We're home... we have to go to work. Waaa..
What an adventure we had though and we have more fun to look forward to this week. To finally be able to celebrate with our family and friends!! Keep checking the blog as we will update it as fun in our lives continues.
Thank you for sharing our adventure with us. We hope you enjoyed it just as we did!
Much love,
Mr. & Mrs. Bryon Crowley
Monday, July 21, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Photos Link
To view the rest of the photos please go to:
http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=949191216509514571/l=400566274/g=13182801/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=949191216509514571/l=400566274/g=13182801/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
The Burren & Cliffs of Mohr
Mama Mohr - we went to see your cliffs today... okay well really they are the Cliffs of Moher but the pronunciation is still the same! The views are unbelievable...of course just like everything we saw on our trip. We also visited the little town of Ennis this afternoon and were just doing some shoppin around when Bryon realized he wasn't wearing his ring! Can you believe that---3 days!?! Luckily, he left it where we stayed last night... and they still had it. So back up to Galway we went. About an hour and a half trip we weren't expecting, but at least he got it back. We headed from there cross the country to Dublin again. We unfortunately have come full circle and are back where we have begun. We leave for the US in the morning and leave this beautiful country behind. We are, however, ready to come home. We miss our family and friends like crazy and also really need to get back to reality. Full Irish breakfasts have done us in! Our bellies are bulging! Plus all the "chips"! I told Bry today that I think I have eaten more fries in the past two weeks than I have in the past year!!! I can't believe I can't wait to go to the gym!
Plus.... we are having a very exciting event a week from today!!! We can't WAIT to celebrate with everyone. Cocktail hour starts at 6 in the prefunction area! Dinner at 7. Unless of course you are coming up Friday night... then we will start at Mo's Irish Pub then!
We should be back in Chicago tomorrow... we shall see some of you Monday~
Thanks for tuning in... more fun to come next week and we'll post it!
Love ya,
Mr. & Mrs. Crowley
Plus.... we are having a very exciting event a week from today!!! We can't WAIT to celebrate with everyone. Cocktail hour starts at 6 in the prefunction area! Dinner at 7. Unless of course you are coming up Friday night... then we will start at Mo's Irish Pub then!
We should be back in Chicago tomorrow... we shall see some of you Monday~
Thanks for tuning in... more fun to come next week and we'll post it!
Love ya,
Mr. & Mrs. Crowley
Wedding Photos
Here are some wedding photos... I will upload all of them to Snapfish eventually so you can see them all. This will take some time, but I am going to try and do it this evening in the hotel room.
Here are the details of each point in the ceremony, however, so you will be able to understand the progress.
Station One: Holy Well.
The Well is a Celtic symbol of the feminine. In ancient Ireland, it was an entrance to the womb of the goddess. The goddess was the land of Ireland, Eriu. At this well we celebrate the woman to be married. The bride places her hands in the well water. We pray for fertility, womanhood, and for the bride as wife and mother.
Station Two: Standing Stone.
Station Two: Standing Stone.
The Standing Stone is a Celtic symbol of male fertility and power. In ancient Ireland it was used as a phallic symbol, marking a centre of energy. The monks carved Christian images on it and used it to mark the boundaries of their monastery. At the standing stone we celebrate the man to be married. The groom places his hands on the stone. We pray for virility, manhood, and for the groom as husband and father.
Station Three: Altar.
Station Three: Altar.
The Altar represents God or the Divine. This altar was used by the monks for 1100 years, from the 5th to the 16th century, as the focus for their worship. It is likely that they built the altar above an earlier Druidic energy point. Before the altar, the two to be married stand facing each other and make their vows. They exchange rings, have their hands tied in a Celtic handfasting, and receive a blessing from the priest.
Station Four: Sundial
The Sundial is a carved stone with a hole in it. It has a circular dial and a Celtic cross carved on it. It was a primitive clock, using a stick in the hole to cast a shadow from the sun across the dial. The monks needed it to divide their day into periods of prayer. The bride and groom touch their forefingers inside the hole to further solidify their commitment. Wishes are made by each, by pulling a silk scarf through this hole three times.
