Author Archives: Maddison

G’wan Donegal!

To preface this post, I’d like to first explain the title of my post.  In Ireland, especially at sporting matches, it is common to hear the crowds yell “G’wan!” (AKA, “Go on!”) followed by the team or county they’re supporting.  I heard a lot of this when my friend Mary and I went to a Connacht Rugby match on March 1st – we joined in the crowds yelling “G’wan Connacht!” as if we’d lived in Galway all our lives.  Even after the match, the phrase stuck with us, so if we were happy about something, we’d yell “G’wan Connacht!”  Alternatively, we started using the phrase as an affirmative or an expression of praise, as well.  For instance, one of our conversations might ensue as follows:

Mary: Do I get a medium order of fish and chips or a large order?

Maddison: Go with a large.  You’re in Ireland, so why not?

Mary: You’re right, I’ll order a large.

Maddison: G’wan Connacht!

(I’m fairly certain this exact conversation has taken place between us multiple times.)

Me and my friends at a rugby match

G’wan Connacht!

So, to continue with my post… as you can tell from the title, we have changed our “G’wan Connacht!” phrase (which we still use sometimes) to “G’wan Donegal!”  Why?  Well, this may be a bit of a long story, so prepare yourselves.

There are several different accents within Ireland, as many of us study abroad students have realized.  The subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences appear as you meet new people from all over the country.  Many people we’ve met at school and in town hail from County Donegal, on the north west border of Ireland.  Donegal borders Northern Ireland but is still part of the Republic of Ireland, making it a unique county.  It is the second largest county within the Republic and also boasts one of the most interesting accents.  It wasn’t difficult for any of us to fall in love with the unique sound of the accent – speaking with an individual from Donegal could turn the most loquacious conversationalist into the best listener.

Because of our interactions with individuals from Donegal, my friends and I had a little running joke about Donegal because we liked the accent so much.  When I visited a sporting goods store to buy a Galway GAA jersey, I had to try on the Donegal one just for fun!

Me wearing a Donegal GAA jersey

It suits me better than it should, right?

Well, all of this fascination boils down to one obvious conclusion: we needed to go to Donegal.  My friends Mary, Nicky, Amara, and I took an early morning bus from Galway to Sligo, and then spent a bit of time exploring Sligo before we caught the bus from Sligo up to Donegal.  The views on the trip were incredible – the mountains in Sligo are unlike any I’ve ever seen before.

A mountain in Co. Sligo

Gorgeous, huh?

Once we arrived in Donegal Town, I fell completely in love with the place.  The quaint town centre, called “The Diamond” is filled with shops, tea houses, pubs, restaurants, and chippers.  As soon as we got off the bus and oriented ourselves, we decided to stop in a tea house, called Blueberry Tea Room.  We filled our stomachs with the most amazing lunch dishes and plenty of tea before heading out into town to do some exploring.

Within the town centre itself, we visited Donegal Castle, which was an amazing experience due to our ability to explore, learn, and interact with the castle and grounds.

Donegal Castle

Donegal Castle!

The beauty of the exterior was only heightened when, at night, the Castle was lit up by a green spotlight against the darkening sky.  But some of my favorite parts of the castle were inside – the intricate fireplaces, the gorgeous wooden dining tables, and the stone stairs, rooms, and passageways were mysterious and fascinating.  The O’Donnell’s, who owned Donegal Castle, sure were lucky to be surrounded by such beauty!  I had a lot of fun exploring – there seemed to be surprises everywhere we turned!

Me with deer antlers just behind my head

Oh deer!

We also stopped in Saint Patrick’s Church, where we all admired the beauty of the building and said a prayer.  After that, we stopped in a small sweater shop, where we befriended the elderly man who owned it.  Mary bought a beautiful light blue sweater, Amara bought a gorgeous teal sweater, and Nicky bought a lovely green infinity scarf.  Since I already bought a sweater at the Blarney Woolen Mills, I didn’t allow myself to splurge, but I’m glad my friends all found things they liked!  Little did we know that their decision to buy warm clothing would definitely pay off the next day.

Saint Patrick's Church

Saint Patrick’s Church

We partook in the pubs, the chippers, and even did a bit of shopping in the town before heading back to our lovely B&B, called Ardlenagh View, which was only a five minute drive from town.  Our hosts, the Mulherns, were so welcoming and kind – traits we noticed in many people we met in Donegal.  Their B&B was absolutely stunning, as it was surrounded by beautiful mountains, valleys, and the breathtaking Donegal shoreline.

