Ulster Welcome

We have been treated to some wonderful Ulster hospitality this first week in Northern Ireland. My father’s cousin, Robert Lytle, and his wife Olive met us at the airport and put us up at their home our first night. We had a barbecue that night at their daughter Karen’s home with husband Alan, and their three boys, Garith, 16, Stephen 14, and Alisdair, 11. Olive and Robert gave us a taste of a traditional Ulster fry on Saturday morning, and just yesterday morning we successfully repeated it on our own with fried bacon, fried soda farl (bread), fried potato farl, and fried eggs.

Last Sunday we attended Strean Presbyterian in Newtonards with Robert and Olive, followed by a delightful sunny afternoon picnic at Mount Stewart gardens complete with jazz concert. Monday was another sunshiny day that we spent hiking and touring in the Mountains of Mourne.

Tuesday we climbed Scrabo tower and even took some time to pick some wild raspberries for lunch. Tuesday night was a social evening with all 11 of my dad’s cousins who live in Northern Ireland ascending on the Lytle’s home for a delightful evening of chatting, eating (food galore), and some singing too as Karen’s boys brought along a couple of guitars. It was going on midnight when the party broke up with many of those having a drive of an hour or more to make get home.

It has been great to connect with our extended family here and to experience the land and its people firsthand. I’ve been struck by the hospitality and cordiality around mealtimes. We could all learn a lesson or to from these folks about the importance role of the table in living a rich life.