I'm not gone yet

Greetings to all my readers! Although Ireland is now over, I still feel that I should document my feelings and emotions about how things are now that I am Stateside again. Well, it was rough leaving Ireland. At the Reception that I went to with the rest of my peers where we got our "diplomas", that was when it set in that I was not going to be there for much longer. I would go back to my life in the United States and the life that I led in Ireland would turn into a dream; flashing images; nothing more than memories. I signed up to give a farewell speech at the Reception, and my speech made people tear up. The Irish and my peers both teared up. The following is my farewell speech to the Irish:
Good Evening to the great men and women of Co. Waterford! Although it is exciting that my peers and I are traveling back to familiar surroundings, the town of Dungarvan and its people have become a second home for me. The hospitality bestowed on us by the officials of Dungarvan and the Park Hotel were beyond the most luxurious thoughts our imaginations could think of. Simply saying “thank you” a thousand times doesn’t even come close to expressing to how grateful I am for being given the opportunity to come and experience life and culture in such a country as Ireland, and in such a town as Dungarvan. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like we were the best thing since the invention of Guinness! Throughout our stay, the history, the pubs, the scenery, the music, the athletics, and everything else never gave us a dull moment!
From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to the Irish, who worked relentlessly to make our experience here the best that it could possibly be. I will never forget my time here. I also will always remember how warm and welcoming the people were to me, and how eager they were to offer a helping hand if I ever needed it.
Tonight, as we gather together for the last time and reminisce about all the great memories we’ve made, I can’t ignore the feeling of dread: The feeling that this wonderful and fulfilling experience is drawing to an end. I get choked up just thinking about it, but as Dr. Seuss said “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” I smile because something magical happened on this trip, and it wasn’t caused by leprechauns or faeries! It was caused by you, the great people of Waterford County, who showed us how phenomenal the Irish people really are! Thank you so very much for everything you’ve done! To quote a song I know and keep close to my heart, “So fare thee well my own true love, I’ll think of you night and day. A place in my mind you will surely find, although I am so far away. And when I’m alone far away from home, I’ll think of the good times once more. Until I can make it back someday to Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore.” Slointe Vaith agus go niery an bover lat.
When I landed in Chicago, it was then that I realized just how far away I was from home. The place that I longed to return to and the place that captured my heart completely. Eight years ago, I said that I left half my heart in Ireland. This trip took whatever it had not taken already. My home is 5,000 miles away across land and sea. I will return home one day. That is a promise!
Now, it is house chores and studying for my Praxis test. It is exciting but as I unpack my gifts and look at my postcards and pictures, I get a heavy feeling in my chest to know that I will not be able to make it back to Ireland for a few years. The reason is because I need to establish my life, get to where I want to be in life, and then decide from there what I want to do. What I want to do more than anything though is travel; to live in another country for a few years and gain a European outlook on life. Well, I'm getting ahead of myself. I have to pass my 3 Praxis exams before I can even begin to think about any kind of future abroad!
Well, I must get back to studying! I hope to write again in my blog soon! :-) Until then, be well readers!

Riots in Greece

What I am about to write about is almost terrifying, even though I am nowhere near the occurrences happening in Greece right now. There are riots in the streets of Athens because of a new bill that is being proposed!
The New York Times writes "The austerity measures that spurred the current unrest aim to squeeze savings of some $38 billion through 2012. They include public sector salary cuts, higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, and tighter retirement rules."

************************************************************************************
I do not know enough about the proposed bill yet to document my views on it. I will blog about the riots again as soon as I know more about what is going to be happening.

A Vexing Development

So my beloved bloggers, there has been a vexing development:

NO LONDON!!!

The reason is because the volcano in Iceland is still erupting and the ash cloud is back. The airports are closing again all over Europe and it just would not be a good thing to get stuck in London and have to pay more money to stay there and get new flights back to Ireland anyway. So I am sitting on my bed in my townhouse typing this instead of visiting Big Ben, The London Bridge, the Tower, and Buckingham Palace.

I guess there is only one thing to do: COME BACK AGAIN SOME DAY! :-)

Woe is me! Finals!

Okay I know that finals are completely necessary, essential actually, to determine the amount of knowledge and comprehension that a student has attained throughout the course of the..well..course! But Dear God! Woe is me! Wailing and gnashing of teeth! FINALS!!!!

