Oilithreacht Bhliantúil chuig an gCainneon Mór

Yearly Pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon

My wife and I went on a pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon in Arizona last week. In fact, it’s become a regular part of our lives now – we go there every year at the same time. Sometimes, it’s hard to find the time, but we try our best to go there despite the difficulties of life.

Why, you say? Let me answer your question with another question: have you ever been there? If you have, it’s easier to explain. If not, I would recommend you go there if you can – and I promise you won’t regret it. There’s no such vast beauty to be seen in Ireland. The reward is worth the trouble. And if you go there, you can visit Vegas on the same trip! And yet the story doesn’t end there.

The Size of the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Sixty million years ago, the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau, of which the Grand Canyon is a part, were formed by tectonic activity. Gradually, the Colorado River carved its way through the ancient rock, digging ever deeper.

Today, it is a steep-sided canyon – 446 km long, up to 29 km wide, and 1,857 metres deep. It covers a vast area of 5,000 km² – that’s half a million hectares.

That’s not easy to imagine. To put it in context: imagine Counties Kilkenny, Waterford and Carlow combined – and every inch of it covered by one deep canyon. And you could almost hide two Carrantuohills in its depths from top to bottom.

While there are other great canyons in the world, the Grand Canyon is the most famous. Around 5 million people visit it every year. It’s an awesome sight to behold from the rim. Most visitors head to the South Rim – it’s not as remote as the North Rim.

Staying at the Bright Angel Lodge

When I first saw the Canyon, my eyes almost popped out of my head in awe. Seeing it on Instagram or TV is one thing – but experiencing it in person is another. It takes your breath away.

After our first visit to the South Rim, my wife and I were completely captivated. There’s magic – not just in the canyon itself, but also in the quiet village on the rim (Grand Canyon Village). We love staying in the village at the Bright Angel Hotel – in a small log cabin on the edge of the canyon.

The hotel has shops, a restaurant and a pub – everything you could possibly need. You can have a lovely dinner, and then take a walk as the sun sets – perfect subject for your next selfie!

Preparations for the Crossing

After several years staying on the rim, we heard about an exceptional hike that a friend of ours had done – a complete crossing from the south rim to the north rim, about 40 km in length.

The descent is not the most challenging – it is the steep ascent that is, especially in the heat of the season. When I heard about this hike, and despite the difficulties he mentioned, I asked to go with them – and they accepted me without delay.

I started training seriously. There were mountains nearby and I did a long hike every weekend – between the altitude and the desert heat.

Oddly enough: In the Grand Canyon, you can experience two climates in one day – freezing at the top of the canyon, with desert heat up to 40°C at the bottom. Therefore, comprehensive preparation is required – layers of clothing, a food strategy, and above all, water management.

If you are going ‘rim-to-rim’ – that is, from one rim to the other, you will be on the trail for up to 15 hours. You need to have a plan for hydration – how much water to carry, where the fill points are, and how to balance your weight. 3–4 liters is essential, but 4 liters weighs 4 kilograms.

The Big Day: Crossing the Canyon           

I met up with the group of hikers later in the year as we had planned. There were about ten of us. We spent a few days at the north rim first to get used to the altitude – 2,500 meters.

At four o’clock in the morning, by the light of the stars, we met up and set off. The temperature was below freezing at the time, but we were prepared. Dressed appropriately, we set foot on the famous Bright Angel Trail – and into the Grand Canyon.

 

 

Léamh Filíochta

Poetry Reading

I recently attended a poetry class that I really enjoyed. We had to read our poems out loud in class, and then the other students had the opportunity to share feedback with the author. In this way, we were all learning in two main ways. Firstly, we heard the poems that other people in the class had composed, which was very interesting. Secondly, we received feedback on our own poems, and with that information, we were able to improve the poems. At the end of the course, an open poetry reading was organised for us, which everyone was welcome to attend. I read three poems in English at the event, and I read an introduction to each of them, to put them in context. I have an English and an Irish version of two of the poems, since they relate to Ireland. The other one (the third one) is in English only. Here are the three introductions and the poems associated with them, translated into Irish (except for the third poem itself).