After a good night’s rest, the four of us awoke to a scrumptious Irish breakfast with plenty of tea to keep us awake for the day.  As we packed up our things and got ready to check out, we noticed the sheep that filled the field just beyond the balcony of the B&B.  I jumped at my chance to ask if we could go see the sheep – a prospect which our hosts, Tony and Eileen, found immensely entertaining.  They gladly granted us permission to see them, and soon enough, both Eileen and Tony were watching us out the window, happy to see how much fun we were having.  I even got the chance to make one of my dreams come true, as I called some sheep.  If anyone is in need of a shepherd, you know where to find me.

After we said goodbye to our sheep friends and our wonderful hosts, we headed back into town on a pleasant Mother’s Day.  In America, Mother’s Day falls in May, but in Ireland, it is celebrated in March.  Luckily for us, the Donegal Bay Waterbus was sailing on Mother’s Day, and we were just in time for the 11:00 AM sailing.  Because it was a chilly day, the four of us were the only ones on the top deck of the boat in the open air – everyone else opted to stay warm in the inside of the boat.  Needless to say, as soon as we established ourselves at the top of the boat, we threw extra layers on and bundled for the remainder of our sail.  Nicky and I even indulged in a pint of Guinness to warm up a bit while we all took pictures of the ridiculously incredible views.  Donegal is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in all my life – the beaches, the mountains, the water, the ruins and castles, the people, the culture – it all paints a picture of what life should be like and how it should be lived.

My friends and me on a boat!

Sail away, sail away, sail away…

As we were sailing, I noticed shapes bobbing up and down in the water – upon closer look, I realized some seals had come to say hello!  I yelled to the other girls to look at the seals, and to my surprise, Mary wowed us all with her seal call.  The rest of us just stuck to waving to our new friends!  We saw more seals on the beaches we passed – they seemed curious, so we waved to them as well!

Seals on the beach

Our seal friends!

We enjoyed sailing and singing some Irish songs that were played through speakers to the four of us chilly passengers up top!  We even did some dancing on the boat, which I’m sure the captain found amusing.  It was a great boat ride and we all really enjoyed ourselves!

Me standing next to the boat

Dun na nGall! (AKA, Donegal)

Afterwards, we visited the ruins of the Donegal Friary, where we admired the old architecture and walked around the cemetery.  To my surprise, I found headstones marked with the surnames Martin and Gallagher, which are two of my family surnames!  I was overwhelmed with excitement – I knew from what my great aunt told me that the Martins and Gallaghers from our family were from Donegal, and it looks like she was right!  I couldn’t wait to email Aunt Esther to let her know about my discovery.  Up until that moment, I had felt a particular draw to Donegal, but seeing the prevalence of my family surnames in the cemetery there made me feel an even deeper connection.

Me sitting in the ruins of the friary

Sitting among the beautiful ruins.

After our visit to the friary, we were ready to refresh with some lunch and tea.  We stopped in a quaint cafe, chatted with some locals, and then took a taxi to the nearest beach, called Murvagh Beach.  It was a cold day, but the sights were still incredible.  Walking along the shore brought me such peace.  Hearing the seashells crash against each other as the waves carried them in and out was captivating.  I couldn’t have been happier with our decision to explore such a pretty place.

Spots of sunlight shining on the beach.

The heavens opened up and shone down on Donegal.

As we all walked along at our own pace, we lost track of time – it wasn’t too long before we were all separated and enjoying our solitude.  Breaking away from the business of daily life to experience natural beauty is one of the most therapeutic experiences… which isn’t a difficult thing to do in Ireland.  I walked along the shore and collected interesting seashells, but eventually I met up with Mary and Nicky who had climbed to the top of a cliff which marked the end of the sandy beach and the beginning of the rolling hills just beyond it.  Needless to say, I climbed right up there to meet them!

The beach from the top of the cliff

The view from the top!

Nicky went to find Amara, so Mary and I sat on the cliff and had some deep life discussions.  It felt as if we were on top of the world – in every direction, we saw beauty, and we did our best not to take a second of it for granted.  Naturally, we took pictures of us sitting on the edge of the cliff with beautiful Donegal in the background.

Me sitting on the cliff edge with the beach in the background

Taking it all in.

We didn’t want to leave Murvagh Beach by any means, but we knew we had to get back into town and eat dinner before catching our bus back to Galway.  Before we left the beach, however, all four of us stood on the cliff and took a few group photos to remember our amazing trip to one of our favorite Irish counties!

Me and my friends posing with Donegal in the background

Never forget Donegal!

G’WAN DONEGAL!


