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".

The Very Beginning

I first came to Ireland 7 years ago with my family. I did not know anything about the culture, the literature, or the way of life that the Irish people lived. I noticed nothing except the cute boys walking down the streets. I was young and ignorant to the true beauty of all that surrounded me! Of course I had heard Irish music before, but I did not listen to the lyrics and try to learn what the songs spoke of. Through the years, all that changed. I began to notice the little things. When I returned to Ireland, it seemed to be similar to the United States. There was a parking lot for the cars at the airport, buses, and highways that spiraled through each other. But then I took a second look, and there were noticeable differences! The steering wheels in the cars were on the other side of the car (the passenger side in the United States), the people were more polite on the road, and the scenery was unlike anything New England had to offer. The people are also more friendly than in the States I think. I do not mean to "knock" my countrymen, but the fact is that the Irish are more polite. End of story. The Town Council gathered us in their chamber to mark the "historical event" as they called it. I cannot recall being treated with such kindness! The Mayor of Dungarvan gave a speech, the Mayor of County Waterford gave a speech, the second in command to the United States Ambassador gave a speech as well, and there were others who spoke in that Chamber to us. To be quite honest, I teared up. Oh, don't think I'm a marshmallow or any shenanigans like that! No, it was just very overwhelming and it was a lot to take in given I'd only been there not even two days yet! Click here for a video of that gathering! I will be impressed if you don't get even a small feeling of wonder and awe as the morning progresses. One major plus to Europe is that there is no sales tax on the goods! When something is 10 euro, it is 10 euro. I will miss that when I go back home! I will miss the music and the scenery most of all though. There is a tranquility that can't be put into words. But anyway, back to the trip at hand!

There is a group of 26 who traveled with me over to Ireland. We are from different majors and different backgrounds but have all come to Dungarvan, Ireland with a common purpose: To continue our studies and to gain experience of life in other places. It is a grand feeling and we intend on living it up to the max! We are staying at The Park Hotel in townhouses that can take four people. I have 3 roommates and they are the funniest people I've ever met! I guess I could say that they are my second family. It is almost like having a mother and two sisters living with me. They are wonderful girls and I consider myself extremely lucky to have been placed with them. There is a picture shown below with the 3 of them: Melissa in the blue, Megan in the middle, and Katie in the red hoodie.
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There is a lot of things that are planned for us while we are here! Exploring castles, gardens, hills, participating in sports (rugby, gaelic football, horse riding, etc.)We will see performances and athletic games! There is just too much it seems! It's almost overwhelming! I was a swimmer in high school, so the game of soccer and football has been lost to me for some years. Hopefully I will not embarrass myself in front of all the Irish football players. That would be catastrophic!

There is only one more thing I can write about at present. The food! The food is not any different from what we have in the United States. However, the ingredients are healthier, the portions smaller, and some of the things that we know (like ham) are different in Ireland. I do not know which I prefer. One does love the taste of sweet chocolate, a hot hamburger, and deep fried food. Although we fail to see the truth of what we consume - hey, it's all about living in the moment right? I feel the Irish do that in their own way. Maybe not the way that I am accustomed to, but learning new things is half the fun! It's a whole new world and I can't wait to get a piece of it!
Stay tuned for more on my journey in Ireland!