 

  1. 1. The powerful influence of our parents on us.

Our parents have a great influence on us in our early years. I didn’t really understand that until recently. This is just one example of that influence. My father wrote and my mother read every chance they got, every day, when I was growing up. I have enjoyed writing and reading throughout my life and they are very important to me. Every chance I get, I write or read. I now understand very well that this was no accident but was a consequence of the home environment I had, thanks to my parents. This poem is a tribute to them.Our parents have a great influence on us in our early years. I didn’t really understand that until recently. This is just one example of that influence. My father wrote and my mother read every chance they got, every day, when I was growing up. I have enjoyed writing and reading throughout my life and they are very important to me. Every chance I get, I write or read. I now understand very well that this was no accident but was a consequence of the home environment I had, thanks to my parents. This poem is a tribute to them.

Scríobhaim
Daid ag cnagadh ar a shean-Olivetti,
A eochairbhuillí mar bhuillí croí ár n-óige.
Gach ciúnas agus boladh Tippex
mar shioncóipiú sa cheol cúlra-
ceol deasghnátha an tsaoil.

Sna sosanna gearra ina lá fada –
físeanna leabharlann-spreagtha ag Mam,
faoi dhomhan nís cineálta, nís gile.

Ón ithir thorthúil chruthaitheach seo,
D’fhás peann i mo lámha óga díograiseacha.
Bhínn ag scríobh, ag scríobh, ag scríobh,
go dtí gur lean foirm feidhm,
agus sa deireadh thiar thall –
nochtadh an scríbhneoir ionam.

I Write
Tapping away on his old Olivetti,
Dad’s keystrokes were the heartbeat of our childhood,
with silences and Tippex smells
syncopating the background music
of our mundane life rituals.

Mum fed the short breaks in her long day
with library-fueled visions
of a kinder, grander world.

From this fertile, dream-fed soil
sprouted a pen in my eager young hands.
I wrote and wrote and wrote until
form followed function
and parchment revealed
the writer inside.

  1. The beauty of nature and culture in the Glen Cholm Cille area.

According to tradition, Colmcille built a church in Glencolmcille in the 6th century. This valley is located in a remote area in the north-west of Ireland in County Donegal. The valley slopes down, through rolling countryside, to the Atlantic Ocean. Then, the rugged coastline stretches north and south. To the north, at Sliabh Liag, there are 2,000-foot-high sea cliffs. Glencolmcille is in the Gaeltacht, and our native language is commonly heard spoken there. As such, the area is steeped in traditional Irish culture. I personally feel that this special valley is a wonderful blend of landscape and culture. The poem is a tribute and, in a way, a prayer to this picturesque and historic valley. The poem describes the scene and its effect on me when I first saw the glen on a beautiful summer day, as we entered at the top of the glen and drove down to the coast.

Gleann Cholm Cille
Glasghoirt cuilteáilte úra ag cur thar maoil,
loig is mullaigh scuabtha síos dorchla caol,
ag sleamhnú trí chraos an ghleanna go mín,
stróicthe as a chéile gan rabhadh ag an Muirlín.
Talamh Naofa ina néal-lámha faoi dheireadh,
Spíonta, géilleann sí go do ghaineamh geal na mara.

Glencolmcille

Fresh green-fielded quiltwork spills,
pleats and folds tumbling down hills,
glides through glistening, gulleted glen,
riven by meanders of the river Murlin.
Cloud-swaddled, spangled sainted land,
Exhausted, yields to the silver sand.

 

  1. The ongoing painful consequences of climate change.

The “butterfly effect” is a description of the large consequences that can occur from small changes. The effect was discovered by Edward Lorenz while researching the weather system. The effect also applies to broader topics, including climate change. In this case, it highlights the risks we take when making even small changes to the climate system. The butterfly migration comes to my area of San Diego from Santa Cruz every year. Last year, I saw one butterfly struggling desperately to stay afloat. Ironically and tragically, the “butterfly effect” has a negative impact on the very creatures for which the effect is named. In fact, the butterfly has done us no harm, but the opposite is true, for it is humanity that is harming the butterfly. All of this gave me a metaphor, in which the butterfly is like a lens. Through this lens, we can see not only our personal and emotional connection to the world, which we know and love, but the reality of its loss, which has already begun. And it is a loss that does not happen all at once, but gradually, butterfly by butterfly - at least at first.

