It’s mid season right now and what a ‘love’ly first half of the year we’ve had.
Great groups, great beers, great fun and lots of special occasions.
It all started with Lorie planning a trip to Ireland with Don for their 15th wedding anniversary. Peter our brewer turned ‘druid’ at Burren Brewery in Lisdoonvarna, also known at the Roadside Tavern performed a ritual for Don and Lorie to celebrate the moment. He had a limestone rock from the Burren, symbolic of the protected area we were in famous for it’s unique lunar landscape. There was a candle burning symbolising light. Peter tied Don and Lorie’s wrists with a crios, a traditional hand woven belt from the Aran Islands and had them drink from the same cup of whiskey. They exchanged claddagh rings which are traditional Irish rings representing love, loyalty, and friendship (the hands represent friendship, the heart represents love, and the crown represents loyalty). Peter recited an old Irish proverb traditionally used in marriages, it was a very special event for all of the group. We had the anniversary party in the Roadside Tavern, excellent salmon smoked next door in the Burren smokehouse served with Peter’s Burren beers – Burren Gold, Red and Black.
Ceremony for Don & Lorie celebrating their 15 years of marriage on tour
Don & Lorie celebrating 15 years of marriage at Torc waterfall
The romance continued in June when Holly and Chris came on the 5 day tour. On Day 3, the bravery started with the guys taking a swim in Inch beach at 10:30am. Chris then gave Holly a few interesting hints, information about prudence and fortitude which is the motto on the Egan coat of arms, his family name. We had a fun visit to Dingle Distillery and a beautiful trip around Slea Head to the most Westerly point of Ireland. The Dingle peninsula is very special and Chris felt that it was the perfect time and place to pop the question to Holly so he did just that and she said YES!! Another celebration was needed and no better town than Dingle to do just that. Congratulations to Holly and Chris, a great couple worthy of an Irish blessing.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat
Go raibh an ghaoth go brách ag do chúl
Go lonraí an ghrian go te ar d’aghaidh
Go dtite an bháisteach go mín ar do pháirceanna
Agus go mbuailimid le chéile arís,
Go gcoinní Dia i mbos A láimhe thú.
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Holly & Chris celebrate their engagement in Dingle