Station Four: Sundial
The Sundial is a carved stone with a hole in it. It has a circular dial and a Celtic cross carved on it. It was a primitive clock, using a stick in the hole to cast a shadow from the sun across the dial. The monks needed it to divide their day into periods of prayer. The bride and groom touch their forefingers inside the hole to further solidify their commitment. Wishes are made by each, by pulling a silk scarf through this hole three times.
XOXOXO
Friday, July 18, 2008
Cong - "The Quiet Man"
Today we travelled North of Galway to the little village of Cong, where John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara filmed the Quiet Man in 1951. A Crowley family favorite, we had to go being so close. We went on the movie tour and went stop by stop to each filming location. It was pretty cool.
The Quiet Man Museum and the Cottage replica.
The Quiet Man Museum and the Cottage replica.
White and Green house is the dying man's house where he sprung out of bed during the fight scene. Bryon got to re-enact the scene by hobbling down the street. They let him leave on his drawers though.
The Reverend's House
No Paddyfingers in the Holy Water!!
Our version of Sean and Mary Kate... though blurry unfortunately. See what happens when I hand off the camera!
We spend the rest of the afternoon wandering around the streets of Galway. It wasn't a very nice day, so it wasn't that exciting.
Right now we are waiting for our photographer to show up w/the wedding photos! I hope there are some good ones...
XOXOXO
B&T
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Sorry to keep you waiting...
We've had some technical difficulties recently with getting online. I typed a whole blog this morning and realized that it did not save. UGH.
Anyway.... last night we had a very nice dinner of panchetta salad, steak, Irish potatoes and vegetables PLUS dessert----even better --- ON THE HOUSE!!! I think we should get married more often. Like 2 times isn't enough?! We are like royalty these past few days!
After dinner, Dara came by to visit us and presented us with a book he has written for travelers (not tourists and there IS a difference) coming to Aran. He inscribed it with a really nice blessing for us and also gave us a commemorative certificate honoring our ceremony yesterday! We absolutely adore him. We want to be sure to come back and visit!
After this we went into "town" for Aistear Ceilteach or Celtic Passage - a Magical Journey of Music, Song and Dance. It was spectacular! It included artists all from the islands. There was an amazing vocalist, Deirdre Nichinneide, whose Celtic Passage CD was voted the #1 Celtic album in the US last year, plus an amazing harpist and a band of brothers...literally. They probably were about 14, 12, and 8. They played the accordion, violin and flute respectively. The little 8 year old, Sean, was AMAZING. He was the cutest little guy--I wanted to take him home. He was not only incredible on the flute, but a phenomenal dancer!!
After the show, we grabbed a couple pints and called it a night.
This morning, we headed off to explore the island. The weather was not sunny so much as to produce amazing photos, but the rain held off and we enjoyed the site-seeing none-the-less.
The most impressive stop of the day was Dug Aongus, a 1500 BC half-circle fort built on the center of a cliff. I can't even describe in words the feelings we had standing in something so ancient and beautiful (Oh yea... and like 500 feet off of the ocean!!)
This evening we took the ferry back across to Galway and have just arrived at our B&B, Amber Hill. We will be venturing out to find some goings-on. We haven't decided what is on the agenda for tomorrow.... but we will see!
I'm hearing that we have alot of Blog fans...Thanks so much for your love and support... it means the world to us!
Much love...
XOXOXO
B&T
Anyway.... last night we had a very nice dinner of panchetta salad, steak, Irish potatoes and vegetables PLUS dessert----even better --- ON THE HOUSE!!! I think we should get married more often. Like 2 times isn't enough?! We are like royalty these past few days!
After dinner, Dara came by to visit us and presented us with a book he has written for travelers (not tourists and there IS a difference) coming to Aran. He inscribed it with a really nice blessing for us and also gave us a commemorative certificate honoring our ceremony yesterday! We absolutely adore him. We want to be sure to come back and visit!
After this we went into "town" for Aistear Ceilteach or Celtic Passage - a Magical Journey of Music, Song and Dance. It was spectacular! It included artists all from the islands. There was an amazing vocalist, Deirdre Nichinneide, whose Celtic Passage CD was voted the #1 Celtic album in the US last year, plus an amazing harpist and a band of brothers...literally. They probably were about 14, 12, and 8. They played the accordion, violin and flute respectively. The little 8 year old, Sean, was AMAZING. He was the cutest little guy--I wanted to take him home. He was not only incredible on the flute, but a phenomenal dancer!!
