Knock

Finishing the new album meant I worked through the summer and didn't go to Ireland, so I am here now with my daughter. We've been seeing family and friends, and had a very special family gathering last Friday in the church where my mother served as church organist for many years. We spent the weekend with our good friends Deirdre and Jorge where they live in County Sligo between the ancient burial cairn of Maeve at Knocknarea and the wild Atlantic. Yesterday we travelled to County Mayo and are staying at our favourite hotel which has a fine swimming pool and a 300-year-old Mulberry tree on the grounds. On our way we met with a woman and her sister who were going to the town of Knock for a midweek break. Knock is well known because many years ago on a typical rainy night, some people witnessed apparitions of some holy figures suspended in air outside the local church. Hundreds of thousands have flocked there since to pray and touch the wall where this is said to have occurred. They have built a cathedral, an airport, and many shops.