They are stressful! They are tiresome! Overwhelming! They take at least 5 years off my life each time I have to study for them! Sometimes I wish that all finals could be oral at least. For me, it's easier to verbalize my thoughts than to write them down. I don't know why that is - trust me, my cranium is very complex. The human brain is so alien and mine takes alien to a whole new level!

I only have 2 finals: One for Dr. Reed and one for Dr. Snyder. So I guess it could be so much worse than it actually is. But it's bad enough that I'm writing it down! Blog out some of this pent up angst so that maybe studying will be a little easier..which it is now!

Wow, blogging is actually therapeutic! I would recommend it to you, reader, if you're ever experiencing anxiety!

Last Days of Class

Okay, is it just me or did the time fly super freaking quick? It seems like just yesterday I was flying over to Ireland, traveling and seeing all the beautiful sights that this country and the countries surrounding it have to offer, and then sitting down in my first class of Spring Term! Now, it is my last day of class!

Somehow, I feel like I have learned more this term in Ireland with Dr. Reed and Dr. Snyder than any other term in the regular classroom. It's weird I know.

Well, I will blog more about this later! It's the night of our farewell reception and I have to shower and get ready! ... I also have to pack :-(

<3

Meeting Giants

This weekend was the Music Festival in Dungarvan, Ireland and I must say that this was THE most fun that I've ever had in my life! We got to volunteer with the festival so the security officials gave us jobs to do! Melia and I were placed at the Blow-up Castle where all the small children were. That was the most frazzling experience of my life! It was so unorganized and chaotic, but Melia and I finally established a system that was thoroughly successful! She kept the slide of the castle running smoothly and I kept the entrance clear for the children. We had to get a little forceful at times with the kids, but pretty soon it started running so smoothly it was amazing!
There were many bands that weekend but the one that was the most glorious of all was The High Kings! On March 17, 2010, the Mayor had posted one of their songs on his profile. Megan and I heard the song and completely fell in love with them! We wanted to attend a concert, but we'd always miss them! We were so upset at the time, but it all worked out amazing in the end because we actually got to listen to them sing!! And what's more: WE GOT TO MEET THEM!! I couldn't believe that I was able to meet the giants of the Irish musical world! The High Kings are all brilliant singers! I got pictures with my three favorite men: Finbarr, Brian, and Darren! It was a day that I will never forget in my life because for a few moments, I stood with legends! I stood with men that I will listen to for the rest of my life and I hope that I will be able to see them once again in concert before my life is done! I do not mean to sound morbid by any means. I just mean that it would be nice to see them all again!
In the songs, I could hear all the stories of Ireland that I've been learning about in my classes! Applying the history to the songs, the songs took on a whole new meaning for me. When that happened, the songs became even more beautiful than they already were! I can't exactly explain it. It's odd I know, so maybe when I come home I'll be able to clarify a bit better.
Until my next post, stay well reader!

McNamara Family Everywhere in Co. Clare

Greetings to you, blog readers! This will be a very short post, but I suddenly had the overwhelming desire to type a quick blog about how the name "McNamara" was all over Co. Clare! I mean I guess I already knew that since I was here 7 or 8 years ago and it was the same story then!

The picture on this page is a bar that I ate in when I was in Lisdoonvarna! I didn't go into the bar and say that I was a McNamara too, but I have been meeting many people with that last name and it's odd because in each and every person, I could see a distinct family trait. It's like...in one person, I see my grandpa's smile. I see my dad's eye shape and color in another. I see my aunt's twin! It's just crazy. Some students on the trip say that there's no possible relation. Every McNamara has come from the same place and so however distantly the relation is, we are all related! So it's so cool because I'm spending time with "family".
This just makes my love and pride to be Irish go even deeper! Since I've been here, I've gotten in touch with my Irish side and I've never been more proud to be Irish! :-) It's a great thing!