After the show, we grabbed a couple pints and called it a night.
This morning, we headed off to explore the island. The weather was not sunny so much as to produce amazing photos, but the rain held off and we enjoyed the site-seeing none-the-less.
The most impressive stop of the day was Dug Aongus, a 1500 BC half-circle fort built on the center of a cliff. I can't even describe in words the feelings we had standing in something so ancient and beautiful (Oh yea... and like 500 feet off of the ocean!!)
This evening we took the ferry back across to Galway and have just arrived at our B&B, Amber Hill. We will be venturing out to find some goings-on. We haven't decided what is on the agenda for tomorrow.... but we will see!
I'm hearing that we have alot of Blog fans...Thanks so much for your love and support... it means the world to us!
Much love...
XOXOXO
B&T
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Knot tied...AGAIN...
We had our real ceremony today... and thanks to all the prayers from our loved ones... we had no rain! About 1230 we were picked up by the pony trap by our friend Porick (not sure if that is the right spelling but he was a lovely man). We took the trap (seriously a wooden box on the back of a pony. But what a beautiful ride. As we went through the town, we had people wishing us luck in monastery site, including a church, that the original inhabitants of this island used to worship at. We had our four-point ceremony with our priest, Dara. I will go into more detail of each step when we have the real photos on Friday. It was incredibly moving and we wouldn't trade any ceremony for the unbelievably touching and personal one that we had. We were able to video the entire thing, so our family and friends will be able to witness it. Dara had picked an absolutely beautiful bouquet for me of flowers from the island. 
Each point in the ceremony was wonderful. Our photographer, Sean, got some amazing shots I am sure. I can't wait to see the photos. We did get just a couple though:
Each point in the ceremony was wonderful. Our photographer, Sean, got some amazing shots I am sure. I can't wait to see the photos. We did get just a couple though:
And of course after... at the pub! Everyone was clapping as we walked in. We can't wait to celebrate with our family and friends!
Cheers!! Love you!
Mr. & Mrs. Crowley
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Aran
We are now on the Aran Islands...Inis Mor to be exact. We came across from Galway this afternoon on the Ferry. It was a beautiful day with blue skies and sunshine and we are very hopeful that we will experience the same tomorrow. Pray for us! The pony trap picks us up at 1230 to take us to the ancient holy sites for our ceremony.
We met with our photographer Sean this afternoon. It sounds like we will have stunning photos to share. He has agreed to meet us Friday evening when we return to Galway to hand deliver our photos (the disc of them).... so you will have to wait until then for the real ones!
We met with the priest, Dara, this evening. He is such a joy. He explained again the 4-part ceremony. It sounds like it will be phenomenal!!! We can't wait. That will really make us feel like we are married.
The hairstylist also came over and did a practice run on me. I guess Irish hair is much different as she kept telling me that I had beautiful hair.... who me?!
The view from balcony overlooks the ocean and is unbelievable! We will post more pictures tomorrow. Hopefully we will get some photos with our camera so we may share earlier than Friday. Also... guess what!?!? We were able to acquire a videographer!! Actually, it is one of Dara's friends that will come along and use our video camera. We'll see how it turns out but at least we will most likely have some good shots.
Also... my phone quit working this afternoon. If you need to reach us in an emergency... we are at the Aran Islands Hotel, Inis Mor --- otherwise just leave us a comment!!
Love,
B&T
We met with our photographer Sean this afternoon. It sounds like we will have stunning photos to share. He has agreed to meet us Friday evening when we return to Galway to hand deliver our photos (the disc of them).... so you will have to wait until then for the real ones!
We met with the priest, Dara, this evening. He is such a joy. He explained again the 4-part ceremony. It sounds like it will be phenomenal!!! We can't wait. That will really make us feel like we are married.
The hairstylist also came over and did a practice run on me. I guess Irish hair is much different as she kept telling me that I had beautiful hair.... who me?!
The view from balcony overlooks the ocean and is unbelievable! We will post more pictures tomorrow. Hopefully we will get some photos with our camera so we may share earlier than Friday. Also... guess what!?!? We were able to acquire a videographer!! Actually, it is one of Dara's friends that will come along and use our video camera. We'll see how it turns out but at least we will most likely have some good shots.