Location: Donegal Town, County Donegal, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher

One of the most famous landmarks in Ireland, as many will know, would be The Cliffs of Moher located in Counties Clare and Galway.  I was fortunate enough to be able to visit them with my friend Mary when two of her friends from home, Claire and Erin, came to visit over their spring break.

The four girls standing with the cliffs in the background.

Mary, Claire, Erin, and me at the Cliffs of Moher!

Our tour started off with several stops as we made our way through Galway  down into Clare.  We visited Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara, The Burren, Corcomroe Abbey, Ballyalban Ring Fort, and Poulnabrone.  Each one is pictured below!

Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara

Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara

Corcomroe Abbey

Corcomroe Abbey

Ballyalban Ring Fort

Ballyalban Ring Fort

Poulnabrone Burial Tomb

Poulnabrone Burial Tomb

We stopped for lunch in Doolin, County Clare, and then continued on towards the cliffs.  It was a chilly day, and when we arrived, a wind and rain storm overtook the entire area.  We all piled from the bus into the tourism center, taking time to learn about the cliffs while the storm passed.  Within about fifteen minutes the storm had passed and the sun came out – in Ireland, weather patterns hit and subside frequently… we could have rain, sun, snow, hail, wind, etc. within the span of an hour.  Mary, Erin, Claire, and I all bravely ventured out of the tourist center and were greeted by some incredible views.

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After visiting the Cliffs of Moher, we stopped at the “Mini Cliffs” which were also incredibly beautiful.  We had fun jumping from rock to rock to get nearer to the water.

Mary trying not to get blown away by the wind at the Mini Cliffs!

Mary trying not to get blown away by the wind at the Mini Cliffs!

On the way home, our bus driver, Gary, made some of the passengers sing to us.  Why?  Well, Gary instituted a rule at the beginning of our trip: if you were late back to the bus at any point during the journey, you’d have to sing and/or dance on the bus back home to Galway.  Mary and I were going to ask if he’d take volunteers, but we thought better of it!  (And no, we were never late back to the bus, if you were wondering!)

By the time we were back in Galway, Gary told us that he would show us how he could make a dog dance.  I was fortunate enough to capture it on video – every time I re-watch it, I laugh hysterically.  See if you can keep a straight face!

I hope you enjoyed it!  As you can hear from my laughter in the video, I certainly did!

Until my next post,

Maddison


Location: Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

Down the Salthill Prom with a Galway Girl

A few weeks ago, I visited an iconic Galway spot, called the Salthill Prom, with my friends Mary and Nicky.  We were very lucky to have a crisp, clear day to walk through town.  We stopped for milkshakes at Rockin’ Joe’s (or, as Mary calls it, Eddie Rocket’s) before heading down to the water’s edge and following it all the way down to the beautiful prom.

For those of you who don’t know about the Salthill Prom, it’s a long walkway (or promenade) positioned alongside Galway Bay.  It’s a popular spot for both locals and tourists; it has even been featured in a popular song about Galway, called “The Galway Girl.”  The song was written by an American, but it is still frequently heard all around Ireland – in pubs, on the streets, on the radio, etc.  For those of you who are familiar with the movie “P.S. I Love You,” Gerry sings “The Galway Girl” to Holly when they meet in the pub.  Below is a recording of the song performed by Celtic Thunder – have a listen and see if you can find the spot where they mention the Salthill Prom!

I was completely and utterly taken by the beauty of the prom when we arrived.  We headed down to the beach areas – which are both sandy and rocky – and collected interesting shells and stones.  Mary brought along her selfie stick (a tool used to take photos of yourself so you don’t have to bother a stranger to take them for you) which I was admittedly a bit humiliated to use.  In the end, though, it was worth using because we got some really cool photos!

Mary, Nicky, and I trying out the selfie stick at the Salthill Prom!

Mary, Nicky, and I trying out the selfie stick at the Salthill Prom!

The views were incredible.  The waves crashed in along the shore and mountains were visible in the distance across the bay.  We had a beautiful blue sky full of clouds, and though it was a chilly day, we enjoyed every second of our adventure.

The blue waters of Galway Bay

The beautiful blue bay!

As we meandered along, I was excited to finally see the tower at the prom – a big yellow and blue structure that juts out into the sea from the shoreline.  I mentioned in a previous blog post that I saw Hudson Taylor in concert and that they filmed their video for “Chasing Rubies” in Galway – well, the tower features in their video!  I was very glad to stand on the tower myself and take in my surroundings.  It was very windy so I didn’t get many photos when I was on the tower itself, but I managed to get this shot of the tower from a distance away.

