This was a 950-mile whirlwind trip through the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, led by our bus driver and tour guide, David Spalline. The trip was arranged by the Alumni Association of MCLA. Nancy Morin arranged our participation in the Heart of Ireland tour operated by Celtic Tours .

We started as 35 people who didn't know many others in the bus. The 35 people who got on the bus at Dublin Airport were Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts/North Adams State College alumni, friends and relatives of alumni and one Kerryman. We ended as 35 friends.

The trip provided us with a view of the rural Irish countryside and of the cosmopolitan Irish cities. And shopping opportunities - always room for one more item in our luggage. And pubs - oh the pubs of Ireland are as good as their reputation. We witnessed Irish dancing their traditional dances, and a few of us got to try our feet at dancing.

A thanks goes to our driver, David Spalline, who provided us with good driving, good humor, good entertainment, good instruction in a couple of Irish songs, good commentary on the scenery and history of the areas we visited, and some insight into the Northern Ireland problem. And a special thanks to "The Sisters" for holding off the rain as long as they did, and for the basically good weather we experienced during our trip.

Now on to the meat of the matter

• Driver Tribute
• Tour Pictures
• Planned Itinerary
• Trip Survey

As a single individual cannot take all the pictures necessary to complete a memory web site such as this, the web site creator wishes to encourage the other participants to submit photos and memories to him for consideration of inclusion. You can contact him at drwaller@excite.com.