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Tag: fishing

1 and 2 Day Camino Experience

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

  • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
  • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
  • Luxury coach transfers.
  • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
  • Guided tours.
  • Ideal group size 12-16.

Option



Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

 

1 and 2 Day Camino Experience

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

  • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
  • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
  • Luxury coach transfers.
  • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
  • Guided tours.
  • Ideal group size 12-16.

Option



Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

 

1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences

Due to the COVID19 travel restrictions we have rescheduled many of our events to the Autumn. Please send Dr. Phil and Elaine an email to; info@waterfordcamino.com if you have anything you would like to discuss regarding booking an event with us. Thank you. Stay safe.

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

    • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
    • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
    • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
    • Luxury coach transfers.
    • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
    • Guided tours.
    • Ideal group size 12-16.

Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

 

1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences

Due to the COVID19 travel restrictions we have rescheduled many of our events to the Autumn. Please send Dr. Phil and Elaine an email to; info@waterfordcamino.com if you have anything you would like to discuss regarding booking an event with us. Thank you. Stay safe.

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

    • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
    • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
    • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
    • Luxury coach transfers.
    • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
    • Guided tours.
    • Ideal group size 12-16.

Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

 

1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences

Due to the COVID19 travel restrictions we have rescheduled many of our events to the Autumn. Please send Dr. Phil and Elaine an email to; info@waterfordcamino.com if you have anything you would like to discuss regarding booking an event with us. Thank you. Stay safe.

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

    • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
    • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
    • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
    • Luxury coach transfers.
    • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
    • Guided tours.
    • Ideal group size 12-16.

Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

 

1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences

Due to the COVID19 travel restrictions we have rescheduled many of our events to the Autumn. Please send Dr. Phil and Elaine an email to; info@waterfordcamino.com if you have anything you would like to discuss regarding booking an event with us. Thank you. Stay safe.

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

    • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
    • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
    • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
    • Luxury coach transfers.
    • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
    • Guided tours.
    • Ideal group size 12-16.

Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

 

1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

  • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
  • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
  • Luxury coach transfers.
  • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
  • Guided tours.
  • Ideal group size 12-16.

Option



Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences

‘From the Greenway to the Falls’ is a unique ‘time-out’ that leads you off the beaten track to discover some of the wonders of this hidden corner of Ireland. As we make our way along the Waterford Greenway and on to the Mahon Falls in the heart of the Comeragh Mountains, we take time to soak in the breathtaking beauty we pass along the way.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan

Scenic coach journey along the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Dungarvan to Tramore. On arrival in this seaside town, we have a choice of an 8km walk around the sand dunes on the beach or a beautiful cliff walk along the path from Newtown Cove. Ice-cream on the promenade completes the experience! 

‘To the waters and the wild’ will take you to the fishing village of Dunmore East for a 4 km cliff walk followed by a boat trip out in the bay. Brendan takes us on a voyage of discovery, sharing anecdotes on the coves and sea caves, and simply reminding us unknowingly of what really matters in life.

Choir, Pilgrim, Museum, Treasurers, walk, mindfulness, Waterford, peace choir, singing, Irish, Ireland, Comeragh, mountains, Mahon Falls, Durrow, Greenway, Dungarvan, Tramore, fishing, Dunmore East, Copper CoastWe will be running our unique 1 and 2 Day Camino Experiences every month, from March 2020.

Included in the 2 Day Waterford Camino Experience…

  • 1 night in The Tower Hotel, Waterford City.
  • Breakfast, packed lunch and one evening dinner of your stay.
  • Reflective ‘compass points’ each day led by Dr Phil Brennan.
  • Luxury coach transfers.
  • Boat trip and fishing in Dunmore Bay.
  • Guided tours.
  • Ideal group size 12-16.

Option



Alternatively contact Phil and Elaine directly by email at; info@waterfordcamino.com

 

  • Phil Brennan
  • Posted on July 12, 2018
  • Posted in Phils Blog |

    Bright bright sun shiny days

    Who would have thought we would have days like these? The landscape is tinged with a golden hue as the crimson light sets seawards each evening. We on the shoreline are lulled into a balmy calm. In the glow, the ordinary becomes magical again. Sand becomes the stuff of dreams for the curious child, the sea sparkles in azure blue enticing even the most reluctant swimmer to take that leap. There’s a buzzing fly hangin’ around the bluebells and the daisies…

    Visitors on our Caminos in Waterford have loved the sunshine. There’s an extra spring in the step even under the midday sun. Light radiates energy and we all feed off it. The eclectic shades of attractions here in Waterford are all the more resplendent on a sunny day; mountains, greenway, sea, woods, gardens, cycle routes. Pool them together, add sunshine, and you have something unique.

