Hello Friends. I’m Shelley Leedahl, a multi-genre writer in lovely Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, and this is Season 3 of my literary podcast, Something Like Love. I’ve always loved to explore, so I’m feeling the pain during these restrictive, pandemic times and thus have decided to dedicate Season 3 to travel and exploration through poetry, fiction, and essays. 

You’re warmly invited to join me each week on international adventures from my past, and I’ll share some Canadian locales too. I also promote other writer’s work and – because I just can’t help myself – I add a dash of music to the mix, too    

No passports required, no quarantine necessary. You don’t even need to buckle in. Let’s just put our walkin' boots on, and  do this.
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If you’ve tuned in on St. Patrick’s Day, the day this episode first aired, good on ya. I’ve got a wee bit of the Irish in me. My great great great grandfather on my mom’s side – John Faris – was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1787

Now I’ve never been to that part of the country, but I did spend a week writing at a self-made retreat at a monastery south of Dublin, and I befriended a nun who took me to a pub … of course we raised a glass of Guiness together. (Sidenote: I’m more of a pale lager gal, I don’t even like Guiness, but when in Ireland … )

I bought a green hoody in Dublin, with “Ireland” blazened across it in white lettering. I wear it one day a year – St. Patrick’s Day. And I wear it proudly. 

What I remember most about Ireland is wishing I had someone there with me to experience it. I’m impressed by those who travel alone around the world – good on them – but I’ve done enough solo travel to know it’s not my jam. 

One of the best things about my Irish experience was meeting a fellow poet, Pádraig J. Daly, an Augustinian priest at the monastery, and a fine scribe.  His poetry collections include, Out of Silence, The Voice of the Hare, The Last Dreamers, The Other Sea, Clinging to the Myth, Afterlife, and God in Winter. Pádraig also translates from both the Irish language and Italian. In this episode I share his reading of his moving poem "Time of Peace," from his book Afterlife, which first aired on this podcast: https://www.podcasts.ie/featured-writers/featured-poets/padraig-j-daly/

I also read five poems I wrote in Ireland, which appeared in my book The House of the Easily Amused.

Finally, what's St. Patrick's Day without an  Irish proverb? "Everything will be alright in the end … if it’s not alright, it’s not the end. "

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Friends. Go easy.