Living Big in the Big Smoke

The next morning, Sunday, I went with Kat and Marissa to the Guinness Factory. We set out in the rain, which was a bit of a downer, but it was not going to stop us from enjoying the day. Eventually, after a few wrong turns, we made it the Storehouse and went straight on the tour. After we saw the different levels and how the black stuff is brewed and what not, we poured our own perfect pints. I must admit that mine was not half bad, so if this whole college thing doesn’t work out, I can always come back and pour perfect pints of Guinness. We sat and talked with our pints for a while watching the rain still come down a bit outside and then we went and had an early dinner at the Brazen Head. The Brazen Head just so happens to be the oldest pub in Ireland so we were excited to try it out and they wanted a traditional Irish meal. I had bacon and cabbage, which was delicious and could have not ended so far as I was concerned. Once our meal was finished, we headed back to our house and met with the other girls to get ready and go see my friend’s dad’s band. As I said earlier, I was a bit nervous to take them, but once we were there I was so happy to see Phil the Fiddler and the rest of the lads just as I had left them. It was the only thing in my life that felt the same in Ireland for the moment so I was happy to be back. Everyone started to get into the music and started dancing and a bit of singing as well. Soon enough the band was finished playing and we thought about going to the dance club next door, but it was greatly expensive just to even get into. However, the bartender of the Vat House where we had been snuck us in a back door for free. However, we were the first ones there, but that didn’t stop us from having a good time and just dancing. Eventually loads of people starting coming in and before we knew we couldn’t even move. No longer fans, we decided to call it a night and we walked back home.







The next day was a Bank Holiday so we had the day off and were free to do what we wanted. I took it easy and stayed near home and got to know the Rathmines area. Some of the girls wanted phones and were wanting my €10 euro phone I had gotten back in January. However, stores were closed so it didn’t work out for them to get one. The rest of the day was spent hanging out and trying to do nothing, preparing for a long week ahead of just class at UCD.

We woke up early in the morning and had to figure out the best way to get to UCD from our house. We had not discovered where the bus stop to take us there was so we opted for the LUAS instead. It dropped us off about 20 minutes away from the campus so we had to make a bit of a hike and then walk all the way to the other side of campus. We were met with a breakfast in the café of the Quinn School of Business, then we went into a classroom and had an orientation meeting. We also received nice drawstring bags and portable mugs (great something else that I have to load into my already overstuffed, overweight suitcases!). We got an overview of what we were in for, for the next eight weeks and then we had our first class of four hours of Irish history. Luckily we received a few breaks along with a lunch break to give us some rest. By the end of the day I was ready to jump into bed for a few days. After we made it home, we were able to discover the more efficient way of public transportation with the bus, we all made dinner and then got ready and went to a pub which is just two blocks away for a pint. The pub, Portobello’s, was alright but we were essentially the only ones there and were extremely loud for the few that were there. Tired from the day, we decided to go back home and go to sleep early to wake up for another round of classes.





Wednesday brought a meeting from our internship coordinators who explained the differences between Irish and American workplaces and how we should prepare for our interviews. The meeting made me nervous, but also genuinely excited to start working. After the meeting, we had class, then lunch and then all headed on the city bus for a field trip to the National History Museum. As interesting as the museum was, I was more excited about its neighbor, the Leinster House where I am interning for the summer so as we passed by the gates leading to my soon-to-be second home, I was ready to walk in and start working. However, I had my interview to get ready for the next day so I went home and started preparing. When I got my placement it turned out that the TD or representative I was working for had connections with my family in Mayo, as he himself is from there. Honestly, I was not surprised at that point in my time in Ireland. I feel as though sometimes everyone on this island is connected. Well it turned out that after having talked with my cousin that he had spoken to the relations in Mayo and they made a phone call to my boss and had warned them I was coming. Oh Jay-sus it is going to be an interesting summer.