    Waterford always had spell-binding walks and trails but somehow everything seems so much more accessible now. Once separate entities are starting to see the bigger picture and work together. Collaboration is the name of the game and in everyone’s interest. There is a seismic movement at play in how tourism is evolving and all involved need to read the signs. Visitors are looking for something different, something outdoor that invigorates the spirit. Waterford does not disappoint. It has so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

    There is something so refreshingly positive about the Waterford Greenway experience. We’ve started to blend a Greenway cycle into our Waterford Camino experience and our visitors love it. Starting from the Durrow Carpark at O’ Mahony’s, we cycle at a leisurely pace into Dungarvan and take time to absorb all that we survey along the way. Life feels good as you rest the limbs over lunch and take in all that this beautiful town has to offer.

    As you cycle, you leave the world as you know it and are transported to a different space, a sphere beyond our normal consciousness. Adjusting to the radiant hues as we leave the dimmed enchantment of Durrow Tunnel behind, surveying the panoramic vista that awaits us as we free wheel towards Clonea, witnessing the feverish excitement of children as they take this magical odyssey for the first time… you feel privileged simply to be part of it all.

    The trail up through Crough Woods to the Mahon Falls has left deep imprints on those who have shared the Camino with us. It’s a walk that not too many know about yet it has everything. It’s a gradual 4 km. climb from the base of the woods up to the Mahon Falls above and you know you are alive when you reach the top. Nature bares its soul as you meander your way upwards to source.

    In the dark, the eye begins to see – so true of this walk, so true of life! The soothing sound of the waters rolling downstream provides the perfect backdrop to this adventure. We are shielded in the shade as the light glimmers through on occasion. It is a world apart. In the stillness, all that once defined us is left behind. The water flows by, unwavering in its course, reminding us of what is yet to come.

    When we emerge, an amphitheatre of age old rock opens of before us. There’s a subliminal symmetry to it all – sheep, mountains, rocky hillsides… and the water cascades downwards to the awaiting ocean as it has done for millions of years. You sense you are enveloped in something timeless.

    The arrival at the Falls completes all that we have experienced en route. The journey matters but reaching the destination is in itself spectacular. It’s great to take a seat on a rock and soak your feet in the streams below and take time to absorb the wonder of it all. No medication could have the same impact!

    It’s always good to return to the shore on sunny days. It’s like a tropical oasis out in Newtown Cove at the moment. It has a magnetic draw for people of all ages. Some of our visitors have loved the swim, others prefer to stand on the headland above and take in the mesmerizing view across Tramore Bay. Once you get over the fear of taking that plunge, the thrill kicks in. Children, grandparents, lovers, friends face down their demons and jump. The rush of adrenaline on impact shocks the body back to life. Re-charged and re-booted, you’re ready for the world again!

    These simple delights are what make life worth living. The light is glimmering in ways we may not have noticed before. A cycle, a walk through shaded trees, a jump in the sea, a paddle in a stream – our parents and their parents before them have been doing it for years. In a round-about way, we are returning to the ways of old in our search for something new – something free. Here beyond the narrowed walls of digital illusion, we experience the world with our own eyes rather than through the lens of others.

    Moments on the Camino remind us that we are not alone, that we are part of something greater. Miniature and all as our life may appear in the universal scheme of things, what each of us do now actually matters. Starting today, learn more, laugh more and do what you truly love to do. The destination is not what matters. The point is making the most of every step in between.

    Stillness is the stepping stone to peace. In the rush to compete and achieve, we can easily pass over the smaller, more incidental moments in life. Greek poet Constantine Cavafy said the following of Homer’s epic odyssey to the island of Ithaca, words that echo as much today as they did in 1911 when first penned:

    “When you set out for Ithaca ask that your way may be long, full of adventure and full of instruction. Have Ithaca always in your mind. Your arrival there is what you are destined for. But do not hurry the voyage at all. It is better to let it last for years; and even to anchor at the isle when you are old, rich with all that you have gained on the way, not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches. Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage. Without her you would never have taken the road”

    Since our last post, Elaine and I have enjoyed our special wedding day among family and friends. We know that wherever our path takes us, we will gravitate towards light, laughter, music, family and friends… a great combo! I’ll finish this week with the uplifting sounds of Liam O’ Maonlai who honoured us with his presence and his music on our wedding day. 

    For further information on Waterford Camino, contact Phil and Elaine on info@waterfordcamino.com

    Special thanks to… Aisling Gordon for the wedding photos on video, Colin French for the drone footage and editing and to the Hot House Flowers for the music.

