Ireland

Galway - by Sannie Olson, ISP 2011 Participant

We are on our first overnight weekend trip, and so far enjoying ourselves thoroughly! We set out early Friday morning, re-stamped our passports so that we were legal to stay in the country until May, and arrived in the bustling city of Galway! We stopped and shopped for a brief time to stretch our legs before hitting the roads again. 

We Travelelled to Aenry, a small town that boasted centuries of history. This town started in the 13th century as a junction spot of major trade routes, controlled by the Norkmen. Overlapping each other was a 13th century (1200s) castle and friary, 14th and 15th century blockade walls, towers, gates, and a market cross (where trades of livestock were made), and and more recent structures of living residences, restaurants, and a wicked playground, including a rope swing of sorts. It really was a throw back on time; we were ambling along medieval town path, some of which still consisted of their original cobblestones, and we stood under a gated arch where traders passed hundreds of years ago. We learned that the word passport was derived from the passage into the port (French for gate) by traders, such as these, who were required to carry paperwork for proving their trade routes.

 

Thor Ballylee and the remnants of Kilmacduagh was our next stop. This early 8th century monastic site situated on cow pastures housed a church, a bell tower which doubled as a library, a reinforced house, and a few other buildings. A few of our class mates were talented enough to get chased by cows, and we found a creepy room in which a coffin stood surrounded by stalagmite-like mounds! Eek!

 

Our final stop of the day was Coole Park, a site where an old estate once stood. Robert Gregory bought the land and erected a six-floor great house which has since been dismantled for the building materials. Some time later, William Gregory married Augusta Pierce, a lady who became important in the Irish movements and aided in the foundation the Irish National Theatre in 1899. The grounds also housed magnificent gardens, one which held a cedar tree carved by many famous friends of Lady Gregory, and even a gorgeous lake. I just picture myself living in that era, dressed in beautiful gowns strolling under the trees after arriving home from a ball in my carriage by the light of the moon and stars... Oh, how I wish!

Upon returning to Galway, we were brought to our bed and breakfast, Glencree, hosted by a cute little old lady who graciously welcomed us to the house. After bringing us to our quaint, little rooms, we wandered into Galway's bustling night life along Key and Shop Streets. We grabbed an amazing dinner of fish and chips at a seafood restaurant, Mc Donagh's, whose walls were water blue and covered in seashells. The fish skewer, we think cod, was deliciously breaded and the fries were thick and fried to perfection. The general consensus was to go to a popular bar, the King's Head, for live music. Since it was still early in the evening, we visited a few other pubs to kill time. Later at the King's Head, we had the opportunity to meet many Americans from New Jersey and California. We also met French men who were in town for the France versus Ireland rugby game! The music was great; many cover songs of American music! Eventually, when we could no longer hear ourselves thinking, we headed home to our B&B. And when we woke up, our host had prepared the full Irish breakfast: sausage, egg, bacon, toast, cereal, juice, and tea! It was a great start to the day!

 

 

And what a day it was! We boarded our bus with the trusty Eion (pronounced Owen ) at the helm, and set off for the Burren highlands and the Cliffs of Moher. As we cruised thru the highlands, we came about a mound ring fort that was dated to the 300s that had the remnants of a moat around it. As we moved higher towards the Poulnabrone Megalithic Passage Tomb, the limestone became more and more pronounced, basically stretching as far as you could see! The tomb has stood on the hill top since 2000 BC, surrounded by the colorful striations of the limestone beds! Crazy!

The Cliffs of Moher were unbelievable to behold; the shear size of them was awesome! As we climbed against the winds to get to the top of the stairs, we has great opportunities to gaze upon the cliffs. We headed inside to an exhibit on the formation of the cliffs and the life around them before we froze completely. 

We've just returned to our B&B to relax for a bit. We stumbled upon great deals at Penneys ( not J.C. ) and ate mouth watering pizza at the Pizza and Pasta place off of Shop Street! 

Week 2 in Ireland by Sannie Olson, ISP 2011 Participant

Our second week in Ireland finds us in class in the mornings, eating lunch, sean-nos dancing, going on runs, homework, and eating dinner. Oh, and wednesday nights we go dancing with the ladies! After this week, the pattern will probably continue much the same minus the sean-nos.

Monday was a day of recovery from the Superbowl party at Eamonn Keane (a multi-Guinness Book of World Record holder); class, dance, and homework, we crashed at about eight o'clock and slept straight thru until our alarms at seven thirty! Charlene's dance class was about the grief of leaving home Monday, and the exploration of that emotion thru discussion and movement.

