Trad on the Prom

This is a collection of some of the most talented Irish dancers and musicians on one stage, I really wouldn't be able to give them justice, so instead, I'll show you...

Amazingness

Unfortunately they didn't allow any photography so i do not have any photos from the event I attended in Salthill for you.

I saw these guys my third week in Ireland and fell in love with the Uilleann pipes (pronounced: illin), and after researching a bit about the instrument, came across this magic man, Seamus Ennis. Puts the bagpipes to shame, sorry Scotland.

Rocky Road to Dublin!

(Though t'wasn't too rocky because of the new motorway...)

Written in Dublin, Ireland on October 2, 2010.

The feel is a lot like home, like Boston, in some parts. The city is large enough, but has a smaller feel. Like Boston, you can pretty much walk anywhere (though this is not advisable during certain hours of the night). Stayed at the Harding Hotel, which is close to everything; the Temple Bar District, St. Patrick's Cathedral (Naomh Padraig) and lots of great shopping places. Noteworthy visits included St. Stephen's Park (which did, in fact, make an appearance in Leap Year...which is not real life by the way. Also, the Guinness Factory is worth a visit if you don't think you'll be back to the city, at least to see the panoramic view of the entire city, which is beautiful on a clear day. Heed this advice...go to the top first to get your "free" pint of the dark stuff before you do the tour, you'll avoid the crowds and be able to get a nice seat by the windows of the bar. The Temple Bar District was something I didn't get to fully experience, but it's supposed to hold the oldest bar in Ireland. 

One thing I've noticed about life here is that people aren't necessarily concerned about time or heavy planning. I felt like I was a "go-with-the-flow" type of person before I came here.  Now I've really seen the light, for lack of a better term! More like things are beginning to click in my mind. Why rush? Why plan out every second of your life when almost nothing goes as planned anyway? Obviously, some things require planning, but there's no need to plan every event that happens. You can't plan for allll the awesome-ness life has in store!

The unexpected is almost always better anyway. A friend here is really helping me figure this out. Whether it's good, bad, or anything, everything happens for a reason.I can already feel the difference in myself, I can't wait to see how I change and grow.

I've begun taking the Irish language but haven't yet gotten it to stick, so we'll see how this goes!

Here are some pics from My trip to Dublin!:

Guinness Is Good For You. 

View of the City from the Sky Bar in the factory.

Bulmers...brewed in Tipperary, loved in my heart.

Dublinia, medieval Dublin.

An alley off Grafton St. (the main street in the city center)

Irish band playing on Grafton St.

Michaela in St. Stephen's Park!

Worst Question Ever...

"How was Ireland?"


...How am I supposed to answer that? After four incredible months in a country that I came to love, with people that became my family, I always come up short with an answer to that question.


Then again, how were you guys really supposed to know anything about my trip when I hardly posted anything?


In my defense, I don't regret one moment that I spent over in the Emerald Isle, and I'm glad I didn't waste those moments in front of a computer. Instead, I brought along a journal with me, and wrote most of my would-be-blog-entries in that; on flights to and from various countries, during a quiet moment at home in front of the telly, or during some lectures...


Regardless, I do have things to tell you. And if you're willing to listen, I'd be happy to show and tell (if it doesn't bother you that all this happened over the course of a few months ago).