My New Appreciation for John Keats

So for British Lit. Survey, we have to do a report on a poet and one of the choices had been John Keats. I remembered hearing Keats' name in a movie that was made back in the 40's, and I thought it would be interesting to research him. I had no idea what I was in for.
John Keats' poetry is so beautiful! I love how he uses the imagination for almost all of his poems. He writes about love in such a way that you don't know who he could be talking about. I guess you could say that every poet does that to an extent. The subjects of their poems are vague and can be taken different ways; but John Keats does so in a way that makes every poem he writes sound like a prayer.
One quote that has become the best quote of all time for me from Keats is from a letter to his lover, Fanny. It goes like this: "I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days - three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain." I use that quote all the time now! I can't explain my infatuation fully. I guess it is because I am taken in by the idea of forbidden love or a love that cannot be for whatever reason. It's stupid because the ending is hardly ever a fairytale, and I wind up in tears over the ill-fated lovers. I am not saying that Fanny and John's romance was forbidden since they were actually engaged, but one thing I have learned from my years as a romantic was this: If society doesn't get in the way, then fate will. Since John Keats had consumption, he would die very young. It just makes me sad because it's like they didn't have any time to be in love.
My have a few favorite poems by John Keats. The first poem is "La Belle Dame sans Merci":
Oh what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,
Alone and palely loitering?
The sedge has withered from the lake,
And no birds sing.
Oh what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,
So haggard and so woe-begone?
The squirrel's granary is full,
And the harvest's done.
I see a lily on thy brow,
With anguish moist and fever-dew,
And on thy cheeks a fading rose
Fast withereth too.
I met a lady in the meads,
Full beautiful - a faery's child,
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.
I made a garland for her head,
And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
She looked at me as she did love,
And made sweet moan.
I set her on my pacing steed,
And nothing else saw all day long,
For sidelong would she bend, and sing
A faery's song
She found me roots of relish sweet,
And honey wild, and manna-dew,
And sure in language strange she said -
'I love thee true'.
She took me to her elfin grot,
And there she wept and sighed full sore,
And there I shut her wild wild eyes
With kisses four.
And there she lulled me asleep
And there I dreamed - Ah! woe betide! -
The latest dream I ever dreamt
On the cold hill side.
I saw pale kings and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried - 'La Belle Dame sans Merci
Hath thee in thrall!'
I saw their starved lips in the gloam,
With horrid warning gaped wide,
And I awoke and found me here,
On the cold hill's side.
And this is why I sojourn here
Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is withered from the lake,
And no birds sing.
I do not know exactly why I find La Belle Dame sans Merci so beautiful. Maybe it's because it is a ballad so there is a sort of repetition at the beginning and the end. Maybe it's because it is also a story of the objective vs. subjective reality. The volta in the poem is such a strong one! He realizes it was all a dream! There lies the sadness of it!
The other poem that I find more lovely than Shakespeare is "Bright Star":
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art--
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors--
No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever--or else swoon to death.

Bright Star is one of those poems that I have to read over and over again because it is not written in a clear way. However, I enjoy it because I always like to think that it's John's love poem to Fanny. Maybe I'm just being a wistful romantic, maybe I'm not being open-minded enough, or maybe I'm right in saying it's a love poem to his "dearest girl". "Dearest girl" is what John would call Fanny in all his letters to her.
***I am departing for County Clare now! The place where the McNamara Family comes from! I am so excited! I will blog about it when I get back! Until my next blog, stay perfect!!***

Volcano Eruption! All travel ceases!

So this may seem really random to blog about my dear readers, for this I apologize. However, I feel like this is important enough to at least report on because it's not every day a volcano erupts kind of close to where you are...especially if you live in Erie, PA.
According to the New York Times, "A dark and spectacular volcanic cloud shrouded much of northern Europe on Thursday, forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights as it drifted at high altitude south and east from an erupting volcano in Iceland. The shutdown of airspace was one of the most sweeping ever ordered in peacetime, amid fears that travel could continue to be delayed days after the cloud dissipates...The volcano erupted Wednesday for the second time in a month, forcing evacuations and causing flooding about 75 miles east of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital...On Thursday, 5,000 to 6,000 of the 28,000 daily flights across Europe were canceled as a result of the ash plume, said Lucia Pasquini, a Eurocontrol spokeswoman."
Some of the students on the trip were planning on going to Germany the weekend that the eruption occurred, but the flights ended up being canceled and they had to find ways of getting back home to Dungarvan. All travel has ceased for us so that even post is not being shipped. It is not exactly scary or threatening in any way. However, it is a little thrilling to know that all the airports are closed down (since they haven't for a very long time) and I am on this side of the globe to experience it! I don't know - call me weird or crazy or whatever you like - but I find it rather invigorating that all this is happening here! It's a good story!
Until my next post, have some craic!

