The happiest day of my life.
24 years ago.
When you were born.
A happy day.
A year ago.
When we exchanged hugs and kisses.
On Parnell Square. North.
Finished College. Sad to leave.
On your way to Boston. Can’t wait. Never could.
Next time I saw you, you did not see me.
30 hours East of China. They were so kind I was frightened.
A happy sad day.
Today. 24. Can’t stay forever young.
We are lost in time. Worried about our dreams. Praying for our future.
Seagulls. On Parnell Square. North. In Hyannis. Harbour at the break of down. In Beaumont. Always. Flying over Hamburg. Calling you to come back. Soon.
Hospi-Tales 
La Breithe Sona Paddy from all your friends in CRC. You are always in our thoughts and in our prayers. Patricia
Patricia – thank you for keeping Pádraig in your thoughts and prayers!
Big happy birthday Padraig! This year coming is your year! With you every day! Chris, Paul, Emily & Andrew Barnes x
It will be the year of years, Christine, for Pádraig. 24 is the number!
I met you as a new born – 24 years ago. I missed all the years of knowing you. Now I feel I know you so well from the heart, the soul, and the hope of all these courageous people sharing stories, music, memories and love for you. Come back so I can get to know you some day. So much progress in less than a year. Boundless hope for how you will be on your next birthday!
He won’t be able to resist, Diane, and you can be sure that one day, he’ll visit you in Boston! – Can’t believe it’s been such a long time that you were in Ireland.
Hello, Reinhard. Thank you for your post of yesterday. With best wishes, Louise.
Last night was one of those nights, Louise.
Focail gleoite. Deora chugam. Thank you for your profound dignity.
Colm, we keep playing your music and watch him going with it, being taken along, gently. No singing, no dancing yet – but it’ll all come back…
Lovely words…..Happy Birthday Padraig!!…..ps Reinhard I messaged you on FB!!….Regards Eamon – Paddy’s Bar Hamburg
Thank you, Eamonn.
Did you receive my message Reinhard?
I did and replied, Eamonn. Let’s try to get in touch tomorrow.
This smiling young kid is finding his way back and we all are going to celebreiting!!!
He is, and we will, Ana! – Reinhard
Amazing. Siobhán
(I just came across this post from last May in a gmail folder, where I did NOT put it…thus the tardiness of my reply, but I cannot resist because I was moved to tears by your words).
This is perhaps the saddest and yet most eloquent of your blog posts that I have read over the past year. I, too, have a 24-year-old son, whom I adore–and I believe that is part of the reason I read your posts at bedtime, so religiously. Every night I place myself in your shoes, and I send light and love to you and Pádraig, and then I thank the universe that my son is safe. There but for fortune go you or I.
I just looked at “24” again myself, Susan, when I read your comment, just to remind myself. When I read it I was there again not here. I remembered that it took me no time at all to write this. It felt like as if someone else had written it already for Pádraig and was just using me in my desperation as an instrument to put it out there.
Joan Baez is one of my favourite singers. I saw her twice. Once in one of Europe’s largest indoor venues, the Dortmunder Westfalenhalle on a New Year’s Eve concert more than 30 years ago, on stage in front of something like 15,000 people with just a guitar. And again in Vicar Street a bit more recently. There but for fortune… 24-year-old sons are magic. Thank you for your light and love, Susan.