BETTY JOHNSON IS A LOYAL FINBAR AND IRISH TENOR FAN.
SHE MADE THE TRIP THIS YEAR WITH HER HUSBAND CHARLIE FROM ESSEX COUNTY MA IN THE USA TO IRELAND FOR A SHORT VACATION AND TO ATTEND THE KILLARNEY AND THE NEW YEAR's EVE CONCERT's.

THIS PAGE IS A LITTLE SOUVENIR OF HER NEW YEAR's DAY AND EVENING IN DUBLIN.

First a little remberance of the trip in Betty's own words:

Here we are back from our grand Ireland adventure. I loved it all, from the plane to the train, from the rain to the rainbows, from Killarney National Park to St Stephen's Green, from High Street to Grafton Street, from the Irish breakfasts to evening pub food, from the many taxis to the double decker buses.

No leprechaun sightings, but I did see magpies for the first time, such beautiful birds. There was snow on the peaks of Macgillicuddy Reeks in County Kerry. I love that green country even in Winter. We met so many warm and friendly Irish, from the young to the old. It was well worth the trip from Essex County to County Dublin. We met Marie and Ray Collins for the first time and with Sue and Harry, George and Mary what great laughs we had at our New Year's Eve dinner at Little O'Caesar's in Dublin before the Point concert.

It was exciting being at the Killarney and Dublin concerts. Of course, we were worried when Arnie announced on Tuesday night that Anthony was sick with a virus. We missed hearing Anthony's beautiful solos, but he hung in there and did an amazing job singing most of his parts and his Panis Angelicus duet with Finbar. John said that Anthony must have a double set of lungs.

By the time of the Dublin concert on the 31st, Anthony was feeling much better and sang two of his solos. At midnight everyone joined Fin, Tony and Johnny in a rousing Auld Lang Syne to usher in 2005. A very special night for all.

Charlie and I had a further adventure after the Dublin concert, hitching a ride home in a Garda wagon. What a ride that was at 1:00am on Jan 1st!

Happy New Year to all!