I woke up the next morning, picked out one of my many black dresses, put on my suit jacket and walked out the door ready for my interview. We had class the whole morning and then everyone had their interviews in the afternoon so we were all let go early. Mine was actually in the middle of class so I had to miss part of it so I could make sure to be on time for my interview. I had been to the Dail or Leinster House before when my relative’s friend took me in, but this time it was a bit different circumstances. I walked up and presented myself to security, I was told to sit down and then waited for someone to come get me. I chugged probably a bottle of water in that time and cleared my throat a thousand times. I was nervous, but when Conor, the TD assistant came to get me, I was less and less nervous. He was extremely friendly and was not as overly intimidating as I thought. Overall I had tea with John the TD and Conor and thought things had gone well and was ready to start work. As I walked out of the Dail, I was ready for it all to begin and to learn all that I could. When I got home, I was the first one back and was ready to tell everyone about how things had gone. However, I took a nap and woke up to find out that everyone else’s for the most part had gone well. Everyone except for my friend Marissa and I are in business, so some of the jobs to me did not seem too appealing, but I was glad everyone had had good interviews. We decided to go out that night to a pub down the street called Whelan’s, which is quite famous and is in the movie P.S. I Love You, and several people from the program were also there. I met a few people, but I couldn’t help missing the Irish, I felt as though I had only been surrounded by only Americans. So I went and met a few lads who were from the North and came down to see a band that had been playing that night. They were nice enough, but then our house headed home since we had another day of classes to battle through.



We headed back to UCD the next day for more class in the morning. We had a field trip in the afternoon so we were free to do what we wanted for lunch, so my house went to Grafton St., had some sandwiches. Our trip that afternoon was to, of course, the Leinster House. Everyone was amazed that that was where I was going to be interning for the summer. Since it was a Friday, not many people were there, but we took a tour and learned the history of the place. Our tour guide was also knowledgeable enough to inform us that the University of Notre Dame was located in Boston!! I didn’t know that since I had been gone ND had relocated. Oh well, I’ll have to update the man if I see him around work soon. That night we were ready to celebrate a bit and still had not really met anyone in our program, so we had a group of guys from our program come over before we went out. Before we went, my friend from SMC was still in Ireland traveling with the family, so she came over to see the house and meet my roommates, saying good-bye to her was hard since it was the last of the many. However, I got back to my new friends and one of the guys, suggested that we go around and say our names and a fun fact. We got to know each other better and even one of the guys was an internet priest, can’t really beat that fun fact. All of us then went down the street to a pub called the Bleeding Horse, which my relative had told me was a good time. The whole lot of Americans took up a room and we simply talked and got to know one another.









The next morning, Saturday, was our last day to wake up way too early to head to class. We again had class all morning and then in the afternoon we watched a documentary and had to write an analysis on it. The whole day had accumulated into one and I was beat when I finished writing. We made it home, but there was no time to rest because we got ready and then went to watch the USA-England soccer match. We also then went around various pubs in Dublin. The next day I stayed in bed for most of it and decided I could not do much else, I did make it to Tesco for a few groceries, but was ready to call it a night by six. However, I was roused back up by Kat and Marissa and went to the boy’s house to watch a movie. Some of them started work on Monday so they were off to bed early. I passed out in bed after a long week.



Most of us had the next day, Monday, off too so I went into town and tried to get my visa extended. I stood in line for almost an hour only to get to the man and be told that my letter from UCD had to be addressed to them. I then had to get out of line and try another day. On my way home, I ran into Marissa, Kat, and three boys from our program. They were on their way to Dublin Castle and I went with them for a tour. We had about half an hour to spare so we went across the street to a place called Queen of Tarts, which is small, but homey and made the best scones and tarts. We then went on the tour, when we were done I headed off and met my roommate from Maynooth, Brid. She needed a dress for her brother’s wedding so we went around with her friend Jackie, looking at loads of different shops and also went for a bit of dinner. It was great to spend time with her, but needed to head home. For those who didn’t start work, we were preparing for the next day, making sure our clothes were pressed and we knew where we were going.