    Tags: Abbey Travel, all ireland, Athenaeum House Hotel, Audely, Aviva Stadium, bike hire, Camino, Comeragh, Cork, creedon lodge, Crough Woods, cycle touring, cycling, cycling holidays, Destinations Ireland, Dublin, dunmore east, edmund rice, europe, failte ireland, fishing, GB, Greenway, high hopes choir, hurling, Intercruises, Irelands Ancient East, Joe Walsh Tours, leisure cycling, Mahon Falls, Mahon River, reflexion, strand inn, tourism ireland, tours, USA, walking, Waterford, Waterford in your pocket, weekend, weekend cycling, wellbeing, yoga |
  • Phil Brennan
  • Posted on January 22, 2018
  • Posted in Phils Blog, Uncategorized |

    ‘Where words fail, music speaks’

    ‘Where words fail, music speaks’

    We make the road by walking it. Some pathways lead to places that leave their mark long after the journey has passed. This place was altogether different. There was something surreal about it, something intangible… beyond words.

    Travelling toHoly Cross Cistercian Abbey_Krakow(2) Auschwitz with ‘The Island of Ireland Peace Choir’ was memorable on many levels. I’ve stalled from writing my reflections ‘til now as I simply could not find the words. It has left me numb, aghast at the incomprehensible scale of what happened and sickened by the depravity of it all. We paid homage to the fallen in song. Faint notes soared tremulously into the darkened sky.

    Normality on return provides its own sanctuary. Life moves on, but, somehow, all is not the same. The residual tremors echo in broken strains within the inner vault. The unfathomable lingers; vivid, compelling… incomplete. This is my feeble attempt to make sense of it all.

    We passed through the gates of Auschwitz fearful of what awaited us on the other Auschwitz Gatesside. The sun-soaked pavements lulled us unknowingly back in time. Just for that one fleeting moment, the rhythmic cadence of our steps merged in melodic symmetry with those who had gone before us. We were entering a sacred space, a resting place for all too many. Of the 1.3million Jews who had passed through Auschwitz-Birkenau only 200,000 made the return journey. Above us, emblazoned over the steal gates, the hauntingly ironic words “Arbeit macht frei’ (‘Work makes you free’).

    Over the next few hours, the horrors of the past would flash before our eyes like splintered reels on an old film – clear lines of red bricked buildings once used as a Polish military barracks, vacant eyes on the many portraits speckled across walls, the shoes, the hair, the cases, emaciated bodies… the sombre emptiness of the gas chambers. There was nowhere to turn!

    Our guide pointed to the open air auditorium where a band once entertained the inmates as they passed in and out each day – the starkest backdrop surely to a musical ensemble. The cathartic pull between spectator and performer was palpable even now over 70 years later.Auschwitz Orchestra

    The main task of the orchestra was to play during forced labour or during the march back to the camp. After their recitals, they were required to work with the other prisoners. Musicians had the advantage of being hired as on-site workers which allowed them to assemble quickly once the command came. They had no choice but to acquiesce to the cold dictates of their masters.

    Helen Niwinska, violinist in the ‘Auschwitz-Birkenau Women’s Orchestra’ recalls in her memoirs:

    “The view from the entrance of the gate was the most depressing. Though we tried to focus on playing, we could not avoid seeing and hearing what was going on. Exhausted by long hours, the working prisoners were brought in, or dragged on the ground for those who could not survive another day of their ordeal.”

    The first concert took place in January 1941, with seven prisoner musicians. By May 1942, the brass band had over 100 members and the symphonic another 71, an eclectic mix of Europe’s finest musicians, all Jewish… all playing for their lives. From deep within, they mustered the strength. Their ethereal sounds rose from the mire. 3 years later, these same musicians were still playing on the train platform in Birkenau as passengers heaved their way to an unknown fate.

    One of the hardest things for me to grasp was the weird juxtaposition between life and death, crescendo and denouement, mellowed tones and piercing cries – a strange confluence of opposites. In an odd way, the camps were beautiful; impeccable landscaping, lush greenery everywhere, blue skies, perfect reflections of sunlight, birds chirping. There was a sense of calmness, of holiness even. We were in a hallowed sanctuary and their spirit remained close by. Here, amidst the vestiges of a bygone time, you sensed you were not alone. The hushed whisperings of their mystical airs could still be heard.

    The ‘final solution’ did not just happen by chance. There was a plan, a grand disguise. The shroud of subterfuge was carefully crafted. Men, women and children no longer of value to their Nazi governors were ordered to leave their possessions in carefully delineated open bays and told to remember the number assigned to them. After their shower, they were to be repatriated up the country with their own home and land. The reality; carbon monoxide poisoning on a massive scale. Young and old alike ensnared in a web they knew nothing about.

    Auschwitz arrivalThe trains arrived into Birkenau with military precision every day. An endless chain of carriages crept eerily through the misted wood and ground to a chilling halt. Human cargo, crushed with suffocating contempt, emerged bemused and broken. Up to 5,000 people spewed on to the platform in 2 daily cycles. Mothers clasped their children tightly with unswerving love. And still the band played – their faint strains barely audible amidst the mayhem. Elie Weisel recalls: 

    “It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar upon which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed.”

