Dorothy Wilhelm reflects on her son’s trip to Ireland and the loss of his father

To tell the truth, I was jealous when I learned that my youngest son and his lovely wife planned to spend two weeks in Ireland.

Number four son said that three main reasons made this dream trip a practical choice.

1) They could easily get a nonstop flight from their home base Minneapolis.

2) Both sides of the family have roots there.

3) English is one of the official languages.

Number four son said: “I’d love to go to Venice or see Paris, but I am barely conversant in English. Can’t imagine what type of mess I’d get into trying to speak French.

“Also,” he goes on, “the country is so small. We could take the train from one side of the country to the other in half the time it takes to get to Chicago.”

Ireland has become a highly popular, premier global tourist destination, often ranking among the top 15 worldwide and frequently cited as a top-10 European destination for, particularly, American travelers. In 2023, the country welcomed 6.3 million visitors, while 2021 saw nearly 11 million visitors, according to travel sources.

Touching on the issue always close to our hearts, the loss of his father when he was a young teenager, my son said: “I am guessing dad thought he’d have more time to see things. I know I am not guaranteed a next year.”

As in any family that experiences a great loss, we are determined not to let life get away from us. “So, we saved a few pennies and went for it,” he said.

Where to find Dorothy

Find Dorothy’s virtual events and podcasts at www.itsnevertoolate.com. You can also find her on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you get podcasts.

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This story was originally published March 1, 2026 at 5:15 AM with the headline "Dorothy Wilhelm reflects on her son’s trip to Ireland and the loss of his father."