I woke up in the morning and was just a little nervous, but ready to start the day. My morning commute might be one of the best. I walk out my door, walk down one main street and then cross my way over to Harcourt Street, one of the nicest streets in Dublin as it is lined with a row of Georgian buildings on both sides, it is then a straight shot to St. Stephen’s Green which I cut through the gardens and over the bridge to make my way to Kildare Street where the Dail is located. Altogether it takes me about 20 minutes to get to work. On my first day, I had to wait for Margaret, the secretary and person through which all things go in the office. She showed me the ropes of the place and helped me get my bearings for the first day. Even though I had not done a lot the first day, I was tired from the day and took it easy that night.





The next day was a busy day at work, but I was ready for the challenge. It was another day that left me tired and ready for bed. However, I went out with my housemates to this huge beer garden, called Dicey’s located on Harcourt, which is on my way to work. The place was massive and seemed to be a favorite for Irish students. Eventually we went home and went to bed for the final day of work that week. Work was good the next day and was excitingly busy with great matters of politics taking place, ending with a press conference outside the Dail, but I was not patient enough to wait for it at the end of the day after waiting already for 30 minutes. That night we celebrated the end of our first work week by going to a pub called Copper’s also located on Harcourt. The place was pretty dull when we first got there and it picked up a bit by the end, we all went home and then woke up for our UCD trip to Galway!

The Furthest 27 km

After exams were over, I had a little over a week left to enjoy my time in Maynooth with all of Saint Mary's friends. However, as soon as I got out of my last exam, I immediately began to feel sick. What awful timing! I tried my best to try and get the strength to battle through the raging pain of my head and the fever for the last big night out at the famous Roost pub, but I had no strength or energy to do it. I was insanely depressed, but I was reassured by my friends that I had not missed much as the line to get in was insanely long and you could not even breathe once you were in. I also had to watch one of my roommates, Brid, pack up all of her stuff and leave for home, although I would be seeing her anyways To make my chills and migrane even worse, the fire alarm went off three times in my building throughout the night. By the morning, I felt even worse and was bound to my bed all day. Thankfully I had one of my roommates Laoise still around so she was able to run to the shop for me and get some things. I felt so sick that night that I took a nap at half six and did not wake up until 2 in the morning...needless to say I was a bit confused. Saturday being the next day, I was meant to go to Tipperary to stay at Brid's house for the weekend with my friend Kellie, and then go to her house in Waterford for the week. However, I was still not feeling well and waited until Monday to meet Brid and Kellie in Waterford. Laoise also left that day, so I was left alone and sick in the apartment--what a state I was in. Some of my SMC friends convinced me to get out for a bit and I actually did begin to feel better after I got out of my stuffy, confining room. On Sunday, I was at the tail end of the sickness and went into Dublin for dinner with some friends and then to see my friend's dad play in his traditional Irish band in Temple Bar. It was all too sad as I knew it was the last time I would be with these girls in Dublin and listening to our favorites..it was certainly emotional to look around and know that they next time I came back to listen to the band that things in my life would be completely different.



The next day, I had my bags packed and I was off to Waterford. After a somewhat smooth ride, I was met by Brid and Kellie to begin our holiday in Waterford which we had talked about for over a month. My two other roommates were supposed to join us, but unfortunately things did not work out for them. Brid drove us to the house that her family rents out to students and we made ourselves at home. Since the weather was gray and rainy that night, we went out for a bit of dinner and then went back and watched tv for the rest of the night, beginning our obsession with Britain's Got Talent.