Also... my phone quit working this afternoon. If you need to reach us in an emergency... we are at the Aran Islands Hotel, Inis Mor --- otherwise just leave us a comment!!
Love,
B&T
Happy Birthdays!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR NEPHEW JORDAN AND TO OUR FRIEND TORI!!! HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED DAY!
Knot tied...
Our new friend Louie the registrar and who knotted us. 
Way cheesy
Did you ever think you would see a ring on that finger??
Signing me life away...
Our witnesses: Aiofe and MarieMonday, July 14, 2008
We took a swim in the ocean today...
Ok... not really - but we definitely did get our feet wet! We toured around Dingle Peninsula today. Talk about gorgeous! Again, we did have to deal with some fog, but we still were able to capture the undisturbed beauty of this incredible place.
First we visited the town of Dingle... we shopped around a bit. We bought a couple of paintings from a local artist that we met. LOVE them! We had a great lunch (we had no breakfast today--:( )) at Chinese Restaurant none the less. It was YUM!
Then, we toured many prehistoric monuments around the peninsula. The Dunbeg Fort, Beehive Huts, and the Gallarus Oratory. It is mind boggling how long these have been there and how they were built in the first place. We met a friendly horse who wanted to come with us I think!!! The untouched land is so breathtaking. I really don't even have words for these landscapes... but just take a look at the pictures!
We arrived back in Limerick to the super-plush Marriott and were looking forward to the nice soft bed and high pressure shower... and low and behold the front desk notified us that they had heard of our upcoming nuptials and upgraded us to one of their fancy suites! Sarah at the front desk was gushing over us for a good 10 minutes. It was so cute -- and I have never ever had such service at a hotel as we have had here. I asked her if she knew of somewhere I could get my nails done tomorrow since we arrived so late. 5 minutes after we got the room - she rang and said she had a salon that could get me in if I went over straight away! Claire the young girl that gave me a beautiful french manicure was the sweetest ever! Between the unbelievable people and sights you can't help but completely fall in love with this place!
Well tomorrow at this time I will officially be Mrs. Crowley. We go to the registrar's office tomorrow for our legal ceremony. Then, we will be heading up to Galway in the afternoon to take the ferry over to the islands for our "real" ceremony on Wednesday!! We looked up the weather and we only have a 20% chance for rain on Wednesday. I think the Irish love and prayers from all of our supporters both at home and our new friends we have made over here is paying off!!!!!!!!! We'll see.
Wow... so yes... the next time I log on... I'll be a Mrs. :) Crazy. It's about time!
Until then..
Lots of love,
B&T
First we visited the town of Dingle... we shopped around a bit. We bought a couple of paintings from a local artist that we met. LOVE them! We had a great lunch (we had no breakfast today--:( )) at Chinese Restaurant none the less. It was YUM!
Then, we toured many prehistoric monuments around the peninsula. The Dunbeg Fort, Beehive Huts, and the Gallarus Oratory. It is mind boggling how long these have been there and how they were built in the first place. We met a friendly horse who wanted to come with us I think!!! The untouched land is so breathtaking. I really don't even have words for these landscapes... but just take a look at the pictures!
We arrived back in Limerick to the super-plush Marriott and were looking forward to the nice soft bed and high pressure shower... and low and behold the front desk notified us that they had heard of our upcoming nuptials and upgraded us to one of their fancy suites! Sarah at the front desk was gushing over us for a good 10 minutes. It was so cute -- and I have never ever had such service at a hotel as we have had here. I asked her if she knew of somewhere I could get my nails done tomorrow since we arrived so late. 5 minutes after we got the room - she rang and said she had a salon that could get me in if I went over straight away! Claire the young girl that gave me a beautiful french manicure was the sweetest ever! Between the unbelievable people and sights you can't help but completely fall in love with this place!
Well tomorrow at this time I will officially be Mrs. Crowley. We go to the registrar's office tomorrow for our legal ceremony. Then, we will be heading up to Galway in the afternoon to take the ferry over to the islands for our "real" ceremony on Wednesday!! We looked up the weather and we only have a 20% chance for rain on Wednesday. I think the Irish love and prayers from all of our supporters both at home and our new friends we have made over here is paying off!!!!!!!!! We'll see.
Wow... so yes... the next time I log on... I'll be a Mrs. :) Crazy. It's about time!
Until then..
Lots of love,
B&T
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