Best Roadhouse This Side of Austin - Irish American News

June 2008 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 19Nuola O’Faolain DiesNuola O’Faolain (pronouncedoh-FWAY-lawn), an Irish journalistand author of two midlifememoirs (Are You Somebodyand Almost There) and an acclaimedfirst novel, My Dreamof You, died on May 9, 2008 inDublin, Ireland, at the age of 68.The cause was lung cancer.Parishioners of long-closed Chicago Irish parish still celebrateLittle Flower Grade School Class of 1973 celebrated its 35 year reunion in April. Former classmates arrivingat Chicago Gaelic Park received a nostalgic welcome from a group of volunteers from St. Damian Schooladorned in Little Flower School garb.The Leprechaun King Tour of Ireland 2008Papa and the Leprechaun King,The Secret Legend of the Shamrock(Outskirts Press, Denver,CO, 2007. 284 pages; $14.95)is a novel by Arthur Cola whichtakes its reader to the mystical andenchanted Emerald Isle. This book,through a series of harrowing andmagical adventures in each chapterwill reveal to the reader the SecretLegend of the Shamrock.The story unfolds in modernday Ireland where a group of“Baby Boomer” tourists set offon a holiday which will changetheir lives forever. The leader ofthis tour group of grandparents is“Papa” better known as the “Thorn.”It is he who would be anointed thechosen one to fulfill an ancientquest and save the magical powersof the Wee Folk Kingdom.The ghostly Shepherd McCarthyand the mysterious drapery ladyof Clonmacnoise, Kathleen, recognize“Papa” to be the one whocould solve the mystery of theShamrock and also save the Realmof the Wee Folk. Thus “Papa” issent off, but it will not be as aKnight on a gleaming white horse,dressed in brilliant silver armorand carrying a glistening goldensword. Rather, this would-be herosets off on what would become agrand quest by boarding the bluebeast, which is actually a dieselpowered mini bus. His squireswould be his wife and friends.These women would becomedubbed “The Roses” by the Kingof the Leprechauns himself.The story doesn’t end withChapter 18 either. Author ArthurCola has teamed with CIE ToursIreland and Carlson WagonlitTravel to create a tour which willtake its participants to the mostfamous, revered, ancient, historic,sacred and culturally enrichingsites of Ireland. All of them are alsofeatured in the plot of his book.The tour which will take placefrom October 12-23 offers participantsan unique experience ofIreland as they enter the Realmof sacred sites, legendary magic,ancient castles, charming pubsand shops, and sites of breathtakingnatural beauty. To join orto receive information about thetour: www.carlsonwagonlittravel.com/tripco; tripcotravel@sbcglobal.net;800-922-4036.