When we woke up in the morning, the weather had done a 180. The sun was out and the temperature was perfect. We got in the car and went into the city centre and did a little shopping. From there, we headed out to Tramore which is a seaside town with a huge beach. We decided to take off and walk around the beach, even though it was a bit cold and windy, it was all perfect at the same time. The sun was still out and it was simply a beautiful day and we were trying to enjoy each other's company, knowing that we would soon be separated. Brid took us to a spot she said she used to go to all the time when she was little...I thought maybe a nice ice cream shop or something, but rather it was a place filled with games and loads of slot machines. Trying my hand at one of the slots and having no idea what to do, suddenly I found myself winning a small fortune. The look of everyone around me who had been playing for hours and probably years was priceless. Here I was, having no idea what was going on, sitting in shock of the amount of coins coming out of the machine. Claiming my prize, it turned out that I had won 15 euro and 60 cents, not too shabby. Eventually we made our way away from the slots and went for some ice cream. Eventually we headed back to our home for the week and continued our love for Britain's Got Talent. We headed to bed, ready for a full day at the beach.







The only time I have needed to use my swimsuit began on a beautiful day in June with the sun shining and the temperatures rising. We decided to head out early to spend as much time as we could outside. We bought some sunscreen and headed back to Tramore. We were one of the first few people there and we laid our towels down, claiming our territory. Loading on the factor, we relaxed and listened to the waves. Eventually the beach started filling up and surfers started showing up, I was insanely jealous and wanted to try for some lessons, but it was too expensive. In a defying feat, Kellie managed to get Brid and I to go with her into the freezing cold water. I might have been insane but eventually you were numb enough that you didn't feel the cold and we went further into the sea. However, the numbness then turned into pins and needles and I headed back to shore. It felt as though it took hours to dry off in the freezing breeze, but eventually we walked around in the sun and I felt better. We were starving so eventually heading to get something to eat and then walked around the beach a bit more and made one more stop at our favorite place with the slots. Realizing that Brid and I were both a bit sunburnt, Kellie (the one who never gets burnt) thought it might be best to get the two of us out of the sun. On the way home we stopped off for a bit off after-sun cream and after loading it on, we continued our final night of watching Britain's Got Talent.





The next morning it was the end of our holiday and Kellie and I had to get back to Maynooth. Brid dropped us off at the bus station and Kellie and Brid had to say their final good-byes until they hopefully see each other in the near future, it was insanely hard to watch and made everything seem so real for the first time. On the bus ride back, Kellie and I shared a shirt of hers and poured our tears into our own respective sleeves. Eventually we made it back to Dublin and then on to Maynooth. It was hard to have everything come to an end and even now I still can't believe my semester is over. That night I went to my family's house for dinner, knowing that I wouldn't be 5 minutes away for much longer. I played on the trampoline with my Eve and Hannah and enjoyed everyone's company.



Friday morning I woke up knowing that I had a lot to do, I had to pack up all of my possessions into 2 suitcases. The task proved to be immensely difficult even making me cry at one point, I was so frustrated. To make matters worse for the depressing day, Kellie came over with her computer and we sat and listened to a song our friend Aoife had written about us and our friends. The lyrics and her voice combined made us once again crumble into tears and made the situation all the more harder. I did some more packing and tried to get all sorts of different tasks finished. I took one more walk around the beautiful South campus and took in everything with my eyes, telling myself to never forget what I was seeing-I think the South campus is certainly one of the things I will miss most about Maynooth when I journey back home. One of my roommates, Helena, came back that night to get the rest of her stuff, so thankfully I was not alone for my last night. Kellie, Helena, and I went and hung out with our friend Annie and her Irish roommates. We sang and had some laughs. It was great to be surrounded with friends especially on the dead Maynooth campus.







Eventually we made it to bed for a few short hours and then it was time to wake up and I finished packing up my room, said my good-bye to Helena, and then was picked up myself by my family to make the move to Dublin. As I said good-bye to my SMC friends by the car, I knew it was all coming to an end. I pictured myself dragging my suitcases into the Boyne apartments for the first time, nervous to meet my roommates and could not believe that so much time had passed in the blink of an eye. As we pulled away from the apartments and made the turn off of the main street of Maynooth, all I wanted to do was break down into tears and run back, hoping time would start over. However, with my family in the car, I had to compose myself, bite my lip, and hope that I would be back soon enough. However, the 27 km from Maynooth to my house in Rathmines, Dublin could not have felt further apart. As we made our way to Dublin, my stomach was churning and I was not ready to make the transition. I kept telling myself that it had been my choice to stay in Dublin for the summer and even though I knew it would be hard, it was an incredible opportunity that many do not get to experience. After I got my keys, we went to the house I would be staying in for the summer and it seemed that all of my roommates had unpacked and already left to explore. So I went out with my family for a few hours and then came back to the house...