Tragedy in Poland

Okay, so you know how you watch the James Bond movies,Bourne Trilogy, or the Mission Impossibles and you see foreign diplomats or other important people getting assassinated or dying? Well, have I got a little story for you dear readers!
We received word from the Mayor of Dungarvan upon our return from Barcelona, Spain that there was a terrible plane crash that killed the Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, and several important members of the Cabinet. None of us could believe it.

According to a New York Times online article, the "plane tried to land in a thick fog, missing the runway and snagging treetops about half a mile from the airport in Smolensk, scattering chunks of fuselage across a bare forest...This is a wound that will be very difficult to heal...The crash came as a stunning blow to Poland, wiping out a large portion of the country’s leadership in one fiery explosion. And in a chilling twist, it happened at the moment that Russia and Poland were beginning to come to terms with the killing of more than 20,000 members of Poland’s elite officer corps in the same place 70 years ago...Russian emergency officials said 97 people were killed. They included Poland’s deputy foreign minister and a dozen members of Parliament, the chiefs of the army and the navy, and the president of the national bank. They included Anna Walentynowicz, 80, the former dock worker whose firing in 1980 set off the Solidarity strike that ultimately overthrew Polish Communism, as well as relatives of victims of the massacre that they were on their way to commemorate."
I think that this is one of those times when you hear the news, and you just sit there and say "No. That can't have happened. This has to be a joke." You only say this because you just can't imagine something like that even happening for real. When I heard that, I immediately thought of the people of Poland and what they must be feeling. I can't even imagine the sadness that the families of the dead must be going through now. I won't attempt to go all philosophical and start spewing sentiments on how fragile life is or how important it is to live like you were dying because frankly, it's all been said before. And you are a highly intelligent person, I'm sure that you can come up with your own sentiment :-)

The First Day of Class in a LONG Time

This post shall be brief but I just wish to tell you what a difference 5 weeks can do to a person. During the first two terms, I worked myself to the brink of insanity! Okay, that was a very dramatic statement and was exaggerated just a little, but in truth I worked very hard. Then I got to Ireland and the only class I had was on Wednesday nights! Other than that, it was a vacation! It was 5 weeks of trips, down time, and fun! I could sleep in as late as I wanted and stay in my pajamas all day if I chose!

Now, I have to think about what time I have to sleep. I have to constantly remind myself of assignments, readings, and quizzes. I must remember that although I am abroad, I am first and foremost a student. As unfortunate as doing my homework may be, I bear in mind that I could be back on campus in Erie, PA dreaming of Ireland and imagining what it would be like instead of actually being here, and being able to look out my window and not see the parking lot behind our apartment on Lewis, but trees and rolling hills behind the parking lot of the hotel we are staying at.

Being in class is different. Dr. Reed and Dr. Snyder are awesome professors though! They make me laugh but they also really know their stuff! Ethics should be a very interesting class as we go through was constitutes ethics and what our morals are like. British Lit. Survey is what I'm excited about because we are talking about poetry! I love poetry! So it should be fun trying to figure out the messages of each poet! I hope every class is fun like that! I have a pretty good feeling that it will be!

Stay tuned for more from me!...

God Save The Queen!

So it is official journal! May 6 I am going to London with my 3 roommates! I am so excited to go! My brother studied in London when he went to Notre Dame University and he loved it! There is so much I want to see while I'm there, but we may not get to all the places in time. I know we are going to see the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Parliament, The British Museum, Portobello Road, Westminster Abbey, and other places that Britain is known for!
What I am really hoping is to see the burial place of my favorite Queen: Queen Elizabeth I. Her era is my favorite to watch, read about, and talk about. The life of King Henry VIII, his 6 wives, and his children and their lives have always been of great interest to me. I cannot explain why. It has just been fascinating to me for as far back as I can remember. The Royal Family during my lifetime (1988- ) has not interested me too much. I will admit Princess Diana was one of my favorite people and I could not wait until she was crowned Queen. Then tragedy struck in 1997 when she was killed. Now, I have mixed emotions about the Royals. I hear many say that the Princes are very handsome and I don't deny that. I admire William but I question Harry at times when I find his behavior unsuitable for a Prince (referring to the Halloween Party where he showed up at a Nazi soldier). I guess it's a "feeling of immortality" thing. Well, all I know is that I can't wait to go! I also can't wait to try the food! I hear that it is quite good in London!
Until my next post...cherrio!

Living La Vida Loca en Barcelona!

