The Bòthar group: Umbria Assisi-Montefalco walk
My trip with Bothar to Assisi 2009.
It was early this year, my sister Bríd said to me,
would you be interested in going with Bóthar to Assisi?
I said I would think about it, but hard work to be done.
She said – what else do you expect,
sure it would be great fun.
The money was raised,
and then there were three
my sister Cait, Anna Mai and of course me.
I worried you see – that Bríd was not going,
to send me instead, she must have done something!
to Dublin we went Assisi in mind.
We met with the group, had a drink and a chat
and off to bed early as ordered by Pat.
To Italy we came all eighteen of us,
to a great Italian welcome from Juilianna on the bus.
We started to walk, to eat and to drink,
to sleep and to talk, to laugh and to link.
The week has been great, new friends we have made,
the weather been lovely, the memories won’t fade,
but one thing surprised me, was the singing that started
on Wednesday at dinner, the pressure was parted.
I said to myself what can I do?
To sing it is out, as to that they would boo!
A story to tell, perhaps a few steps,
but to keep up with this gang – no good a few leaps.
We have Enrico, Francisco, and Tadgh is from Cork,
2 Mary’s, 2 Anne’s, 2 Pat’s and a Cáit,
we have Margaret and Kathleen, from Tipp we have Sé,
Agnes, Betini, Anna Mai and Kay.
Fr Tim he’s from Kerry, he won’t let us forget,
other places I’ll mention to even the bet.
We have France, Donegal, Offaly, & Waterford,
Galway, Sligo, Leitrim and Longford.
Uphill and downhill we walked with our poles,
as we encouraged each other, we wore out our soles.
The sun it did shine, and the insects did bite,
but a laugh we would have at the end of each night.
The pathways of St Francis, of Assisi our aim,
the history and culture we learned when we came.
I would like to say a big thank you, to Patrick for this,
the experience I’ve had, I sure wouldn’t have missed.
From Rome to Perugia, Assisi to Spello,
then on to Bevagna, we never were mellow,
on trail not train, on bus and not bike,
front seat I did get, and I thank you for that.
To Enrico I say, it’s been great all the way,
you put up with us lot, what can I say,
the information you shared was of great interest to us,
Guilianna as well became part of us.
To get back to Bríd...., I’m glad she did say,
to travel with Bóthar –its been worthwhile all the way,
but least we forget, the reason we’re here,
to help those who need it, I’m glad that we care.
Maura Maguire