Notes from County Cork

June 18, 2025

Eight of our young people are enjoying a 10-day overseas adventure in County Cork, Ireland where they are being hosted by local friends of Mercy Home. 

This opportunity to experience international travel and meet people from another country is life changing for our young people and comes after months of preparation that included an application process and team-building activities. 

This is the sixth youth group our friends in Ireland have hosted since 2010. Mercy Home’s relationship with County Cork is the charitable outgrowth of a trade, technology, and tourism partnership between the governments in County Cork, Ireland and Cook County, Illinois. 

Mercy Home coworkers accompanying the youth are sending home daily updates from abroad and we’ve compiled them below. This blog will update daily.   

Here’s the latest:

Tuesday, June 17

The travelers began their day walking up a “hill” at Knockomagh Wood Nature Reserve where they had a beautiful view of Lough Hyne in West Cork. The kids overcame their fears and jumped into Lough Hyne, a tidal lake connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a rift created by glaciers. It has diverse wildlife and there are three scientific observatories set up on its shore to study it.

Julian, said the water was “interestingly cold.”

The kids later swam at the indoor pool in Inishbeg and ate fish and chips cooked by John Kearney on his boat.

Monday, June 16

The group woke up early to meet John Kearney at the harbor in Baltimore and travel by rib boat to his farm on Cape Clear Island where he lived.

Cape Clear was known as the teardrop of Ireland, not just because it is the southernmost part of the island, but because it was the last piece of the country emigrants saw when they left for America.

“I like the country scene and all the cows and animals that I’ve seen,” Jakayla said.

Aaron, one of the older boys, had tears of joy when he got to hold a baby goat. Jessica also tasted what she had just milked from a goat, and found out it was warm and not cold. An alpaca ate food out of Julian’s hand as well. Another young person learned to sail at the wheel of the boat that took the group to the mainland.

When they returned to Baltimore, they had dinner with Derry Cronin, Ger Power, John Kearney and their families, as well as a few local officials, including the mayor, Cllr. Joe Carroll. The mayor sang a song for them as well.

Sunday, June 15

Father’s Day began with a short drive from the hotel in Cork County to Charles Fort.

Charles Fort sits on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the town of Kinsale below.

“The view was stunning, especially because the weather was clear. Many locals have commented that we must be lucky to have the weather we are supposed to get here this week,” wrote Mercy Home coworker Marc Velasquez.

From the fort, they took the Scilly Walk, a 2.5-mile rolling hill path that led the group into Kinsale. Tyreese showed off his stamina by running up and down some of the hills, probably logging close to 3.4 miles in total.

The group stopped for lunch and two of our young people, Jessica and Jakayla, said that they both love Ireland’s chips, or as Americans call them, French fries.

After the meal, Derry Cronin drove the group along the coast to the place they are staying for the next few nights. Along the way, Derry stopped at a beach so that everyone who had never touched the ocean could put their feet in for the first time.

Jakayla screamed because it was so cold.

After pulling into Inishbeg, they met John Kearney who cooked them dinner and joined the group for ice cream in Baltimore.

The group also started a musical group called “In or Out. One youth knew the words to a few One Direction songs. The kids sang the important parts of a few songs with gusto. Jessica and Julian showed off their range. They created a rendition of “Happy Father’s Day” and sang it to Marc, Derry and John.

“It was great to watch the kids make connections and enjoy being together,” Marc wrote.

Saturday, June 14

Our Cork correspondent, Mercy Home coworker Marc Velasquez, said that everyone was in an excited mood despite the “gloomy weather and fitful plane sleep.”

Derry Cronin picked up the group when they made it through customs and the young people were amazed to learn that cars drove on the left side of the road. They also were introduced to the Gaelic language and began practicing with each other.

First on the agenda was a trip to Blarney Castle where they met their other hosts, Ger Power and his wife Eileen. The Castle was built nearly 600 years ago by the great chieftain Cormac MacCarthy, Lord of Muskerry, known as “The Strong.”

While much of the structure is in ruins, there is no lack of things to see here. Blarney Castle grounds are filled with wooded hollows, 60 acres of sprawling parklands, strange rock formations and a glistening flowing river. 

At the heart of Blarney Castle lies one of its quirkiest attractions. Kissed by world statesmen, literary giants and films stars, the huge Blarney Stone is said to impart the gift of eloquence or “the gift of the gab.”

“We kissed the Blarney stone which was my favorite [part] so far,” Jessica said.

Friday, June 13

After a long day of packing and preparation, the eight young people, along with four coworkers, said their final goodbyes in the Mercy Home courtyard. They were escorted by van to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport by coworkers Mario and Maria Tamayo. 

Many of our young people had never been on an airplane before. Tyreese said that being on the plane was scary but fun at the same time. Jessica joked that she thought about staying at the airport and waiting for the group to return. But all 12 of our world travelers arrived in Cork County after a long day of travel.