Before I begin, let me first tell you that my two companions and I got lost the first few hours that we were in Barcelona! We luckily figured out the metro stations, but once out of there we had no idea where to go in terms of streets. We had to backtrack, we had to search for street signs, and we even had to ask for directions (EN ESPANOL!) The lady that we talked to was very nice, and she told us that it was down a little side road. So we go down one side road that has flowers growing and orange trees across the little street. We stop in front of one building that we are sure was ours. We were just about to leave when a strange Spanish man comes up to us and says "Elizabeth McNamara?" As soon as he said that, I thought someone was going to get hurt. I had no idea who this guy was and that he knew my real name was just creepy. I just looked at him and was so startled that I just said "Si?" He goes on to tell me that he is our agent! We were so relieved!!!! So we were lost and then we were found! It was perfect timing!
Barcelona! Where to begin? There was so much that happened over those five days were beautiful, fun filled, and new! I could not have asked for better companions either. Megan and Andrew made the trip all the more enjoyable. Having them with me was like having my two siblings with me. To be honest, it felt like we were a family (not counting the calls we made to our parents) :-) Gaudi was absolutely brilliant! I loved his style of architecture! The Sagrada Familia Cathedral was so beautiful! It was started back in the 18th century and it is still not finished! When we were riding by the Cathedral, we noticed that the church looked like it was melting. It was like an optical illusion! Megan, Andrew and I wanted to go inside, but there were way to many people. Casa Batlló was an interesting piece because it looked like skulls or masks of some sort when we passed it. Park Guell is the park devoted to Gaudi and his other creations. It was the place where he would gain a lot of his inspiration and design since he took a lot of it from nature. I will never forget that park or the works I saw of him. The man truly was a genius!
I am just going to say that Las Ramblas was phenomenal. This is where all the crazy shopping is! We did not get pick pocketed once which was a very, very good thing! We bought a lot of things! None of us went crazy because Andrew really knows how to find a bargain price! He's awesome like that :-) I got my portrait drawn in charcoal by a lady who did a really good job drawing me. Here is a photo that Andrew took:
The last thing that I will tell you about at this time is the light show that the Museum of Art! There is a big fountain and every night at 7:00 pm there is a light show that has classical music, which then makes the water go in all different directions! It gets small, then big, then goes into a flower formation, then a geyser, and it just kept doing that! As it got darker, the lights started to come on which was when more contemporary and modern music came on. "Barcelona" by Queen was played and Megan and I just started laughing! "How could this not be played?" The lights were wonderful! There were greens, pinks, reds, orangese, yellows, blues, purples, and mixes in between. Megan, Andrew, and I could do nothing but stare at the water and listen to the music. At that moment, as the three of us sat there on the steps in the warm Spanish evening, watching the sun sink lower and lower, we realized "life doesn't get much better than this."

Paris Has My Heart

There is a song from a great Disney movie "Anastasia". It is called "Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart).


lovers, olala

welcome my friend to paris
here have a flower on me
forget where your from
your in france children come
i show you that french joie de vie

paris holds the key to your heart
and all of pairs plays a part
you'll stroll two by two
down la reak a la roo
and soon all paris will be singing to you
olala olala olala

paris holds the key to l'amore
when don't even freud knows the cure
theres love in the air
and floies Bergere
the french have it down to an art
paris holds the key to your heart

when your feeling blue come to la mode
when your hearts says don't
the french say do
when you think you can't
you'll find you can can
everyone can can can
you can can can too

paris holds the key to her past
yes princess i've found you at last
no more pretend
you'll be gone
thats the end

paris holds the key to her heart
you'll be tres jolie and so smart
come dance through the night
and forget all your woes
in the city of lights
where a rose is a rose
and one never knows what is holds
paris holdes the key
to her

HEAAAAAAART

(olala, olala)


I regret to inform you that I will not be able to have my computer in Paris, but I hope that Paris is everything I've ever wanted it to be! I have dreamed my entire life of going to Paris and tomorrow I will be there! I can't believe it!
I will see The Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, the Louvre, and Versailles Palace and Gardens for starters! I will report very soon on my many adventures in Paris, France!

A Very Random Thought

When I was sitting at dinner tonight, some of the girls were talking about food comas and eating too much. It was also said that it was not smart to be eating as much as they were. Now my mind works in ways that are still unknown, and the connections I make are often hard to follow. Despite that, I hope you can keep up with the conversation that was occurring and the workings of my cognition. This is what was happening:

Question: Would a person rather be rotund but have a high intelligence or be thin and have a very low intelligence?