    Work was assigned to Jewish prisoners strong enough to withstand what was asked of them. It was their only hope of survival. The ‘Sonderkommandos’ oversaw the task of retrieving the bodies from the chambers and burning them in the adjoining ovens or in open air. Sunken heads, bowed and forlorn, doing the impossible. Incense lifted through the veil to somewhere beyond. We paused, then sang our prayer in solidarity with the persecuted:

    “Sleep, sleep tonight, and may your dreams be realised. If the thunder cloud passes rain so let it rain, rain down on him… so let it be.” (‘M.L.K.’, U2)

    We passed at pace from one barracks to the next, passive observers to an unspeakable truth – no words just silent sighs. Etched onto a shaded doorway, George Santayana’s one sentence said everything:

    “The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again.”

    The world must talk, must continue to acknowledge the pain, the obliteration, the misguided ideologies – if we don’t we’re condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past. We need to honour not just the millions who died but the stoic courage of so many who persevered against the odds.

    Girl in red dress Schindlers ListI always remember the powerful image of the girl in the red dress in Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”. The vast kaleidoscope of human displacement narrowed right down to one girl’s final odyssey. Statistics overwhelm. The human story hits home. Viktor Frankl was a Jewish doctor moved to Auschwitz with his wife Tilly in 1944. His job was to build the railway lines along with hundreds of other inmates. Each morning they’d trudge through the snow bare footed, punctuated by the piercing shudder of rifle butts when least expected. Frankl stared adversity in the face and somehow made sense of it all. In his book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ he recalls:

    “We stumbled on in the darkness, over big stones and through large puddles, along the one road leading from the camp. Anyone with very sore feet supported himself on his neighbour’s arm. Hardly a word was spoken; the icy wind did not encourage talk. Hiding his mouth behind his upturned collar, the man marching next to me whispered suddenly: ‘If our wives could see us now! I do hope they are better off in their camps and don’t know what is happening to us.’

    That brought thought of my own wife to mind. And as we stumbled on for miles, slipping on icy spots, supporting each other time and again, dragging one another up and onward, nothing was said, but we both knew: each of us was thinking of his wife. Occasionally I looked at the sky, where the stars were fading and the pink light of the morning was beginning to spread behind a dark bank of clouds.

    But my mind clung to my wife’s image, imagining it with an uncanny acuteness. I heard her answering me, saw her smile, her frank and encouraging look. Real or not, her look was then more luminous than the sun which was beginning to rise. A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers… The truth – that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which we humans can aspire.”

    In March 1945, Viktor was offered a move to the so-called rest camp, Turkheim where he worked as a physician until the 27th of April 1945 when the camp was liberated by American soldiers. He survived. His wife Tilly was moved to Bergen-Belsen from where she was never to return. Frankl’s mother Elsa and brother Walter died at Auschwitz. Years later, Frankl reflected:

    “They could torture me but could not take away my power to choose. Everything can be taken away except ONE – to choose one’s attitude, one’s own way”.

    We live in this twilight time, between darkness and light. Our story ebbs and flows as a series of melodic movements in the symphony of the universe. The search for meaning is the search for the lost chord. Its discovery changes everything. Only then will discord cease and the melodic balance of the universe be restored. There is a life force out there strong enough to subdue, to liberate. It resides within each of us.

    On the walls of the ‘Room of Choices’ in the Oscar Schindler Museum, we were reminded of the poignant power of music to attune us to this new frequency:

    “We were terrified. All of a sudden he began to sing. We all joined him after a while. When we were singing, we forgot the fear.”

    Man with arms in the airNow, 6 months on, I’m beginning to see more clearly. Auschwitz-Birkenau has awoken me from my reverie. My living is determined not so much by what life brings to me as by the attitude I bring to life; not so much by what happens to all of us as by the way our minds look at what happens. We all have a song to sing. You must choose yours carefully and direct your energies into it. Stay close to what is genuine and true. Love can overcome all that diminishes life. Love sustains us on our way.

    “Only in the deepest silence of night the stars smile and whisper among themselves” (Tagore)

     

    Dr. Phil Brennan is the founder and Musical Director of the Island of Ireland Peace Choir. The choir’s trip to Krakow will feature on Nationwide Friday 26th, January, RTE 1 at 7pm, the evening before ‘World Holocaust Remembrance Day’.

    Special thanks to the following for all their help and support in making this trip memorable; Members of the Island of Ireland Peace Choir, The Edmund Rice Brothers, Mount Sion, The Packaging Hub, Causeway Properties, Harvey Travel, Cracovia Travel (Krakow), Comeragh Coaches, Hi-lite Television Productions, Damien Tiernan (RTE)

    Title: Hans Christian Andersen.

    Photo: Girl in Red Dress by David James for Universal Pictures.

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