A yellow tower jutting out from the coastline.

The tower at the Salthill Prom.

Eventually, I discovered piles of seaweed washed up along the shore, so naturally, Nicky and I decided to have a seaweed fight!  As I inspected the seaweed, I remembered hearing from a tour guide that a lot of Irish farmers use seaweed to fertilize their soil, which adds rich nutrients to it to keep it healthy for growing crops.  The thick, rubbery consistency of the seaweed made me believe him!

Me and Nicky throwing seaweed at one another.

Me and Nicky fighting with seaweed!

All in all, it was a fantastic excursion, and one I hope to make again before I leave.  As the weather gets a bit warmer, I expect the Salthill Prom will be very busy, but I definitely wouldn’t mind a day spent just sitting on the beach and soaking it all in!  There is certainly a reason why this beautiful location is featured in songs and stories, and I think I figured out that reason when I took a stroll down the old long walk!


Location: Salthill Prom, Galway, Ireland

Singing for Strangers

On Tuesday, February 23rd, I attended a Hudson Taylor concert at the Black Box Theatre, which is just a short walk from my apartment.  For any of you who don’t know, Hudson Taylor is an Irish band, formed by two brothers from Dublin, Alfie and Harry Hudson-Taylor.  I’ve been a fan of their music for years, but they aren’t very popular in the United States.  When I found out that they were playing a gig in Galway back in the fall of 2014, I bought tickets as soon as I could (which meant waking up early on a school day and ordering them on my phone… at the time, I wasn’t in the right time zone for getting them at a decent hour!).  Whenever I had anxieties about leaving home before coming to Ireland, I would remind myself that I had tickets to Hudson Taylor because I knew there was no way in the world I would ever miss that!

Three of my friends joined me: Amara, Kaity, and Kelly.  We got ready at my apartment before heading over to the venue early, but on the walk over, we got caught in a torrential downpour that made straightening my hair completely useless!  But we laughed it off and took a photo of ourselves to remember how we had been soaked by the Irish rain… and definitely not for the first time!

Two friends and I soaked by the Irish rain

Rain soaked, but still glad to be seeing Hudson Taylor!

Arriving early was definitely a good thing, as the concert was general admission, or standing room only.  The four of us were delighted when we entered the theatre and walked straight up to the front to claim our space.  We couldn’t have been any closer – front row was better than any of us had expected.  Needless to say, I was over the moon.

There were two opening acts, one of which was a band called Southern composed of a brother and sister from Belfast as well as a drummer and bassist from England.  They were really great and I definitely hope they gain popularity.  Below is a video of a song they performed at the concert:

After Southern finished, there was a period of excruciating anticipation while the stage was set up for Hudson Taylor.  In the interim, I tried to guess which of the brothers would be directly in front of us on stage, and I decided it was going to be Alfie because the microphone was shorter and Alfie’s instruments were eventually brought out and placed on our side.  And soon enough, my prediction came true.

Alfie singing right in front of me

Alfie Hudson-Taylor

Alfie took his place just in front of us as he, Harry, and their band started the concert with a high energy performance of “Just A Thought” – a song I’ve been singing so much that by now all my housemates should know the lyrics from memory.

Alfie and Harry Hudson Taylor performing right in front of us

Could we get any closer?

Fortunately for me, they played a bunch of my favorite songs, so I got to sing along very loudly.  Because of that, I’ll include a Hudson Taylor music video for you to watch instead of the ones I took from the concert… I didn’t realize how loud I was singing until I could hear myself on the video when I got home.  It’s equal parts embarrassing and funny, but it’s more pertinent for you to watch a video of Hudson Taylor, not Hudson Taylor featuring special guest Maddison.

The video I’ve included below will always hold a special place in my heart because it was filmed in Galway, not too far from where I’m living now.  As of late, I’ve adopted it as my Galway theme song, so it’s frequently listened to on my iPod on walks to and from class.  In fact, I had a conversation with a kid I met one night in a pub and we got talking about Hudson Taylor, and surprisingly enough he told me that he was there the day Hudson Taylor filmed this video.  Apparently, he was asked to spot Harry and Alfie when they jump in the water at the end of the video.  He could have been making it all up, of course, but part of me wants to believe it.  Even if it isn’t true, it makes a good story, so I’m sticking to it.

I didn’t want the concert to end, but the guys did mention that they would be going to the Roisin Dubh pub afterwards if any of us wanted to meet them there.  After singing, dancing, and cheering for hours, my voice was all but gone by the time the concert ended.  I booked it out of the theatre with my friends in tow so that we could stop by the merchandise stand and then get to the Roisin.  Luckily, I was already familiar with the Roisin and how to get there quickly, so Kaity, Kelly, and I made it there in record time.

