Somewhat Removed. There was death in Roscommon Town tonight. The street outside Smith's Funeral Home (which occupies a sad plot opposite the local livestock mart) was packed with cars. As I threaded my way through the crowd, I recognized a few neighbors who were going in. We waved, and I felt a twinge of shame for passing by on so frivolous an errand as buying cigarettes. But … [Read more...] about An American in Ireland
Funeral
The Pipes Aren’t Calling in RI
This July, the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island announced that no longer would the haunting tune of "Danny Boy" which so many have used to say goodbye to their loved ones, be permitted at funerals because it is a secular song, and therefore not suitable for Mass of the Christian Burial. Church officials felt it would lead to requests for other secular songs. Response to … [Read more...] about The Pipes Aren’t Calling in RI