Unpleasant Visit has pleasant moments.

I was in Blanchardstown last week twice,Once to attend the funeral of John Keane alongside whom I soldiered on the football fields of Dublin for  few years.He was a good footballer but retired young.I don't know why.Seemingly he went for a routine operation but it went wrong and all who knew him are devastate.
He had a huge funeral in Blanch. Church and there were loads of guys from his generation there ,mostly pensioners ,all of whom now have plenty of time on their hands and not only Tommy Quinn.Big Mick's prophesy has come true big time for a lot of those guy who hurled with him.Our Cecil and Martin were present and correct but had to rush off.Got the tay from Gerry the Hurler .
And I  met a younger Mick who is being dragged through the wrangler of life at the moment and who is a regular reader of this blog.I really hope and pray that things start to turn in your favour my friend.You and yours have had enough sadness in your lives in recent times and ye deserve a break.
And Liam of the golden smile .you are a dinger.
I had to rely on public transport to get home from Blanch .to Dunderry after the funeral and went down to the roundabout at the end of the Village to await the Navan bus where I met a complete stranger to me,a very pleasant young lady who totally unasked used her phone to suss out how long I would be waiting for my bus before heading off on a 39 A BUS.Wouldn't happen 40 years ago mind you..
This benevolence was matched by the driver of the bus who was kindness itself and couldn't do more to help me in entering the bus and alighting from it.The good luck continued when i was picked up in Navan and brought to Dunderry by former butcher ,curent taxi driver and distant cousin Gerry RENNICKS,who brought me home.
On Sunday at three the blessing OF THE GRAVES at Mulhuddart went ahead in torrential rain.Those who regard these occasions as a chore had reason aplenty to give it a miss.but a huge crowd of relatives defied the weather to celebrate the lives of those interred there. My mam and Dad and brother Robert are buried there and poignant memories were relived.
Two young jigsers were there as proud as punch that their sister was gone North to play Camogie with the Dubs. at Junior level  and their Ma had gone with her.And yes they do wear underpants.
Met Tony and Pauler Fagan and Liam Byrne and heard that uncle Sean Byrne,now 95 years young has taken over at the bridge of a retirement home where he continues to skin the bookies of Blanch .with each way doubles ,treble accumulators and YANKEES.
Learned the Shay Carr's son has returned from Hong Kong I think, to Christen his young son in Berkley Road Cfhurch.
And the PATHEISTS would have it that Christianity is dead.Not around Our Lady's Well  thank God.
Also met FORMER NEIGHBOURS ,the Gannons and the Reardons from Hunts town Lawn.,Brendan and May and Mrs,Reardon are  no spring chickens and are in fine fettle.
No more than myself the Reardons are hurling fanatics.For the first time in 39 years Mick is not coaching anyone.
 And Jimmy swears that in his walks around the Papal Cross in the Park he sometime sees Joey Towell .as fit as ever at near seventy ,throwing upa sliotar  behind his back and twisting around to strike it full on as was his wont and was his trademark as many the toothless opponent who tried to bully him found out to his cost.
I played alongside Joey a lifetime ago and won an under 16 and a half Dublin CHAMPIONSHIP at hurling with him at the now defunct Eoghan Ruadh.and played many's the time against him too.
The man is a hurling genius and led Dublin for decades.
The best O Devenney EVER PRODUCED BAR NONE.