The pub was packed when we arrived, as expected.  It took us 35 minutes just to weave through the crowds to get up to the bar.  After we all ordered drinks, we found a seat with a good view of the entrance so we could see if Alfie and Harry showed up.  After the better part of an hour, a lot of people started leaving, probably because they were impatient and didn’t think the guys were coming after all.  However, I was determined, so we enjoyed our drinks and our conversation, gleefully aware that the thinning crowd worked to our advantage.

Soon enough, I saw the band walk in the front door, so I assumed Alfie and Harry weren’t too far behind.  But then, I thought it would make sense for Alfie and Harry to come through a back door if their band came in the front, so I told Kaity to hold our seats at the bar while I checked the upstairs area for Alfie and Harry.  As soon as I reached the top of the stairs I ran into Harry, who was surrounded by girls… which made me cringe at the thought of being associated with fan girls, so I turned the corner instead and saw Alfie talking to a group of guys.  But I ended up catching Harry and having a conversation with him before a group of guys came over and asked me to take their photo with Harry.  I did and since I had asked Harry previously if I could get a photo with him, I thought one of the guys would take my photo for me.  Unfortunately, though, one of them dropped their glass and it shattered on the floor, so Harry was ushered to another location before I could catch him for a photo.

Though I was disappointed about that, later in the night I ended up standing next to Harry and talking to the drummer from Southern, Eoghan.  He was really nice and was also glad that I was having a Guinness, so we drank to that and to Southern’s successful performance that evening.  I still didn’t manage to get a picture with Harry – soon after, he left the Roisin, but I was glad I got to talk to him.

Meeting Alfie was my favorite part, though.  I just went up to him and said “Hi Alfie!” and we started talking.  He was really friendly; he gave me a hug when he found out I was from America and had been wanting to see them for such a long time.  He asked me my name and when I told him, he said that Maddison was a “lovely, beautiful name,” which, of course, made me melt! Alfie seemed really genuine – he even introduced himself to me and shook my hand (as if I didn’t already know who he was) and he kept using my name in conversation, which made me feel like I was having a chat with a friend.  He also got a little bit emotional when I told him I wished that their show would never end.  Similarly, he was humbled by the fact that I was American; it must have been amazing to realize that his music has a wider reach than expected.  After a quick photo and one more hug, we said goodbye, though I didn’t want to!

Alfie and me at the Roisin Dubh

Alfie and me hanging out at the Roisin Dubh

All in all, it was a great night that I will never forget.  My friends and I might be going to see Hudson Taylor again in early May, but this time we’ll take more friends along with us.  I’m sad that the concert is over, but I’m thankful I had the opportunity to see Hudson Taylor from the front row and meet them at a pub afterwards.  Only in Ireland!

Until next time,

Maddison


Location: Galway, Ireland

Exploring Castles in Carlow and Kilkenny

The latter part of my weekend at my friend Sally’s house in Wicklow consisted of trips to County Carlow and County Kilkenny, where much of our time was consumed by exploring castles.  The really great part about Ireland is that it doesn’t take too long to venture anywhere… it took ten minutes to drive from Sally’s house in Baltinglass, Wickow to Duckett’s Grove in Carlow.

After our adventurous day in Glendalough and Avoca on Saturday, we spent Sunday driving to a place called Duckett’s Grove in Carlow.  Sally and her friends had told us stories the night before about how the grove was supposedly haunted, and it was easy to see why when we arrived.

A castle in the distance, clouded by fog.

My first sight of Duckett’s Grove was definitely creepy but beautiful!

Aside from the uncommonly thick fog, exploring the castle ruins of Duckett’s Grove was incredible.  Much of our walk around was creepy, but I loved it.  Sally told us that the grove was a common spot for people to spend time, especially in the summer.  She and her friends would meet up there to play sports, play board games and cards, pack picnic lunches, and generally just spend time together.  I can’t think of a more beautiful and interesting place to casually meet up with friends or family!

A part of the castle with towers framed by fog

A tower with arrowloops – the sky really was that color!

The castle looked fairly abandoned on the inside, but that was only because the interior had to be preserved and protected from people entering it, especially late at night or early in the morning.  Sally said it was common for people to explore the castle when it was dark in order to find ghosts or get a good scare.  It sounded like a fun time to me!

Three of my friends and I standing outside a gate of the castle.

Nicky, Kelly, Mary, and I hoping to meet a ghost!

