Ireland is an island of breathtaking beauty that welcomes the visitor at
every turn of the road. It is populated by a people friendly in disposition and quick of wit.
They are well versed in the art of conversation and
have put pen to paper with outstanding success for well nigh two thousand years.
A frequent ploy used by those who write about Ireland is to refer
to the "soul" of that mystic isle. Just as numerous are the figures
named who, at least in the eye of the writer, best represents
that elusive "soul"
The choices are, of course, as long as Ireland's history. Spiritually
one cannot overlook Patrick, Bridget, Columba and so many others. Myth
and legend combine to give us Brian Boru and his cohorts. The
scafford and firing squad have given us Plunkett,Emmett, Kevin Barry and
a Glasnevin host of names. O'Connell and DeValera and Collins are from
the political spectrum. It is safe to say that Ireland does not lack
in names of people who by their action, their deeds, their oratory, or
their blood, revealed a love of country that transcends the
physical effort and reveals their soul on fire in defense of the beloved
Deirdre.
