News about the RKIDs

December 2, 2016

The Big Travel Issue

Around the World

Toni and David traveled to southeast Asia. This photo was taken at the White Palace at Chiang Mai in Thailand.

The OK Corral will Never be the Same — Gunslingers at the OK Corral

Kate met Marilyn O in Tucson for a whirlwind tour of the city and surroundings. Stops included De Grazia’s Gallery in the Sun, Sabino Canyon, the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tombstone, San Xavier de Bac Mission, the Tucson Art Gallery, University of Arizona’s bookstore, and the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. They loved all the sunshine, saguaros, and sagebrush.

Before meeting up with Kate, Marilyn O stayed for four days in Phoenix visiting her cousin, which included a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. And after Kate left for home, she toured some treasured spots in northern Arizona — Sedona, Cottonwood, Jerome, Montezuma’s Castle and Well, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, the world famous skywalk overlooking the Grand Canyon, and several Route 66 landmarks.

No grass grows under Kate. She and Dan took off for Greenville, SC, shortly after her return from Tucson. They spent Thanksgiving with Dan’s son, his wife, and the grandchildren.

And, hold your breath, Marilyn O’s journey continued when she met up with Obie, Christine, and three other friends for a week in Las Vegas. They toured several of the casinos (Mandalay Bay, MGM, Bellagio, Excalibur, Caesar’s Palace, Wynn, and Paris — where they went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower), spent forever at the M&M store and the Coca Cola store, visited Death Valley National Park including Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. Then they toured the Hoover Dam, and ate lunch at an A&W Root Beer stand (they still exist out west). They also attended a Women’s Basketball tournament---and the Maryland Women won both of their games!!!

What a coincidence! Kathryn left for Cuba a few days ago and will be there during the funeral for the Cuban leader, Fidel Castro. She should have quite a story to tell when she returns.

For Thanksgiving, Emma and Jerry spent time in Michigan with his family; Tom and Sonja traveled to Phoenix to see their son; and Maura and Larry went to New York to be with their family.

Irish Events

The Blackthorn Halloween Ceili rocked the halls of Washington Grove once again. A nice crowd danced all night to the tunes supplied by Philippe, Tina, and Marc. Dancers from the entire Washington ceili community were there. Thanks go out to Obie for making this close-to-home event happen. Also, please see our photo album of the event.

The RKIDs’ Social Group will be sponsoring lots of events in the coming months, so stay tuned for details. All members of the RKIDs are invited to join in the fun.

The Social Group kicked off on Dec. 1, when MaryAnn, Judy, Marilyn O, Larisa, Kate, Christine, Dan O’C, Sonja, Tom, and Tom’s sister and brother-in-law from Maine gathered at Ruby Tuesday before attending the Cathie Ryan concert at Blackrock Center for the Arts in Germantown. All attendees thought the concert was FANTASTIC! Cathie sang a variety of Christmas and Irish tunes and told stories about celebrating Christmas in Ireland during her youth. Her heartfelt performance put us in the Christmas spirit---ready now for the RKIDs Christmas party on Friday, Dec. 9 at the O’Brien’s.

Other News

Madelyn and Bill are planning a trip to Spain a year from now. Just to be prepared, Senor Bill is taking a Spanish class, with help from Emma. ¡Hola!

revised on December 5, 2016

_Ring of _Kerry _Irish _Dancers

preserving the cultural tradition of Irish ceili and set dancing since 1991