After we finished our escapade at Duckett’s Grove, Sally drove us to Kilkenny for an afternoon at Kilkenny Castle.  Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take photos inside of the castle, but I did get a few of the gorgeous exterior.

A view of Kilkenny Castle through the trees.

Kilkenny Castle through the trees.

The interior was just as beautiful.  We visited a large portrait gallery in a hall that reminded me of Pemberly (Mr. Darcy’s home) from Pride & Prejudice.  There was also a tapestry room which captured all of our imaginations… we admired the incredible craft work that went into creating a masterpiece like a wall-length tapestry.  The dining room was so intricate that I thought it would be a perfect film location for Downton Abbey – every single table setting was perfectly in place.  One of my favorite places was the library, though.  There were huge cupboards filled with old books, various writing desks near gargantuan windows, and cozy seating areas beneath paintings and portraits.  The Butler family, who lived in Kilkenny Castle, certainly didn’t want for comfort!

Outside, the grounds were filled with statues, a fountain, stone steps, and walkways.  Kelly and I even made a friend who decided to pose for a photo with us.

Kelly and I standing on either side of a statue.

He insisted on the pose… don’t blame us!

Also, as a side note, if any of you are fans of Hozier (born in Wicklow – one of Ireland’s own!) he recorded a live version of his song “In A Week” at Kilkenny Castle.  Here is a link to the video if you’re interested in watching it.  I highly recommend it… Hozier is one of my favorite musicians.

When we returned to Sally’s house, we were exhausted but immensely satisfied.  We had explored so much in only three days – my weekend visiting Wicklow, Carlow, and Kilkenny will be a time of my life I will never forget!

Until next time,

Maddison


Location: County Kilkenny, Ireland

Hello Wicklow!

Last weekend I had the amazing experience of spending the weekend in Wicklow with my friend Sally and her family at their home in Baltinglass.  Three of my other American friends came, too, which made the weekend one of discovery and adventure for all of us.  Looking back, I can definitely say that last weekend was one of the best I’ve had in Ireland by far!

On Friday we boarded the train in Galway and traveled across the country to Kildare, where Sally’s mom picked us up and drove us to Baltinglass.  Once there, we were introduced to Sally’s family and were allowed to spend some time relaxing before heading down to the shop, which was only a two minute walk from Sally’s front door.  At the shop we picked up ingredients to make brown bread, which is a staple in Ireland and is served as a side to many dishes.  It’s also a bread I have fallen completely in love with and plan to make at home.  Thankfully, Sally’s mom gave us her recipe.

Our brown bread baking in the oven.

Brown bread baking in the oven!

Sally then set us all to work – we teamed up and began making a loaf of brown bread each.  Team Mary and Kelly competed against Team Maddison and Nicky… and things got pretty competitive.  In the end, though, Sally and her mom said that it was a tie because both loaves of brown bread turned out well.

Two fully baked loaves of brown bread sitting out on the kitchen counter.

Two perfect loaves of brown bread!

The next day we woke up early, got ready, and headed out to Glendalough, which is a national park in Wicklow with medieval monastic origins.  Sally drove and I read the map to ensure we knew how to get to and from where we were going.  A lot of the roads we drove on were narrow country or mountain roads with a lot of hills, so even the ride to Glendalough was really fun. Before we arrived in Glendalough, Sally stopped to let us have a look at the incredible beauty of the Wicklow mountains.

A mountain with fog overlay at the top.

A lovely view on a foggy day.

Once we arrived at Glendalough, we walked around the grounds, taking in all of the natural wonder and history of the site.  A large, old cemetery takes up a large portion of the land; it is eerily beautiful.  Some of my favorite parts were visiting the immensely large round tower and attempting to get my arms around Saint Kevin’s cross, which is a large stone Celtic cross that visitors hug in an attempt to get their fingers to meet around it.

Me with my arms wrapped around a large stone cross.

I didn’t quite get my fingers to touch, unfortunately!

Me with my arms around a smaller stone cross.

Luckily I found one that was more suited to my size.

We also visited the lakes around Glendalough and were overwhelmed by how picturesque the views were.  It was easy to see why scenes from the movie “Leap Year” were filmed at the upper lake in Glendalough – cameras simply can’t capture how breathtaking it is to stand at the bottom and look out at the lake and up at the mountains.

A lake with mountains and blue skies in the background.

The Upper Lake at Glendalough.

After we spent hours walking around Glendalough, we all boarded our lovely coach and drove to Avoca, which is another town in Wicklow.  Avoca is better known to some as Ballykissangel, which was a television series filmed in Avoca in the 90’s.  The town was called the fictional name Ballykissangel in the show, but Avoca, looking vastly unchanged, still represents its claim to fame today.

