once chance to reshuffle the cards. I live in the fear of shuffling the cards and losing the chance of happiness. For now, I must live the mundane life without my love and a country that is home to me.
As we said our last goodbye this year we kissed each other’s tears and a wave of dread that I may never see my love again has haunted me ever since. I ask myself, will there be another same time next year? I hold onto the words of Carl Sandburg, “Nothing happens unless first a dream”.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.cuculin | Oct 17, 2011, 08:50 AM EDT
Sounds more like a 3000 mile booty call if you ask me! Just do it woman. That's exactly the same story as how I met my Canadian wife in Ireland! back and forth a few times and then I took the leap. Just in time too.
timbobdennehy | Sep 04, 2011, 08:36 PM EDT
yes fall for the virgin dream and have your heart shattered love,or just propose give him direct entry to yankee-land.what happens after that is up to you.
carollakehouse | Sep 02, 2011, 01:43 PM EDT
It sounds authentic enough. It , will be a reminder to some of us of our own lost love, one that never was able to be completely fulfilled for one reason or another. For most of us we will never know if that was for better or worse but it always stays with you, out of mind most times but brought back to memory with a certain song or picture or event. I hope the writer will find true love and happiness. I hope she will continue to write with feeling and sensitivity.
KMcSinger | Sep 02, 2011, 10:51 AM EDT
The comments about this story are brilliant! WAY more entertaining than the story itself : )
Towngate | Sep 02, 2011, 04:37 AM EDT
Far too much information! On the face of it: Kind of sad that she thinks her lust-filled 'annual service' may all be coming to an end. ~~~ Sadly,the airports are full of scenes she describes. I have seen many 'Isteach Amach ' (Arrivals Departures - Ir.Lit.'In-Out') horrors! One young man waiting for his girl held a big bunch of flowers and was getting a bit over-excited as the delayed fright Landed. When she finally appeared pushing a trolley laden with luggage covered by an enormous bunch of flowers! "Who are they from?" he stuttered, redfaced and sweating... " From John,of course" she said as she swept by him..../...Another case was a young woman climbing the stairs to the Amach (Out,remember) area when a young man ran to her screaming and begging her not to leave, he threw himself at her feet,grabbed her ankles and would not let go. He kept begging and screaming as several Security and Police officers forced him to loosen his grip. She walked calmly on leaving her heartbroken lover to the care of the airport police ..... Two true cases and far from the romantic notion of Ireland today. If Denise wants to write 'diddle-i-eye' stuff - and Cormack must sleep in the West sometime! - IC should commission her to go back off-season when she is not 'on heat', wearing a slight disguise and see what this Mammy's Boy gets up to the rest of the time! ~ Now that would make good reading! ~~~ I'll start it off for her: " I walked into the bar, stifling my panting breath,begging my heart to stop pounding and praying my yearning womanhood would not make me betray my mission. I expected to see him sitting alone and forlorn in a corner, sobbing gently and peeping furtively at a photo of me, but instead, what I saw was ......
galwaygirl | Sep 01, 2011, 08:41 PM EDT
Also, I don't tink the picture is of them and it doesn't look like an add for jeans to me. I think it was added for "affect". How many farmers do you know that have been seen/have time to walk along a beautiful trail like this post card piture :-)
galwaygirl | Sep 01, 2011, 08:36 PM EDT
I like this article. I think the author is genuine and not trying to be the next Nora Roberts. I think she is realizing that this “Love” will go no further. As for the visa, even though her Grandfather was an Irish Citizen, in the U.S., her Father/Mother would have to be or apply for an Irish citizenship before she could since she is second generation. I think she is just “voicing her love” for what may never be. Good article. Come on, we have all loved and lost.
pilib04 | Sep 01, 2011, 06:50 PM EDT
u gotta be kiddin'.
BARNEYKX | Sep 01, 2011, 04:17 PM EDT
I see my post of about 1/2 an hour ago has been taken off,I came back on to say that the fiance visa cost 500 dollars up front and did not guarantee the visa would be given either
mamaginnty | Sep 01, 2011, 03:49 PM EDT
This lad is staying with his mam, period. If the girl thinks she has him, she may think again, or have a long wait......da mammy is gonna live forever..like me...
