Photo was taken in Ocean World, Dingle, Co.Kerry (Irl)

A penguin keeps a close eye on proceedings ahead of it. The penguins are a huge attraction in Ocean World and get the best of care. They also lap up all the attention and fuss of the onlookers.

Thought on Monday – May – 20/05/2013

‘Donal Walsh you were an inspiration. Thank you for making me appreciate the beautiful world that we live in. I hope to continue on your amazing outlook on life.’ ~Brian Murray (5th year student in Col√°iste Choilm, Ballincollig)

So many tributes have been paid to Donal Walsh throughout last week and in all the papers yesterday. Lots of news stories are quickly superseded by something else new and fall by the wayside. But the story of Donal Walsh is not going to go away in a hurry and his inspirational story will continue to inspire. In an open letter published earlier this year, Donal – who had fought cancer three times – said hearing of young people taking their own lives had made him angry. “I feel angry that these people choose to take their lives, to ruin their families and to leave behind a mess that no one can clean up,” he had said. “Yet I am here with no choice, trying as best I can to prepare my family and friends for what’s about to come.”

We sometimes talk about the ripple effect when you throw a stone into still water and how the ripples go out and out. It is much the same with Donal. The ripple effect of what he believed in, his bravery, his courage, his determination and his love of life have touched so many. No politician, pop singer, celebrity or sports star could have got across a message in the way he did. Even his openness to God was touching. He received Communion each morning from his mum and again at night after he had said his prayers. Brendan O’Connor summed it up yesterday: “Donal embodied many values that we maybe feel are lost, values we had lost ourselves, values that he reawakened in many of us.” May he rest in peace.