Best Exam Week of my Life

After I returned from my 10 day stint back in the States, visiting family and seeing my only brother graduate from law school, it was time to head back to Maynooth and start studying. I had about a week until my exams began so my initial first days back were filled with great distractions. I had been so excited to get back and see everyone that it took me a few days to actually begin studying. Amidst all of the distractions, I also had to enjoy my final days in Maynooth and to soak up all of the sun which was abundant the whole week I was back. Since Irish summers are known for being filled with rain, it was suggested by all of my Irish friends that I get outside and stay there until the sun went down.



My favorite days were back to back, filled with friends and great craic. The first day I went with my roommate and we walked around town to get some lunch and then ice cream. Everyone in the country was going crazy that they were roasting to death and they didn't know how to handle 70 degree weather. HA, try summers back home in the 90s with the humidity factor, I think the Irish would actually melt. However it was comforting to walk around town and see everyone else sunburnt and not golden tan. Finally I found a place where I am not the only awkward looking pale person with streaks of bright red, despite the pain I felt in great company as I looked around. When we were walking home, we ran into our friends Aoife and Sara and started tossing around a ball and playing music, hanging out. The Irish lifestyle is so carefree, but also so full of life and great company.





The next day was just as beautiful and even warmer, so you can imagine how uncomfortable the Irish were feeling. My friend Aoife who I had been with the day before plays guitar so she decided to bring it with her and play for us. As soon as she started strumming her guitar, I was stunned. I had no idea her voice was so amazing--she started off by playing House of the Rising Sun and I was in near tears. She writes all of her other music and certainly could have a career--- check out her website: http://www.myspace.com/aoifesmithmusic

Eventually a few of my friends with Aoife took the music out to the pitches were various people were sunbathing, playing frisbee and what not. We sat under the shade of a tree and just listened as Aoife played song after song, we were all in great amazement of her talent. It was a relaxing day, but was so much fun and certainly one of the most memorable of my time in Maynooth.





The next day I hit the books, finding a new favorite studying spot in the Computer Science lab. I had to prepare for 3 exams, Irish Studies, Sociology, and Victorian English. After a few long days of studying, it was time to see how Irish exams were going to be...

Final Exams in Ireland were greatly different from those back home at Saint Mary’s. Besides the less intense studying that occurred, the structure and strict nature of the exams was interesting, but also intimidating. The only time I felt scared in Maynooth was when I went into these exams. Thankfully I had my three exams on the last two days of the two weeks, which were given for exams. Meaning, I was told by friends what to expect and what to bring with me. My first exam was my Irish Studies course, which was about Irish literature so the topics spanned from Oscar Wilde to James Joyce and W.B. Yeats along with a load of other poets and authors. It was an early morning with the exam starting at 8:30. Walking there I felt fairly confident about the topics and what I would write on, but as soon as I walked into the gym I lost every thought in my head. There were massive swarms of people everywhere, standing in the hallway outside the gym, waiting to be let in. First of all, back home, I simply walk to the designated room, sit down, do a little studying, and even get candy or something from my teachers. In Maynooth, there is so much madness that one can hardly even think. In order to enter the gym to take the exam, I had to find out my seat number on the wall and then as soon as the doors were thrown open, people started furiously funneling through them. Inside the doors are supervisors who make sure that no one comes in with coats, notes, purses, backpacks, or basically anything besides pens and pencils. I, however, looked so American as I passed through the doors with a few of my notes and was told to put them away. After managing to make it into the gym, another obstacle was thrown upon me—find my seat. The gym was filled with rows and rows of desks from the front to the back. The way they had numbered the desks was even slightly confusing, going around in a snake. Eventually I made it to where I was supposed to be and I sat down trying to recall anything I could about what I was supposed to write on. After a few minutes, someone came on a loud speaker and explained the rules of the exam. As soon as the man then said begin, you heard people slamming open their booklets and starting to furiously write, it was if every second counted to the Irish. During the exam, they had several people walking up and down the rows, looking over your shoulder to make sure you were not cheating. I personally found this to be quite distracting and had to make myself focus at times on what I was doing. One also has to put your id card on the desk for someone to come around and check. I had never experienced anything like my exams in Maynooth and as much as I love NUIM, I would rather take my exams back at SMC. Eventually by the third and final exam, I was a bit more used to the pacing and the craziness and actually did not want my exams to end for it meant the end of my time as a student at NUIM.