Searlit | Sep 01, 2011, 03:43 PM EDT
The picture looks like an add for blue jeans.
BARNEYKX | Sep 01, 2011, 03:36 PM EDT
I married an american woman,she had no irish ancestery at all we got a marriage visa in New York and married 3 months later in ireland this must be a tall story or someone is getting led up the garden path
veryluckyone | Sep 01, 2011, 02:59 PM EDT
This woman doesn't want to be there or she would have gotten a passport. She has an Irish grandparent, so what's standing in her way? Anyone in this situation needs to just do a teensy tiny bit of research to find the way to citizenship and thus no need for a card or anything else that might stand in her ways. Duh.
muirisobric | Sep 01, 2011, 02:52 PM EDT
Jaaasus, I've found one to bate me in the BS category. Good woman yerself or maybe ye'r a man. Who knows.
eibhleann7 | Sep 01, 2011, 01:06 PM EDT
Sounds like another bad Nora Roberts book. LOC
michaelidaho | Sep 01, 2011, 12:51 PM EDT
I agree with many of the posts. My question: What are you waiting for? Move already, especially with a grandparent born in Ireland?!
fmurray515 | Sep 01, 2011, 12:43 PM EDT
Good job fixing the grammatical and spelling errors.
deedubdeedub | Sep 01, 2011, 12:39 PM EDT
If they really wanted to be together bad enough they would and could do it. A relationship is a compromise.
Sharanstevenson | Sep 01, 2011, 12:26 PM EDT
I am married to an Irish. But being a non EEU citizen does not let me work even though I am a professional. Worst thing is that the immigration at the airport always tends to give me 2 days less visa than my return ticket. In the end, we gave up and are happily living in my country Malaysia where spouses face no problems to get permits, jobs or visas. My country adheres to the treaty signed and gives my husband the full 90 days visa on arrival. But Ireland never keeps it bargain and always harasses me even though I am from a nation entitled to 90 days visa plus I am also the wife of an Irish citizen. Well all in all, Ireland lost a professional in my husband. But we gained and appreciate him in my country
cillowen | Sep 01, 2011, 12:25 PM EDT
she's probably an aspiring writer of blarney. absence makes the heart grow fonder but too much of the cleaning out the cowsheds - that's her real reason for gittin.
cillowen | Sep 01, 2011, 12:24 PM EDT
she's probably an aspiring writer of blarney. absence makes the heart grow fonder but too much of the cleaning out the cowsheds - that her real reason for gittin.
Narrowbackgal | Sep 01, 2011, 12:08 PM EDT
I call BS. I'm a NY girl who married a farmer (sheep, God help us)and let's just say, this sounds like a load of...blarney. Either this gal is being played for a fool or this whole story is just that- a story. Btw, she is eligible for citizenship through her grandparent. If this was such an epic love, wouldn't she have already looked into that?
marciejm | Sep 01, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
There's something very fishy about this story. Way too many holes. Why can't they get married? I'm not buying it. I think it's a piece of tourism-driven propaganda. Also, an American woman would not say "minding him as he has always minded me." "Minded" to Americans means to obey, not take care of.
donal1951 | Sep 01, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT
I too believe if you have an Irish grandparent, you are entitled to Irish citizenship. Since the writer lives in New York, she should get in touch with the Irish consulate ASAP and start the paperwork. If she can get an Irish passport, she'll have no need for work permits. I have Irish citizenship through my father, who emigrated in 1928, and one does not lose one's US citizenship.
Suivness10 | Sep 01, 2011, 10:48 AM EDT
@beaumax99, you're right! Does she know this?? If not dear woman with her heart in Connamara, PLEASE start the paperwork ASAP. You may get there quicker than you think. Good luck, and lots of it.
bunkerisland | Sep 01, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT
Oh! Be kind now. Real or imagined it is a pleasant story where marriage does not appear in the offering. Yanks visiting the routes of their ancestors are always in love with Ireland and the natives. And they spend a lot aiding our economy.
beaumax99 | Sep 01, 2011, 09:59 AM EDT
I was under the impression that if your grandparent's were from the old country, you could apply for citizenship/residency? If it's true love, somehow or another, you will make it work and find a way to be together. GOOD LUCK AND MAY GOD BLESS YOUR UNION.