Mary's Blog

  For nearly two centuries, Mount Melleray, County Waterford, Ireland was a Cistercian monastery, before closing its porta in January 2025.  It is a cause of joy to me and many that Tom Monaghan, founder of Dominos Pizza, has decided to establish a campus of Ave Maria University there.  The news brought back a flood of memories. Two came to the fore, one scary and one inspiring.  I had just finished my university degree, and I took a trip with my border collie, Polly to Mount Melleray. Polly was hyper energetic with such long legs she could have competed in the English Greyhound Derby.  Well, I wished to pray at the grotto, which is just outside the Abbey, and so I tied Polly outside by a ditch where she could lie down in the lush, water speckled grass. She was noticeably disappointed she couldn't come with me.  I was kneeling in the grotto when abruptly I saw Polly sprint towards me - she had wriggled free of her collar - she had a way of opening it. She h...