Tag Archives: galway

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.)

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!

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.

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!

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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 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

Corcomroe Abbey

Ballyalban Ring Fort

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.

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!

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!

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 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 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 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

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

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

Falling in Love with Galway

Hello again everyone! I have arrived safely in Ireland!

I feel like I have so much to write because of how many amazing experiences I’ve had over the past week and a half. I’ve never been so exhausted in my life, but I’ve also never seen and done as much as I have, either. Ireland is beautiful, the people are lovely, and I’m adjusting better than I could have ever dreamed to.

Other than a few minor frustrations in the beginning, I’ve been settling in well. Galway is extremely rainy and windy, but today is uncharacteristically sunny, so later I’m going to go into town for some dinner and exploring with my friends Mary and Kelly. Kelly is also from Penn State while Mary is from the University of Vermont. We all get along really well and seem to be adjusting to our new surroundings at the same rate, which allows us to help each other along when we need it.

We’ve also been making friends with Irish students. Mary’s roommates are two girls named Kitty and Sally who are very friendly and welcoming. Kitty is from County Kerry and Sally is from County Wicklow, but they travel back and forth from university to home using the bus or train system. Most Irish students go back home on weekends because it is such a small country that they can easily travel anywhere. While at home, they have the luxury of home cooked meals, the ability to do laundry for free, and quiet time without distractions for studying. Their system is a lot different than the American university system. Irish students study and go to class during the day, then socialize and go out on weeknights. Then they devote their entire weekend to writing papers, studying for exams, etc. I haven’t fully adjusted to their system since it’s only the first day of classes, but I will be sure to let you know how it all plays out once I experience how their habits work.

It has been funny so far to experience some unexpected things about Ireland, as well. Most of the time I feel like I’m living in 1980’s or 1990’s America. For instance, we use immersion heaters which only makes hot water available in the shower for about four hours per day. The toilets here don’t have power flush options, and if flushed too often, they tend not to work for an hour or so at a time until they reset. The faucets on the sinks are separate, so if you want to wash your face you have to fill up the sink, put a stopper in it, and go from there. The washing machines and dryers are straight from 1984 – I have no idea how they’re still functioning. Living here has definitely made me more aware of the immediacy of American fixtures and appliances! But while it may have been unsettling and frustrating at first to get used to the way the Irish live, I’m really enjoying it. It’s teaching me to have patience and to not take life as seriously as I would back home. Everything in America is scheduled and there are a lot of expectations placed on individuals, while in Ireland, people tend to be much more forgiving if something goes wrong.

Also, I know that Ireland isn’t known for its culinary expertise, but I have had some really great food so far. The other day, Mary, Kelly, and I split a fish and chips basket at a seaside restaurant, and it was made with fresh cod – so good! I also had a pesto chicken ciabatta sandwich at the college bar which was so good I could have eaten four more. The only strange things I’ve encountered so far have been black and white pudding (I didn’t even try them), strangely flavored yogurt (rhubarb, gooseberry, etc.), and probably a few more that I can’t think of right now. But all of the food here is so fresh that most of it expires much sooner than in America – it’s most likely a lot more healthy for you, too.

I’d also like to mention that Ireland has the coolest events for both students and their general public. Many pubs do karaoke nights (I sang three songs with some friends the other night – it was great!), traditional Irish music nights with Irish dancing, and tons of live bands and musicians. Tomorrow night I’m going to a ceili, which is a traditional Irish dance. I’m very excited for it and I’m sure it will provide me with a bit of fun before classes really start picking up the pace.

All in all, I can’t begin to explain how wonderful it feels to have a sort of family atmosphere here in Galway with people I just met not too long ago – we all eat together when possible and go into town to see what’s happening at pubs once we finish up with all of our university responsibilities. Ireland’s pubs are some of the most relaxed and comfortable places I’ve ever been to… I’m thinking America should really start taking a hint! I’m thoroughly convinced the world would be better off today if everyone adopted the mentality of the Irish in regard to how to treat one another and how to have a laugh.

I’ll be in touch again soon with more photos of my adventures. Until then, I hope everyone is doing well!

Maddison

Location: Galway City, Co. Galway, Ireland