It's the first week of April and I'm already getting excited about June in Ireland. I will be teaching The Irish Storytelling Tradition for Mesa Community College's Study Abroad Ireland Program. The program is based in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, right in the center of the country on the beautiful Shannon River. This is the fourth year of the program and will be my third year teaching in it. I've made arrangements for Liz Weir, a storyteller from Cushendall, Northern Ireland, to join us during the second week for a concert and workshop. One of my closest friends, Doug Bland, pastor at Community Christian Church in Tempe, AZ, is coming on the program as part of his sabbatical. It's going to be a wonderful trip! The photo is of The Rock of Divisions, on the Hill of Uisneach, the physical and spiritual center of Ireland, very near Athlone.