Butterfly Elegy
The nectar-fueled monarch migration
flutters south in shimmering clouds
from Santa Cruz to San Diego
to ancestral breeding grounds.

There, molten clouds of monarchs
drift on failing wings,
no haven to receive them,
no milkweed to nourish their young.

A single monarch spirals down
in quickening, tightening arcs,
its frail and tattered body —
more proof of what’s being lost.

Elton!

Elton!

When my wife saw that Elton John was going to be on stage in San Diego a few days later, I thought there wouldn’t be any tickets left. But for the fun of it, I searched ‘Ticketmaster’ and was surprised to find that there were still tickets available. I immediately bought a couple.

This was a rare opportunity, as Elton had retired from touring a few years ago. In this case, he made an exception because it was a fundraising event for a good cause. Elton donated the proceeds from his concert to ‘Curebound’, a local non-profit organization that provides funding for cancer research. Elton himself survived prostate cancer in 2017. He almost died from a rare complication (a type of virus) that occurred after he had surgery. At that time, he realized what was important in his life, and decided to spend more time with his family and less time touring.

Memories

Elton's songs were my soundtrack in my early teens. I remember dancing at discos with 'Rocket Man', 'Crocodile Rock', or 'Daniel' being played loudly. I don't have many memories of that time, but that was one of them. Almost every one of Elton's songs went to the top of the charts in the seventies. Elton was a great composer but he couldn't write lyrics. His friend, Bernie Taupin, was a great lyricist but he couldn't compose music. Liberty Records brought them together when they gave Elton a folder of Taupin's lyrics. Elton composed the music for them, and Bernie and Elton began a really famous partnership. They have collaborated on almost every song since their initial one in 1967. Until recently, Bernie would send lyrics to Elton, and then Elton would compose the music – without them meeting! In recent years, they have met more often to write songs together.

The Run-up

The spotlight was on the organization Curebound when its CEO, Anne Marbarger, took the stage.

“Now – more than ever, we need to support our scientists,” said Anne. She is right, given the recent severe cuts to the National Cancer Institute. “With our support, a cure for cancer will come from San Diego.”

Since its founding in 2021, Curebound has raised nearly $150 million to award funding to 6 research institutes trying to find cancer cures. Curebound received $11.5 million from this concert alone – Elton is a great philanthropist!

Elton then arrived on stage, wearing a yellow suit, the color that signifies cancer awareness. After a spirited opening with ‘Funeral for a Friend/Love lies Bleeding’, Elton had a few words to say: “It’s great to be here to celebrate this incredible organization. It’s not often that I go to places where there are so many people who have experienced cancer, including myself. Let’s enjoy it (the night) to the fullest!

The Concert

Elton and his band were absolutely fantastic, although there were a few minor problems with the sound mix. After ‘Funeral for a Friend’, they continued with a set of classics: ‘Bennie and The Jets,’ ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues,’ ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ and ‘Tiny Dancer.’ And then with another great set: ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ ‘Rocket Man,’ ‘Levon,’ ‘Candle in the Wind’ and ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word To Say.’

During the concert, Elton sang and played at a superb level – with energy and passion. He played special keyboard solos on ‘Benny and The Jets,’ ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Levon’. He played a variety of styles – including boogie-woogie, gospel, jazz and blues – in an inspiring and exciting combination.

For the last song, Elton sang ‘Your Song’, and then there was a fireworks display that no one expected. It was a fitting end to a great concert.

The last line of the last song stayed with me: ‘How wonderful life is when you’re in this world!’ It says everything about this noble cause in one short line!

