Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

We’re off to Bilbao, Santander, and San Sebastián tonight and will spend two night at sea. At the moment, we are waiting for boarding to start.

We are looking forward to the good weather, walks along the sea, and Spain’s brilliant food. Travel for someone like Pádraig is not a given. Staying overnight on a ferry, arriving in hotels with ‘normal’ beds and bathrooms. It requires us to be fit and Pádraig to trust us that it will all work out.

I will tell you about the trip over the next week or two.

But in the meantime, Pádraig continued to trailblazer, even without travel. Where he is going, every day, he is leaving a path.

Last week, Ailbhe Conneely. RTÈ’s Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent, interviewed Pádraig and his sister about the new Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, about to be commenced at the end of April. Finally. It was signed into law by the President, Michael D. Higgins, in 2015. Why it has been taken eight years for it to be commenced and why people had to continue to suffer under the old, 170 year-old legislation is anybody’s guess.

Also last week, Ireland lost against France. Just 1:0. For me, and most spectators in the stadium, it actually was a win. Even Griezman with his outstanding skills and pink hair, did not manage to bring the Irish team’s spirits down. From beginning to the end, it was high-octane. And there was a moment when Ireland nearly scored.

Lastly, the past week was also the first time the IBIA Congress assembled in Dublin. Too expensive for most to attend, but we had some of the distinguished speakers from the Congress visiting the An Saol Foundation Centre, among them our good friend Prof Jörg Wissel.

A great week when a lot happened.

There is more to come. The Spanish coast will soon be in sight!

Pádraig has never followed where the path may lead him. Instead, he always went where there is no path and he left a trail.

He will continue to do so.