It's heavenly to have a day off. I lounged around for a while, then took my dirty clothes to be laundered.
Most people visit An Díseart to see the stained-glass windows by Harry Clarke, Ireland's most renowned stained-glass artist. The windows at An Díseart Institute of Celtic Spirituality and Culture (formerly the Chapel of the Sacred Heart at the Presentation Convent) consist of six two-light panels, each depicting a scene from Christ's life. To be honest, I am not entirely sure I matched each artwork with the correct story. The information was very confusing.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Seeing the crowds he went up on the mountain. And he opened his mouth and taught them,
saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those with
mourn, for they shall be comforted, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
(Matthew, 5: 1-5)
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. When
he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending on
him like a Dove; and a voice came from heaven: "Thou art my beloved son: with Thee I am well
pleased." (Mark 1:9-11)
. LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME
"And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them: “ the disciples rebelled.But when Jesus, saw it he was indignant, and said to them: "Let the children come to me, hinder them; for no such belongs the kingdom of God." (Mark 10 :13-14)
THE VISIT OF THE MAGI
"And going into the house they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh”
(Matthew 2:11)
THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN
Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done?
And there appeared to him an angel from Heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he
prayed the more earnestly; and His sweat became as great drops of blood falling down upon the
ground. (Luke 22: 42-44)
JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE
"Jesus said to her: “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the
gardener, she said to him: "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I
will take him away." Jesus said to her: “Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew: “Rabbon” (teacher)
John 20 (15-16)
I went to learn about Nano Nagle (1718 – 1784), who founded the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known worldwide today as the Presentation Sisters. Born into a Catholic family in Ballygriffin, County Cork, she grew up at a time when Ireland’s Penal Laws denied education to Catholics unless they converted to the Church of Ireland.
Like many of her background, Nano was sent to France for her education and later returned to live in Dublin. The sudden deaths of her parents and sister brought her back to Ballygriffin, where she considered entering an Ursuline convent abroad. But she was persuaded that her calling was to remain in Ireland, serving her own people at a time when poverty and ignorance were deepened by religious persecution. The above mural depicts her as a wealthy lady.
At twenty-nine, Nano began teaching poor children in secret, moving from house to house by lantern light to avoid drawing the authorities' attention. This earned her the title The Lady of the Lantern. Her dedication grew quickly — soon she was teaching over 200 children. Determined to provide a lasting foundation for her work, she opened her first school on Philpott Lane in Cork City. Over time, she established two schools for girls and five for boys, providing not only literacy but also faith formation, moral guidance, and care for the poorest of the poor. In 1777, she founded Ireland's first convent. Her tireless commitment to others came at a cost to her own health. She died on 26 April 1784, with her final words said to be: “Look after the children — the children of the poor.”
Portraits of the Nuns with Nano Nagle at the top.
The chapel where the Nuns worshipped.
Hidden behind stone walls in Dingle lies a quiet garden of white crosses — the Nuns’ Graveyard, a place that feels like stepping back in time
In 1890, Tom Baker opened a restaurant in Dingle. It is now Dingle's oldest licensed premises, advertised as "Dingle's oldest table. Ireland's finest table.” Original stone walls, warm candlelight, and a dining room that felt both timeless and intimate. Reminiscent of Chasen’s in LA or Jack Fry’s in Louisville, it exuded history and class.
I started with the mushroom soup. It had some cream in it, but I wouldn't describe it as cream of mushroom soup. For a mushroom lover, it hit a home run.
For my main course, I ordered Breast of Chicken Stuffed with Bread, mixed herbs, and onions with mushroom sauce. Ever so good. The succulent chicken was flavorful with a crisp skin. YUM!
Thank you, Marsha Harlow, for telling me that sticky toffee pudding is actually Irish and not English, as everyone seems to believe. I felt compelled to order it, and now when I get home, I will be researching fat farms. Look out, Gordon Ramsey, Lord Baker is coming after you. It was fabulous.
Although I could ot go in, I had to say a prayer at Saint James. - no relation - no Saints in my bloodline. We do have a bunch of fun people who can tell a story. The church has been here since the 1300s.
Only in Ireland, this is a combination bar and hardware store. What could be more fun than having a couple of pints and going home with a chainsaw?
Sacred Heart University is a school where students learn Irish (Gaeilge). It is constitutionally defined as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland. It is a Celtic language with three main dialects: Munster, Connacht, and Ulster.
What a fun day off.
Good night and God Bless!
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