And they're off..

One part of the culture which is more commonplace in Europe, particularly the UK and Ireland is the sport of horse racing. Occasionally the US comes together in the unity of horses through the Kentucky Derby, but here it is a lifestyle and a business. There is even a major here, Equine Business which is fairly popular and which one of my roommates studies. One day, Laoise (my Equine roommate) came into my room and asked if I wanted to go to Punchestown. As I stared at her with my usual squinted eye, raised eyebrow I wondered if she actually thought I knew what she was talking about. It turned out that Punchestown is a famous race in Ireland, fairly equivalent to the Kentucky Derby and lasts for a few days. Maynooth was participating in the Student Day in which we only had to pay 15 euro to go which included transportation, drink voucher, 5 euro bet voucher, and race book voucher.





The days leading up to the race my roommates and I planned what we were going to wear. I wanted to purchase a large hat to try and fit in, but sadly I did not have the chance to make the purchase. On the day, I threw on my flowered dress and khaki blazer and headed out the door ready for a day at the races. When we got there things were buzzing, people were everywhere and were wearing jeans and also large hats with all the frills. When we got inside we received our race books with all of the information of the different races and tried to decipher the different odds and whatever else was on each horse. Eventually the races started to begin and we worked our way to see what was going on. There were stalls of men with all of the horses names and the different odds on them. Looking at the boards, I probably looked as though I was trying to read Swedish because I had no idea what was going on. My friends and I tried to figure out the process for a solid hour it seemed. People were running up to the different men and were giving them money and saying numbers...what was going on?? Eventually we found my Equine roommate and she tried her best to explain the difficult process. After gaining much patience, I walked up to some man told him "five on no. four," gave him my money, took a ticket, and walked away not quite sure what I had just done. We walked into the bleachers and waited for the race to start..I had put my money on a horse named Denman. He wasn't the favorite to win, but he was definitely a contender whom many people thought could win, including myself.



When the gates opened and the horses started running, I was anxious. I pictured myself back in high school running track. I felt the adrenaline in my veins and I had barely known anything about this sport until a few hours before, what was going on with me? I also didn't know that the horses went around the track twice and also had to jump over fences..so needless to say when the horses rounded the corner and came in front of the bandstand with Denman in first place, I was the only one jumping up and down saying that I had won. Embarassing? Yes. Sad? Yes. The next lap was stressful and all I wanted was to make some money. However, Denman finished fourth. My excitement was toppled when I saw the green jerseyed jockey fall behind and make my five euro disappear before me. At that moment, I gave up on horse racing and decided I would stick to something that was reliable, food. After a nice chicken sandwich, I was ready to get out of the cold and to find warmth. Eventually the races ended and after a fun day of dressing up and losing money, I was exhausted and ready to sleep.

half of the church is related to you...