 

 

 

Seirbhís Chuimhneacháin

Memorial Service

Parents suffer terribly when their child dies. They never recover. My friend, Michael, recently lost his adult child. I hadn’t seen Michael at the gym for a month or two. I didn’t know why, but I thought he was on vacation. Unfortunately, he wasn’t.

Michael’s friend sent me a text last week, with a link to an obituary. At first, I was confused, because I didn’t understand why I was getting that notice. Then I saw that Michael was the father of the young person who died. But that’s just the beginning.

Invitation to the memorial service

Often, there is no big funeral when people die in California. However, a month or two later, a memorial service is held for them. Family and friends attend this celebration of life, and there are usually food and drinks available. I received an invitation to the service via another text, and I replied that my wife and I would be there. On Saturday, we dressed up for the occasion, and drove to the service venue - a golf course. We went there and a sign directed us to the ballroom. There was a table just inside the ballroom door, which had a screen showing photos from Áine's life there, and other mementos on the table as well. She had only been 22 years old when she died.

Micheál, Máire and Pádraicín were with her, and they welcomed everyone as they came in. Áine's parents - Micheál and Máire, have been divorced for a few years, and Padraicín is his current partner. A staff member then directed us to our seats. There was a leaflet on each seat for us, with a photo of a man (Liam) on the front page and a photo of a woman (Áine) on the back page, and a program on the center pages.

Áine was a male-to-female transgender person. She had gender reassignment surgery a few years ago when she was 20 years old. She grew up as a boy named Liam.

There were many people mentioned on the programme: Micheál at the beginning, Áine’s sister, Áine’s friends, her uncle and aunt, Padraicín and Máire at the end.

Celebration of Áine/Liam’s life

Micheál thanked us all for being there. It gave him and his family support and comfort, he said. He had fond memories of Áine and the relationship between them, and Micheál broke down crying from time to time during his speech, because it was very difficult for him to be up on stage, talking about his child like that. He said that it was difficult for him, his ex-partner, and his partner to accept it when Liam (at the time) told him what he was thinking. But they accepted him, and gave him their full support. When Liam had changed to Áine, Micheál admitted that he had never seen his child so happy before. She did not live at home at the time, but she went there often, because the university she attended was not too far from home. Micheál then said that things are not easy in America right now, but especially if you are transgender or an immigrant. The government targets all kinds of attacks on vulnerable people like that, he said. I was in tears and so was everyone listening to him, because this is an incredibly tragic story.

Áine’s sister, Emma, then came up on stage. She told us funny stories, because Liam was definitely a character, as they grew up together. There was devilment in his jokes. When someone was on the side of the road fixing a hole in their wheel, Liam rolled down his window and shouted at the poor guy, saying they weren’t allowed to park there. Emma said that Liam was also very smart, and that it was easy for him to learn science and maths. He enrolled in an engineering course at university without any problems, as he got great results in the entrance exams.

Everyone else praised Liam/Áine highly, both family and friends, and they had lots of stories to tell. At the end, Liam/Áine’s mother came up, and she also told a story or two. Then, she recited a poem by Robert Burns. The heartfelt speeches touched us all emotionally. Everyone was exhausted by the end.

Food and drinks were available afterwards. Most of the people at our table - all of us Michael’s friends from the gym - were leaving. So, we went home too, because we didn’t know anyone else, except for Micheál, and he was already very busy.

Conclusion

The suicide attempt rate among transgender people worldwide is between 32% and 50%. The main risk factors influencing suicidal behavior among transgender people are gender-based victimization, discrimination, bullying, violence, rejection by family, friends and the community; harassment by a personal partner, family members, the police, the community and the government, and discrimination and abuse in the health care system.

We will never know all the factors that formed a major influence on Áine, but the cultural and political environment were likely a few of them. In any case, it is a great sadness to her family, her friends and all of us, that Áine lost her life by suicide in the prime of her life, – eternal peace to her soul.

Ó Ceanada!

O Canada!

O Canada!

O Canada!
Land of the just warriors
A crown on your head, with leaf of red and gold
From coast to coast, with sweet song
Your renown we are praising
Under the protection of your shield
Is bright freedom
Our enemies will not pull us apart
O Canada!
The hope of our hearts
Happiness, peace and the grace of God for our land,
Happiness, peace and the grace of God for our land.