I can not begin to tell you why I started thinking about this, but I can tell you that I posed this question to my own roommate. She thought for a little while and then she said that she would want to keep her figure and have a low intelligence because having a good figure means you take care of your health. If you let yourself go then you have poor health and you will end up dying of a heart attack anyway. Intelligence only gets you the lifestyle that you want in life. But without a good figure, you're dead.
As I think about it, I think I would have to agree with my roommate on this subject. Intelligence can always be improved and if you have your health, it is not extremely difficult. I can't say anything in terms of relationships though because even if you're physically beautiful, you can still be alone. So really it comes down to the tough decision to choose books or looks. Which would you choose?

My 2 cents on some poems of Yeats

Okay, I'm just going to say that reading Yeats confused me. Not the "I have absolutely no idea what this guy was talking about and can't make heads or tails of it so I'm not going to even try" type of confusion. It was more of a "That's an interesting way of saying whatever the hell he was trying to say, and I think what he was trying to say (insert idea)" type of confusion. There were 3 poems in particular that caught my attention while I was reading: Ephemera, A Faery Song, and When You Are Old. Don't get me wrong all the poems were good in their own way. Each had their own imagery and language unique to the story that was being told, but for certain reasons, those 3 poems were the 3 I kept coming back to.
I had to read Ephemera twice before I caught on to what was going on. I just have to say that would never happen in real life! I would love to see a couple in this society go through a break-up the the couple in the poem did! It was too polite! Too mature! It was calm! Breakups are ugly and divorce is never pretty! Where was the shattering glass and the crying and the screaming!? It wasn't there! I know break-ups are not always like that and don't always end in disaster. The two people in the poem realized together that they had fallen out of love and that's just how life is, was, and will continue to be. One part I liked was "new loves await..." Maybe I should remember this poem for my next break-up. Maybe it won't be as painful if it's looked at from this perspective.
A Faery Song was bittersweet really. I've been seeing a lot of that lately in other things like passages from books, movies I've seen, and stories of friends back home. The Faeries, who are so old and have seen so much, see blissful young love between two people. It's a song, but it also seems like a prayer: "Give to these children...silence and love...Give to these children...rest far from men." It was bitter and sad since the man was killed for taking the woman because she was betrothed to another. But for one night (or however long they had together) there was peace because things were as she should be. It just makes me sad that there was punishment for reacting to true feelings. They were just being honest about what they felt. Is that so selfish?
When You Are Old made me think of my Italian grandparents. I remember seeing photographs of them when they were both young! I saw photos of my grandma when she was just graduating high school, engaged to my grandpa, her wedding, motherhood, then her watching her children having children, and then recent photos of her in her early 80's. Relating the life cycle to this poem, Yeats really knew his stuff! Reflecting on life when you're old with gray hair and arthritis, about the heartaches, trials, happy times, regrets, and memories that have flown by too quickly. Ferris Bueller said it best "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." I don't intend on missing a thing!

F.U.N. in D.U.B.L.I.N

Well, I may not have went down through Dublin city at the hour of twelve at night or spied a Spanish Lady, but spending the weekend walking through the streets, shops, and sights has had a profound impact on me.
We arrived at our hotel and checked in. We got our room assignments and were able to go to our rooms! It was sweet because the beds were super comfortable! I am going to tell you that I had the best night sleep ever in the bed that I had. Okay - hold on - this is not a tale about my slumber.
All my life, I have heard stories and songs of Dublin city. I have heard about the events but now I was standing in history! Here are some of the things that I saw while in Dublin:

1. Ha'penny Bridge - While I was walking to a bar called Pravda, the group that I was with and I crossed over this bridge. It is the most famous of all the Dublin bridges because it was built in 1816 and was the first iron bridge in all of Ireland. As I was walking over, although it was chilly, I couldn't help but stop and look across the water. Just that sight of Dublin all colorful and lit while being reflected in the moving water was something no artist, poet, or photographer could capture. It was just there and it was so beautiful!
2. Guinness Factory - How can one go to Dublin and not see the factory where history was made? When my brother was studying in London, he went to Dublin for a weekend and traveled to the Guinness Factory. He said he'd never seen anything like it! When I went, I saw how Guinness was created, what it was created from, and the history of Arthur Guinness (the founding father of Guinness beer). The entire factory is in the shape of a pint which I found most humorous! It was quite clever really. The complimentary Guinness was the best tasting Guinness I've had in a long time!
3. GPO - This was not a long visit but Tom Keith just wanted us to see one of the most historical sites in the city of Dublin. It was the site of the 1916 uprising and I could still see the bullet holes in the pillars! There's a memorial statue inside to the brave men who fought for independence!
4. Trinity College~Book of Kells - This was a very special trip for me because when I was little, my grandpa McNamara would always talk of the Book of Kells and what it meant. He said he'd never seen it but that it was his hope that he would be able to before he died. He never made the trip. So while I was standing at the display case looking down at the brilliant colors and texts, I thought of my grandpa and how happy he would have been to be standing there with me. I really liked the pictures and the artwork of the Book too. But the Long Hall was spectacular! Thousands of books on shelves that were so worn you couldn't even read the titles!
5. Parliament - The Parliament building was much like what we have in Washington, DC except it had European influence (obviously). The chamber looked like the meeting place for the representatives of Congress and there was another chamber that was very similar to the Senate seats. It was very cool to see the leaders of Ireland and think of the similarities and the differences between their country and ours.
6. Kilmainham Jail - I heard a song about Kilmainham Jail called Grace. While there, I saw the cells, the execution wall, and what solitary was like. It reminded me of Alcatraz Penn in San Francisco a good deal. I really enjoyed being there! It was spooky and historical! Nothing beats that!

The Music of Ireland

The purpose for this particular blog is just to give you a taste of traditional/folk music from Ireland. It has been my experience that Ireland is very much like America when it comes to music. Since I've been in this country, one song has made me feel like I'm back in the United States. Click here for the song.

As Michael Flatley once said "Music is the soul of what we do as Irish." I never forgot that quote. He then goes on to talk about the beat that is involved with the dancing and music of his show "Lord of the Dance". He says that without the beat, there is nothing. I am not saying that American artists do not use a beat, but there is just something about Irish music that has always captured me. Now don't go thinking that I'm being biased just because I happen to be living in Ireland. Do not presume for a minute that I am being too taken in with the culture and just jumping on the Irish bandwagon! If that be the case, then shame for insinuating such a thing! The folk music of Ireland was what I was raised on. My Grandfather McNamara, my Dad, and my Uncle Dan were the key drivers of Irish music in my family!

The following links are from my favorite Irish groups: The Chieftains, The High Kings, and Celtic Woman.

Rocky Road to Dublin

Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore

Wild Rover

Dance at the Crossroads

Magdalene Laundries

Danny Boy

If one can ever find any other songs, don't hesitate to share them! Never miss an opportunity to get your IRISH on! :-) Until my next post!

St. Patrick's Day in Ireland

My very first St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. My goodness what a sentence that is to comprehend, even for myself! I have never spent a St. Patrick's Day away from my family and friends, but this year I was with another family: My Mercyhurst Family. Before I give you an account of the days festivities, let me just begin by stating that it was so different than what I am accustomed to in the United States! What I mean is that there were not a sea of green, orange, and white as far as the eye can see. There were no drunk drivers to worry about as you crossed the street! What I mean is that there were not many people that I saw who were completely decked out from head to toe in shamrocks, leprechaun apparel, or anything else that could be construed as Irish. These people get their Irish on don't get me wrong! But the way they do it is much more subtle. Whether it's because they live in the country itself or because they mostly are Irish is currently unknown to me. Anyway, I digress.
The first thing we did was have a flag raising ceremony at the City Council Building. I watched the American Flag fly next to the Flag of Ireland and I just tuned everything out for one split second and looked at the colors: Red, White, Blue, Orange, and Green waving in the wind. It may not seem like a big deal but it was just cool to see the colors flying together, and just knowing that we really were here with an entirely different culture brought a huge smile to my face!
After the flag ceremony, we walked to St. Mary's Church just up the road from the City Square. There were pews that were reserved for us in the Church and some of us were given jobs like a reading or carrying up the gifts! I was 1 of 5 who were chosen to read the intercessions. I was so nervous I stumbled over the words to mine for a second and then tried to recover. I was slightly embarrassed but it's okay because nobody noticed! it was the most beautiful and most complicated Mass I have ever been to in my life. It was almost all in the Gaelic language! I saved the program so that I will never forget how complicated of a language it is. It has it's own beauty though. It's not as sweet as Italian or French, but to me it sounds beautiful.


