HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

Today would have been my Dad's 86th birthday -- Donald Joseph Sherlock was born on March 2, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois.  He is the baby in this photo.  It reminds me of how I looked in my baby photos. His brother Eddie is also in the photo and I am not sure who the woman was.  My Dad and his family moved to Southern California when he was 6 months old so I am assuming this photo was taken in Southern California.

The above photo is my Dad and his date to some high school dance.  Don attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles.  After all of us kids graduated from high school, my Dad stopped attending our high school (St. Genevieve's) football games and went back to attending his high school (Loyola) football games with an old friend of his from his high school days.

My Dad and his oldest brother Chuck went on an annual fishing trip.  They did this for years after us kids were grown. Then they started inviting my oldest brother Danny.  Next thing you knew my husband was joining them on their trips.  In 1998 they rented a houseboat and fished the California Delta.  The above photo shows my Dad on the boat with his Notre Dame shirt.  My Dad was a true Notre Dame fan -- even though we lived in California, he would receive a copy of the South Bend Tribune newspaper every day during football season and spring football.  Our mailman was not a happy person carrying all those newspapers, especially the very large Sunday paper.  We left a candy bar and soda for him in our mailbox while he walked his route.  Such fun memories!

Happy Birthday, Dad!  We love you and miss you!

SPORTS IN IRELAND

          I am college football fan and especially love the UCLA Bruins.  One of our planned activities on our trip to Ireland was to attend the college football game of Notre Dame University playing the Naval Academy at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Because of my love of college football and also basketball, I was interested to find out what role sports played in the lives of the Irish. 

          On our bus trip to Galway, our tour guide told us about Gaelic football and that they were now in the playoff games.  Each county in Ireland had a football team and the people of the county showed their support.  Galway’s team was in the playoffs and there was a big banner in the middle of Quay Street (where shops and restaurants are) encouraging their team to win.  The All Ireland Senior Football Final would be held on the 3^rd Sunday in September.  I am guessing that this is akin to our Super Bowl (I’m sure not televised all over the world but probably just as important to the Irish!).

          The other sport I learned about was hurling. According to the GAA.ie website, “hurling is believed to be the world’s oldest field game.”  The stick used in hurling is called a “hurley” and is curved outwards.  The ball (which is called a sliotar) is about the size of a hockey ball.  I don’t understand all the rules but there are goalposts involved and the scoring values are similar to those used in Gaelic football.

          As I mentioned before, I did have the opportunity to attend the “Emerald Isle Classic” American college football game between Notre Dame and Navy.   The Aviva Stadium is only 2 ½ years old and is very futuristic looking.  It was fun being in a smaller stadium (seating 40,000 compared to 100,000).  While Notre Dame wasn't designated as the home team, they did wear Adidas shoes that were the colors of the  Irish flag.  The Fighting Irish did win the game and began their undefeated season.