A sign reading "Ballykissangel" on a panel at the front of the pub.

Ballykissangel sign at the front of Fitzgerald’s Pub.

My parents and I watched Ballykissangel back home and really enjoyed it, so naturally I was very excited to be visiting Avoca.  It was strange to arrive in a town and know exactly where everything was and how to get around, even though I’ve never been there before.  We walked up and down the main street, admiring the quaint atmosphere and then eventually stopping into the most recognizable film location, Fitzgerald’s Pub.

Me standing outside of Fitzgerald's Pub.

I was so glad to be at Fitzgerald’s!

Once inside, my friends and I enjoyed chocolate cake and Guinness (the epitome of health!) while watching Ballykissangel on a television that the pub plays on a loop.  There were also several decorations around the pub that denoted its involvement in the show.  I was a little bit disappointed because the main bar area is where most of the show was filmed, but I couldn’t sit in that area because there was a rugby match on and the bar was full of people who were invested in nothing but ensuring a good view of the television.  But even so, it was really cool to see how all the locals gathered in the pub to watch a match, just like many of the characters did in Ballykissangel.

Me standing with a Guinness in the front bar of the pub.

Standing proudly in the front bar area where much of Ballykissangel was filmed.

We left Avoca and headed back to Sally’s, where we got fish and chips from the “chipper” just down the road from her house.  We were all really hungry, so we were glad to see that the portions were generous.  They were, by far, the best fish and chips I’ve had in Ireland so far… I might have to stop back sometime or ask Sally to bring some to Galway!

Thanks for reading about my adventures in Wicklow!

-Maddison


Location: County Wicklow, Ireland

Loquacious, Literary, and Loving Every Second

Now that I’m back in Galway, I have been drinking up the abundance of literary culture faster than the pints I’ve been partaking in.  I really lucked out in choosing to study in a place where music, art, history, and literature dominate the city; around every turn, there is something new and wonderful to stumble upon.

But to get to those places, sometimes it helps to ask questions along the way.  Before I arrived in Galway I was determined to find the residence of Nora Barnacle, who was James Joyce’s wife.  She was born and raised in Galway before she met Joyce, and now her old home has been turned into a museum (even though the house is tiny!).  When my friend Mary and I ventured into town, we stopped by the Galway tours office and I asked the man working how to get to Nora Barnacle’s house.  Jokingly, he said “She’s dead, she doesn’t live there anymore.”  After a bit of laughter, he did give us directions, and after two failed attempts, Mary and I finally made it to the small house nestled inside a side alleyway.  We happened to arrive at it at the same time as an Australian couple, so we all helped each other out by taking one another’s photos.

Mary and I standing in front of Nora Barnacle's House.

Mary and I outside Nora Barnacle’s house

It’s still difficult for me to fathom that I’m so close to the history of my favorite authors.  Every time I go into the center of town, I pass a statue of Oscar Wilde, who is one of my all-time favorites.  I’m loving being surrounded by a prominent literary culture here – it’s such a change from what life is like back in State College.

Oscar Wilde statue in Galway City

Oscar Wilde statue in Galway City

A few days after our Nora Barnacle adventure, my friends and I chatted with a local shop owner and got directions to Charlie Byrne’s Book Shop, which stole my heart as soon as I entered.  I could have spent hours looking around, but we had to get to class so we only had about an hour to browse.  It was time well spent, though!

Me reading a book in Charlie Byrne's book shop

Me enjoying a book in Charlie Byrne’s

There are so many book shops in Galway – I seem to notice a new one each time I walk down Shop Street.  It’s definitely a dream come true for me… all of it is.  There is something inherently magical about Galway, as cheesy as that sounds.  The constant music that’s played in the streets, in the pubs… everywhere, really… seems like a soundtrack to life.  I don’t think I’ve gone a day without singing here – it’s impossible not to.  And yes, my friends and housemates do call me out on how I’m always singing.  Galway makes it so easy to live my passions, though.

And Galway always seems to point me in the right direction, too!

Me pointing at a sign for Diagon Alley in the book shop

Diagon Alley and Galway feel like the same place to me!

Looking forward to sharing more of my adventures with you!