Tuesday's class was about arriving at Ellis Island in America, and exploring the emotions of frustration, fear, confusion. This included finding a personal niche in the new community, as the emigrants would have felt. These emotions were again explored thru dance and movement. Tuesday evening found Anna, Jen, and myself creating a masterwork of " Irish pizza" for Tarrin, Micah, Kayla, and Elaina. Mmmm, with a wonderful blend focattia bread, Alfredo sauce, and a mixture of white cheddar and mozzarella cheese, perfection was achieved! This delicacy of a meal was topped off with garlic bread, dipping sauces, and an apple tart! We're looking forward to what those four make next week!

Our last sean-nos dance with Charlene found us in a dance off with the other students. This dance off represented the challenges that many of the emigrant would have felt, from competition to making friends. We also went dancing with the traditional Irish dance ladies Wednesday night! Such a blast! The little, old lady who taught the hour and a half session was so full of energy, and quite rambunctious for her age; if we were not moving in the right manner, she would grab us round the waist and show us the correct way. We learned multiple dances with steps that include the basic 1-2-3, the swing, lead, bring your partner home, basket, wheelbarrow, chain, seven seven, and more! Us CSS girls were goofing off with the electric slide and will be teaching them this dance in two Wednesdays, once we're back in Louisburgh!

Today, Thursday, dawned gloriously sunny! Jen, Anna, Sam, and I took full advantage of the lovely weather to take an afternoon walk. Bill dropped us off north of Carrownisky Beach, a few miles (maybe 4-5) away. We explored the sand and surf, all the while snapping pictures and galavanting in the sun all the way to Carrownisky Beach! The sun was amazing, although the wind carried a bite to it! After our enjoyments of the Atlantic, we turned to start our long walk back. And boy, was it long. About two hours later we made it back to Louisburgh, all the while doing our best to jump into ditches when cars were passing on the teeny, tiny, winding stretches of pavement!

Tonight, we packed for our three day trip to Galway, and are off to eat snacks, have a few drinks, and watch the Princess Bride at Nathan's cottage! A great end to great week!

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The History and Sites of Louisburgh (by Sannie Olson, IPS 2011 Participant)

Ah... Sitting down to a hot cup of Barry's tea and a sandwich of amazing peanut butter and mock-Nutella in front of our peat fire to warm up from the cold and blustery weather that we hear whistling thru the chimney. Anna and I've just returned from the welcome dinner and drinks at a local pub ( the name is in Gaelic, and I've no idea how to pronounce it yet... ), sponsored by the lovely Board of Directors of the Cottages! It was a great chance to meet more of the locals of Louisburgh, as well as get to know the ones we already had met! Not to mention great food and live music! We ended up meeting a lady who actually was on the Ireland trip years back, fell in love with and Irish man, and moved here; quite an intriguing story!

Today, Owen ( the bus driver ) and Professors Bill and Nathan took us on a tour of the surrounding area of Louisburgh, including many historic sites and sites from the Irish film, The Field. Starting off at ten o'clock, we visited an 18th century limestone kiln, which was used until the 1940s to make fertilisers and whitewash for housing. Next, we stopped at a graveyard that housed a well with Celtic origins and a church that was older than it's renovations ( 4000 years ago a window was put in, and 5000 years ago a door was added to a side wall ). Amongst the gravestones stood a standing stone, a stone which marked the path of the pilgrimage from Crough Patrick to Carrough Island. This stone was Christainized, as seen by the cross engraved on the eastern face. On the upside of the graveyard was the deserted village, e,ptied due to the potato famines of the 1840s.

From the graveyards, we bussed to a 150 year old foot bridge, Bunlahinch Clappbridge. This is a bridge made of stone made to withstand the flood waters. We then got to play on another beach, Cross Beach, however it was much colder and windier today! We even saw people braving the waters to surf, although the people in Minnesota surfing on Lake Superior in February are much crazier, because it was in the upper 20s / low 30s today!

We then headed inland a bit, and delved into the Valley of Tears, also known as Dhulough Valley. It is known as such because mass numbers of people traveled to the area in attempted searches of the meager rations during the famine. Many lost their lives on this voyage, and there are now walks held every year in memory of those who lost their lives.

Coming thru the valley landed us in the midsts of towering mountains that enclosed three salmon lakes; Prince Charles even stayed in the beautiful and rugged land at a majestic and reclusive villa. Killary Harbour was our next sight, just south of Louisburgh ( I believe... ). The harbor is a fjord that runs five miles inland, the largest in Ireland! This harbor was commonly used by the US submarines in WWII, who regarded the harbour as a safe haven, since the Republic was declared neutral.

Our last stop was our first trip to the grocery store in West Port, Tesco. I loaded up on the makings for many different types of sandwiches; peanut butter, honey, mock-Nutella, butter, cheese, and ham! Yay! I can look forward to a solid diet instead of just soups and tea! They will, however, remain a staple!

Well, tomorrow we finally start school. Up at at 'em at nine o'clock in the community center! Also, our first run about the town and down to the beach! And still working on the picture situation... We may just need more service... Well, we have a fire to attend to! Good night!