Twitter went mad today with gazillions of tweets about that brilliant video and song, that went viral today on youtube and www.amhrandophadraig.com: Pádraig, by the unmistakable Marcus Mac Conghail & IMLÉ. It’s based on the poem by Ciara but took a bit of a life on its own (just watch that marathon:). I love those hearts appearing out of nowhere and being painted in the sky by specially commissioned aeroplanes. It’s like ‘love comes to town’, only better.
It’s evening and, instead of watching the news, I’m sitting on a plane from Frankfurt back to Dublin, at 30,000ft, watching the clouds in the evening sun below me. This is one of those mad trips that, soon, I won’t be doing anymore. Last night I slept in Rot (near Heidelberg), tonight it’ll be Dublin, tomorrow Limerick, on the train the night after and then driving to catch another train, on the train on Thursday night again, and Lourdes (yes, Lourdes) from Friday night.
Being away from Pádraig from yesterday lunch time has been very strange. To see what’s going on in the rest of the world is almost as strange. Talking to people about all these things that have been so important to my (professional) life for decades is almost surreal. Some things I’ve been working on for a long time, are just now really taking off. At a time, when life has been changing as dramatically as it could.
Seeing Pádraig react to new things around him: music, the sound of birds, wind, sun, movement, driving, life – is incredible. Feeling the love that no words can describe, and I never knew existed as strong as it is does, the energy this love generates in so many people around the globe, all these mad things people are doing because they want to express their solidarity, because they are getting inspired by his fight for life, heart painted in the sky, poetry and song – is giving so many people a taste of what it means to be human, humane. It reduces all it touches to the essence of what life is, means and exposes the ‘noise’ that surrounds us to what is is: noise.
A few times I have tried to change the world, the people, trying to explain to them what is the right thing and what is the wrong thing to do. Looking back, I don’t think anybody really noticed. Ever. What happened to Pádraig has changed me. And it has had a bigger impact on more people, it has brought out the best in people in a way that is magic. So magic that it has already changed the world, in a small but significant and very real way for many.
Hospi-Tales 
Hear, Hear! : “Pádraig has changed me”, “in a way that is magic” “in a..significant and very real way.”
More Power to Him!
S
And more power to you, Seos!
Hope so much you won’t be affected by the latest train strike starting tomorrow, Wednesday. Good luck and lots of love from Dortmund.
I’ll have 30 minutes tomorrow evening to get out of the Aer Lingus plane at Frankfurt Airport and catch the train to Hamburg. Thanks for the tip about the train strike. I’ll check the train time table tomorrow. It’ll be a case of hiring a car if that train won’t operate, Gisela. Love, Love, Love!
Besos y gracias por el impacto de todos vosotros en nosotros!!!
Para impacto hace falta al menos dos, Ana!! Que haríamos sin nuestros amigos madrileños?
Greetings to Pat, Reinhard & Padraig, Many thanks Reinhard for all the regular updates on Padraig’s wonderful progress and all the other activities that are going on.It’ all very encouraging and as you say, it is bringing out so much good in such a lot of people. Your travelling program sounds exhausting and I hope that you will be able to stand up to it all. The trip to Lourdes is quite an undertaking but I’m sure Our Lady will look after you all. We wish you all a very safe and enjoyable journey and be assured of our prayers for all your safe return. From Sean and myself and Terry.
We can’t wait to go onto this journey to Lourdes, Angela. Just a few months ago, we were not allowed to bring Pádraig out for a walk in the park. On Thursday, we’ll go on a 24-hour train journey! Isn’t it amazing? Thank you for all your good wishes. Please say thank you also and good wishes from us to Sean and Terry. – Reinhard