-Maddison


Location: Galway City, Galway, Ireland

Heading to Mayo

This past weekend I participated in a home stay, which means I went to stay with an Irish family and explore their hometown for a few days.  I spent my time in Ballintubber, County Mayo, which is just a ten minute drive from Castlebar, the biggest city in the whole county.  My friend Kaity and I spent the weekend with the Murphy family.  On Saturday we explored Castlebar with our friends Mary and Bridget, and then on Sunday we visited Ballintubber Abbey, which was conveniently located just across the road from the Murphy’s house.

Visiting the abbey was my favorite part of the whole weekend, though admittedly the drive to Castlebar from Galway was scenic and beautiful.  Driving through Ireland is something I could always do – it gives me time to take in the beauty of the country and really think without interruption.  Watching the sun descend on the fields and houses was one of the most beautiful views I’ve seen so far.  Writers, beware… Ireland will inspire all sorts of literary and romanticized thoughts.  No wonder this amazing country has produced so many successful authors.

Before we explored Ballintubber Abbey on Sunday, Kaity and I went on a walk to explore local Ballintubber.  We walked down past the school and around the training pitch, admiring the quaint houses and small town atmosphere.  On the way we made friends with some ponies who live right near the pitch.

Ponies in a field, Ballintubber, Co. Mayo

Ponies in a field, Ballintuber, Co. Mayo

When we returned to the Murphy’s home, Mrs. Murphy and her daughter, Katelyn, took us to Ballintubber Abbey, which has been offering Mass without break for 800 years.  It was founded in 1216 by Cathal Crovderg O’Connor, the king of Connaught (one of the four provinces of Ireland).  The beauty of the abbey took my breath away… the old grave markers, the hazy grey day, the sheep in a field near the abbey, and the looming presence of the ruins made for a memorable experience.  We walked around the grounds and admired the amazing history that surrounded us, both inside the abbey and out.

Celtic cross cemetery marker in front of Ballintubber Abbey

Celtic cross cemetery marker in front of Ballintubber Abbey

I enjoyed exploring Mayo, but I was eager to get back home to Galway during my stay in Castlebar.  It’s amazing that I’ve only lived in Galway for three weeks and yet I miss it when I’m away.  Every time I go into Galway’s city centre, I fall in love over and over again.  I’ve been feeling really attached to the city lately, and I know at this point that saying goodbye will be very difficult.  But until then, I have a lot more adventuring to do, so I’ll save sad thoughts of departure for another day!

Until my next post,

Maddison


Location: Ballintubber, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Farewell, America

Hello there!  My name is Maddison and I’d like to personally thank you for visiting my blog space.  I have a lot of plans in store for my GeoBlog, so I sincerely hope you return to experience Ireland with me each week.  And, just so you know, this will be my last post before I depart for Ireland because I’m leaving a bit early to tour the country with my mother and my aunt before my Dublin orientation begins.

My goal for this blog is to share my experiences and adventures with you, though ideally, it would be great to interact with you in the comments section as well.  I want my readers to gain not only entertainment from my blog, but a sense of culture, fun, and belonging.  It’s a well-known fact that Ireland is considered one of the most hospitable countries in the world, so I want my blog to mirror that welcoming tradition!

Well, I suppose I should introduce myself, as you’re probably wondering who I am and why I chose to start blogging.  First and foremost, my name is Maddison and I’m currently a third-year university honors student who will be studying abroad at The National University of Ireland, Galway during the Spring semester of 2015.  I am double majoring in English and History with an intended double minor in International Studies and Writing.  My hobbies include reading, writing, historical research and interpretation, acting, singing, crocheting, listening to music, archery, watching movies, cooking, genealogical research, riding roller coasters, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends.  But you’ll get to know me better as I post more frequently.

So that’s a bit about me.  But you still may be asking yourself why I chose to study abroad in Ireland.  Well, to me, the answer is simple.  I was raised in an Irish-American Catholic family, so I’ve grown up in an environment that has familiarized me with Irish culture ever since I was old enough to understand what it meant to be Irish-American.  The values, morals, and traditions instilled in me as a child have guided my life in many ways, but now that I am in my early twenties, I am ready to explore and experience Ireland as an adult.  And, if I’m honest, there really isn’t anywhere else I could imagine myself going besides Ireland.  I’ve never been there before, but something inside me already warms to the familiarity of traveling to the place where my family came from.  It’s going to be a very new experience to me, but at the same time, it almost feels like going home.

I can assure you that I will go into more depth about these topics in upcoming posts – this initial post is just my way of saying hello, thank you for taking an interest in my blog, and I hope you’ll join me on my journey.  If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section and I will respond as soon as I am able.  Thanks again for stopping by and I hope to see you back again soon!

Until my next post… farewell, America!

Maddison


Location: State College, Pennsylvania, 16801