Canadian Election 2025

Canada has reacted strongly to the hostile stance taken by Donald Trump and his administration. The reaction was clearly reflected in the dramatic results of their federal election on April 28, 2025. Just three and a half months ago, the Liberals were 25 percentage points behind the Conservatives in popular opinion polls. After nearly 10 years in power and under the increasingly unpopular leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, it seemed the Conservatives were ready to deal them a fatal blow.

Then Donald Trump returned to the White House and very quickly, everything changed.

Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, citing concerns about immigration and drug trafficking. These measures threatened key sectors, including steel, aluminum, and the auto industry, and posed the risk of a recession, with projections of a 2.5% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) and job losses for about 150,000 workers by early 2026.

To add insult to injury, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada would be better off as America’s 51st state.

Last week (as I write this) he said: “if it weren’t for us (the United States) there would be no Canada, indeed (it wouldn’t exist) as a country.”

Suddenly, Canadians realized that the strong, long-standing relationship between them and the Americans had been broken. It was hard to believe, as the Canadians had long been friendly neighbors, who had gone out of their way to help the Americans. They went to war with them, gave them sanctuary when necessary (in the Iran hostage crisis of 1980, for example), and they have cooperated frequently and with little disagreement between them – until now. Trump began threatening them without any basis when he was elected president.

“Up until then, the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, were on track to win the largest majority in government in Canadian history, but it all fell apart in three, four months,” said Kory Teneycke, a leading Conservative strategist.

Carney’s campaign emphasized economic stability and resistance to US interference, which resonated strongly with voters who were concerned about Canadian leadership. Conversely, public support for Poilievre, whose rhetoric matched Trump’s, and who did not address Trump’s threats to Canada, waned. In addition, a large share of supporters of other parties shifted their support to the Liberals – mainly the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois.

Trump meddles in Canadian affairs

Trump made things worse on election day, when he posted on social media, on Truthsocial.com, suggesting that Canadians might vote for Trump himself, which is not allowed, as he is not on the ballot. Here is what he wrote:

“Good luck to the Great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, to increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the world, have your car, steel, aluminum, lumber, energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE IN SIZE, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America. No more artificial lines from many years ago. Look how beautiful this great land would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES AND NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It makes no sense, unless Canada is a State!”

Trump received this response from Pierre Poilievre: “President Trump, stay out of our election. Only Canadians will decide the future of Canada at the ballot box. Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will never be the 51st state. Today, Canadians can vote for change so that we can strengthen our country, stand on our own two feet and stand up to America from a position of strength.”

Tar éis do Mark Carney an bhuachan a bhaint amach mar phríomh-aire, d’athdhearbhaigh sé a sheasamh maidir leis na Stáit Aontaithe, nuair a dúirt sé: “Mar atá á rá agam anois le míonna anuas, tá fonn ag na Stáit Aontaithe ár dtalamh, ár n-acmhainní, ár n-uisce agus ár dtír a ghabháil,” a dúirt Carney lena lucht tacaíochta. “Ní maíomh na mogail folamh é seo. Tá an tUachtarán Trump ag iarraidh sinn a bhriseadh ionas gur féidir le Meiriceá seilbh a ghlacadh orainn. Ní tharlóidh sé sin choíche… choíche.”

Conclusion

There is no excuse for Trump’s outrageous behavior. He should not threaten Canada, and he should not interfere in its election either. The 2025 Canadian election demonstrates the profound influence of international politics on domestic affairs. Canadian voters were angered by Trump’s tariffs and hawkish rhetoric, and they stood shoulder to shoulder against Trump’s threats and strongly for Canada. That is why they put Mark Carney and the Liberals in power – they understood that the Liberals would stand up for them. Mark Carney and his new government will face significant challenges as they chart a new course for the country – a more independent course and a more formal and cooler relationship with the United States. Other countries may well learn from what happened in Canada. The world will never be the same again, and we all need to understand that, and our governments need to act accordingly. 

 

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