The Irish view St. Patrick's Day as a holy day and don't see it as just a day to get extra drunk. They don't crank up Irish music and dress in kilts all over the place. For Christians, it's remembering what St. Patrick did in bringing the faith to Ireland and giving the Irish the Word of God and what it means for us as humans.
After the Mass, we were given a little time before the Parade to get ready and eat. We then got flags or little things to hand out to the people, and then began to march! I watched the people looking at us and all I could do was smile and hold the flag. I even waved a few times! It was really cool. I'd have to say that my favorite part about the entire parade was the bagpipers from Scotland who came to be a part of the parade. I love the bagpipes and so to hear the music was just awesome! The parade involved the fire departments, the school bus, the retirement home people, different businesses, different clubs for children, dancers, musicians, and clowns! I will never forget that parade! It was beyond the shadow of a doubt the best and most fun parade that I have ever had the great fortune to participate in out of anything else in my life!
Dinner followed the parade! It was carrots, cabbage, ham, and potatoes! Not quite the corn beef and cabbage that my dad always makes on St. Patty's Day, but hey, it was awesome nonetheless. My friends and I went out to a pub after that only for a little bit since we all had to be in by 11. I danced with them and had only a couple drinks! It was enough because my St. Patrick's Day in Ireland will never be forgotten!
Stay in touch for more!!

Christy Moore and Lismore Castle

What a packed schedule I have had! I just wanted to say that I visited Lismore Castle last Sunday and it was absolutely stunning! I had tea in the Great Hall of Lismore Castle with a group from Mercyhurst. Lismore is still owned by the Duke of Devonshire and his wife. There is just so much history and I thought of my sister Maggie, my cousin Karen, and my brother Conor mainly! Maggie would have loved the grounds of Lismore! I took lots of pictures and even though the flowers and trees were not in bloom, one can only imagine what it looks like! Karen would have liked that there was a certain set of stairs that were so regal and royal in appearance that I thought of her instantly! And my brother Conor would have been in love with the battlements and turrets of the castle. It made me think of him and his great love for knights! I could imagine the Round Table in the Great Hall surrounded by coats of arms and flags, and the light from the stained glass windows casting Conor (the King) and his knights into an array of colors! It's almost a shame that we had to leave! But I walked where Adele Astaire walked, the Kennedy's, and the room where the Father of Modern Chemistry played as a boy! One can't get much better than that I daresay!
In addition to this, I went to a Christy Moore concert with the entire group (with an open bar at a pub afterward)! The man is known for profusely perspiring on stage and let me tell you this: His towel was practically soaked by the end of the concert! It was very funny because all the Irishmen made a point in telling us that Christy Moore sweats like a mother fecker! That's exact language - don't get scared now! :-) The songs were wonderful (I even sang a few of them because I knew them! My group was shocked) and we even started clapping and stamping our feet and I had the strong desire to just get up and dance! I did not so don't worry everyone! I kept me bum in my seat!
Well, that's all for those two days! Stay tuned for more from the Ireland Journey!

My First Reading Reflection for class!

There are two reasons why I am in Ireland:
1. Continue my Mercyhurst College education in a new environment
2. To gain a new perspective on life

I am indeed taking classes while I am abroad. One of my classes is entitled British Literature Survey. In this class, we read Irish and British literature and poetry, discuss it, dissect it, and try and relate what we learn to our time here in Ireland. One of our readings is called "Dubliners" by James Joyce.


In the past, Ireland has been Shamrocks, Leprechauns, Guinness, and Irish music. That is all it has been for me. As I walk around Dungarvan, I see that there is a lot more to this country than that. The people of Ireland are not always drunk and doing jigs all over the place. They are just like you and me; they have the same experiences that we do. They feel pain, they laugh, they cry, they find escapes from reality, and they love hard.

The stories in "Dubliners" has really opened my eyes. The first story "The Sisters" is about a boy who has his first encounter with death. It brought me back to the first time I went to a funeral. I was too young to know what it all meant, but I could tell it was something bad since everyone was crying. The people of Ireland have abusive relationships with their parents and spouses just like everyone else. They live lonely lives, find someone but are too afraid to let that special someone in, lets them go, and then a tragic event happens to the special someone which causes the person to then realize that they were their soul mate.

What I realize is that it's the same across the world. Events do not happen to just one race, but to all. I guess there's no escaping life. That is what I'm beginning to understand while reading the book "Dubliners".