When setting out to find the best live music in Galway, we relied on the expert Meghan. She led us to a pub on one of the main streets, Taaffe's pub where we would soon learn how to have a session in stag party style. When we first walked in, people were gathering around to hear the music and we were able to grab a seat right by the band. They started to warm up and just as they did, a strange lad walked up with a brown bag containing mysterious contents..after conversing with the band for a bit, they began to play and just as they did, the mysterious contents were revealed. Out he pulled a tin whistle and Irish dance shoes..as everyone stared, he also took off his jacket and revealed a Riverdance shirt! Were we in for a great night or what? Putting on the shoes and putting the whistle to his mouth, he began to whistle and also dance! What a sight this scrawny lad was and the poor band tried to play over the screeching of this man's twiddling whistle. Joining in the fun was a large group of guys in town for the weekend to celebrate a Bachelor party . Soon enough we found ourselves being talked to and asked to dance by various members of the stag party, most of whom were jockeys. Meghan told us that dancing never happened at Taffee's when she had been here, rather people used to sit around and listen to the music. Apparently things had change in the past years because we were up and down dancing around with various lads along with our "teacher", Mom. The craic was unbelievable that night also adding in the crazy dancing man. After what seemed like hours, finally the pub closed and as Caitlin, Audrey, and Mom went back to the hotel, Meghan wanted to live up the rest of her time in Galway before we left in the morning. Unfortunately things had greatly changed since Meghan had been there and the hot spots had been switched and some places were different names. Eventually we went to Supermac's and then headed home so we could be ready for the relatives of Mayo the next day.





In the morning, we again loaded up the car and made our way north. On the way to Swinford, Mayo, we stopped at the holy site in Knock and took a look around. Since we were cutting it close, we had to get back in the car as soon as we could and head for Swinford. There we attended the one year anniversary mass of one of our relatives who was a Garda and had been hit by a kid in a stolen car. The church was packed when we arrived and we luckily found some familiar faces in the crowd and made our way to find a seat. In Ireland masses are quite quick and are over in the blink of an eye. The memorial mass was no different, but was a great way for people to come together. After the mass we went to the cemetary and then to a reception at the hotel in town. There we had tea and sandwiches and were able to meet some of the relatives. From there, we made our way to the family's home and there we met more relatives and had some dinner. It was a beautiful day so we tried to get outside as much as we could and enjoy meeting all of the people with whom we had relations. When we left Swinford, we made our way to Ballinrobe, also in Mayo, to stay with more relatives TJ and Assumpta. We tried to get there as fast as we could so that we could see the cafe that TJ had recently opened. It was a beautiful cafe and the deserts were beyond delicious, although we were already extremely full before we ate. Being three stories, their cafe is the tallest building in the village and what they call the Sears Tower of Ballinrobe. After we had a tour of the cafe, he took us to their home which is on one of the main streets of the town and is found in between TJ's flower shop and Assumpta's hair salon. We got situated and then we went to Ashford Castle where TJ helps with the flowers. We walked around the gorgeous grounds and gardens, even seeing house from the Quiet Man. The walk was refreshing to try and work off all of the food we had had all day and to also make room for the dinner that we had yet to eat. When we returned to the house, we toasted our journey out to Mayo and had a wonderful meal. After several hours we had spent sitting around the table talking and realizing that it was about half twelve, TJ suggested that we got to the nightclub that is literally around the corner and the back entrance is in their backyard. We all were persuaded to go and danced a little, after one of the longest days, we finally left and slept in.











The next day was Sunday and the last day of our driving journey. We wanted to see the main city of Westport so we drove to the coast and saw the city and then made our way to Louisburgh and to the harbor where we were able to see the island that started it all, Inisturk. Although we had missed all of the boats out to the tiny island, we were able to see the island and pretend that we were there in spirit. I am hoping to still make it there someday soon. We then made the drive back to Dublin passing Croagh Patrick on the way. After a few hours, we finally made it back and since Audrey and I had a history test the next day, we had to get back to Maynooth to try and study. The next day while I was in class and taking my test until 5, the family went with Luke and saw the beautiful south campus at NUIM and the National Botanical Gardens. For dinner we were invited to dinner with more relatives, Phyllus and Liam who live south of Dublin. We enjoyed dinner there and then I had to say my farewell to my family until I would see them a month later.