Aran Islands, Coole Park

SEPTEMBER 12

This morning we woke up and visited the Aran Islands. The boat ride was long but beautiful (another wonderful day by the way) and the Islands were awesome. We rented bikes and drove them all over. The photos will speak louder than words. We saw a Gaelic Football match in which a bagpipe player marched his team out onto the field prior to the start of the game. The field was right next to the Irish Sea, and the combination of the bagpipes and landscape was breath-taking. Another unforgettable moment.

We climbed Dun Aengus, a ancient fort 2nd century BC and was adjacent to a 300 foot cliff. The water span across the horizon as far as the eye could see. The cliff wasn't even roped off... one could take a false step and slip far down into the large oceanic swells. It was pristine and peaceful (let me remind you that it was an absolutely beautiful day). Another unforgettable moment.

We returned this day to relax in our cabins and take another quick trip down to Spiddal and back. That night, I ended up getting involved in a wedding reception at the Park Lodge Hotel. You see, the night before this one, my friends and I were relaxing in the PLH bar, and a few members of the wedding party were there. After a few drinks, everyone got really friendly and they insisted that we attend this wedding reception that was occurring the following evening. John and I felt quite obliged to go check it out, and we were welcomed with open arms on Saturday night. By the end of the night, I had been offered many free drinks, made many new friends, and had danced and sung merrily with these generous irish folk till 5am. While the next morning was only a little rough, it was worth it. I had such a good time with these people and I hardly knew them.. the situation was just hilarious. John, the other celebrity of the party, had met his new "Mom" and was convinced that it was the greatest night of his life. If you want to know more, let me know. It seems as if just words cannot adequately describe the fun I experienced.

SEPTEMBER 13

This morning was a bit rough around the edges, but still quite fine. Another BEAUTIFUL day in Ireland- the sun was shining with blue skies. After catching what I could of a purely Gaelic-spoken mass, I got in a bus with my classmates and headed off to WB Yeats's house and Coole Park (see photos). Yeats house was interesting, and was made even better when one of our professors, Gerard O'Brien, guided us around a

nd read us some excerpts from Yeats's poems. Dr. O'Brien also took us around Coole Park, a place

which saw the likes of Yeats, GB Shaw, and the Gregory Family (among others). We visited a tree within the park called the "Autograph Tree," upon which Yeats, Shaw, and other famous poets and noblemen had carved their names in. The carvings, while old and tattered, still showed. Prior to returning to PLH, we went on a shopping spree at a nearby ALDI. I picked up plenty of food and supplies for the week.

Upon returning, we ate (just sandwiches for me) and headed off to Hughes Pub in Spiddal. We each had a pint of Guinness in Hughes (unfortunately we missed the musicians that were supposedly there) and talked to the locals. Apparently there was a huge victory for the local Gaelic Football team, so everyone was celebrating. We were honored to take a drink of whiskey out of a huge trophy. Afterwards, we met a man on the way home who played the accordion while two of my classmates (Molly and Katie) did an irish stepdance on the streets of Spiddal. Before heading home, a few of us more ambitious students took a dip in the Gaelic Sea. Refreshing, but cold. Tomorrow starts the first day of classes... we'll see how it goes!

PICTURES UP SOON

mahalo..

Thomas