Ireland2008

slan go leir

2008-03-16T03:55:00.002-04:00

hi everyone
Today's the leaving of Dublin day. Sad, but I'm looking forward to our trip out to the west. My friend Eileen arrived on Thursday am. We've been doing dublin stuff since then, including watching the last 2 matches of the Rugby yesterday. England just slammed Ireland; there were sad faces all around. Wales won over France so that made everyone happy. When La Marseilles was sung at the beginning everybody in the pub sang along, but no one sang the words. It was all just la la la la la LAAA la la, etc. It was hilarious. Of course we all joined in at the tops of our lungs. Silly. Of course, no one can figure out the Welch national anthem; it's kinda mournful.
So, going to get a move on to get ready. We'll haul our stuff out to the dublin airport, pick up the rental car, drive to Dingle for tonight. We'll stay in Dingle for 2 nights and then set off for West Cork and probably a night in Cork city as well. We'll be travelling for 8 days. So this will probably be the last post. Time's a wasting.

Bye everyone. Thanks for sharing in my Ireland adventure with me. Miss you all, but will see you soon.
Love
Lynn

Castles

2008-03-06T10:55:00.003-05:00

hi
As everyone probably knows, there's a castle on about every street corner and in every piece of land in this country. Between last Tuesday and yesterday I saw 3 of the more well maintained ones. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, I went on the bus to Donegal Town in Cty. Donegal. Gorgeous scenery all along the way. But all of the time I spent in Donegal Town, the rain poured down. So I did more poking around in the shops than I did walking around the town. There is a castle there, fairly well maintained and unfortunately not open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, the days I was there.
Then on this past Monday, I went on the train down to Kilkenny, one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. West Kerry has spectacular scenery, Donegal was wild, Galway County very pretty. But Kilkenny was gently beautiful. It was snowing that day so everything was under a tiny blanket of snow. It all blew away by lunchtime. There's a castle there that I was able to take the tour in.
On Tuesday I went out to Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire just to walk around and look at things. I think if I were going to live in greater Dublin (and if I were a millionaire) Dun Laoghaire would be the place I would choose. It's an absolutely gorgeous sea side town. The James Joyce Museum is there in Sandycove in the Martello tower at the beginning of Ulysses. Was it open? Nope - closed from October to March, rats.
In Dalkey, another adorable town, where I guess a couple of the members of U2 live, there is a castle open for viewing. I did get into see that one. It was really tiny and featured a garderobe. I'm so glad I didn't live back then, yuck! Right across the street from that castle was another one of the same vintage, or so it looked. That one is kind of in ruins, but it made me wonder about getting along with your neighbors went when everybody was up on the battlements.
So, then yesterday, Wednesday, I went to Malahide, another beautiful Dublin sea side town. The castle there is supposed to be wonderful. I had found out it too is closed between October and March, but figured I'd take a walk through the demesne to look at the outside of it. Well, after walking and walking through the most beautiful parkland, I came upon some workmen felling trees. Couldn't get through. So, I'm having mixed luck here with my sightseeing!
Oh well, can't complain too much. Tomorrow is LONDON - can't imagine my good fortune. Saturday is Bath, Sunday and Monday the Cornwall Coast. Not too bad, I think.
Today was the last day of the computer classes I've been helping out with. Everyone has been so nice. The class gave the tutors cards and gifts. My new friend Jenny who had crocheted me a scarf a few weeks ago, gave me a crocheted hat to go with it. It's just so sweet and has been such a wonderful experience.
Having trouble getting photos to upload. Computer's been sluggish, so no photos, sorry.
talk soon
Lynn

Greystones and Bray

2008-02-25T04:58:00.005-05:00

On Sunday, I took the Dart from Howth out to Greystones. (photo on the bottom) Howth is the furthest station out on the north side of Dublin Bay and Greystones is the furthest out on the south side of the bay and it's in County Wicklow. They're both seaside towns. Howth is definetly a fishing town. People come out here to buy fish fresh off of the boats. Greystones looks to me more like a holiday town, colorful houses, lots of people about. There's a cliff walk that I'd heard lots about and I wanted to go walk it. It goes from Greystones to Bray, (photo on the top) the second to last stop on the Dart on the south side, a distance of about 5 miles. Bray reminds me a lot of Misquamicut or Hampton Beach; very 'beachy' kind of boardwalk, lots of ice cream, chips, ballons vendors. Lots of little kids running around on the beach. And - lots of people swimming in the sea both in Greystones and in Bray - it was kind of a mild day, but I cannot imagine getting into the Irish Sea at this time of year.

This coming week - an overnight in Donegal Town. I won't have a car so I won't be able to get out to the Donegal countryside, but I'll watch out the bus windows.

Hope everyone is grand

love

Lynn

My colleagues in the Getting Started program

2008-02-19T04:30:00.002-05:00

Hi all:

Here's a photo of the five of us who teach a Monday afternoon class of elders learning to use computers. Yesterday was the last day all of us will be together so picture taking was appropriate. I was helping out a very nice woman named Josephine yesterday. We were practicing writing docs and then saving them to a file. Her three docs read: 1.I love this class. It's the best class I've ever taken. 2. I can't wait to get home and try this myself. 3. I am going to love shopping on the Internet.

I gave her the zappos.com address and asked her not to hate me too much after she spent all her money on shoes.

So anyway - in the photo, the woman with dark hair directly to my right is Margaret, the program director. She has an amazing amount of energy, has been all over the world, including 4 years in Boston working for a computer company. She knows the difference between Boston and the rest of the state!

Galway City

2008-02-16T12:34:00.002-05:00

Hi
Spent 3 days in Galway this past week. I had not been to Galway City before and have always wanted to see what it looks like. I've been all around the County of Galway, but this was the first time into the city. It looks just like its pictures make it look. The inner part of it is called the medieval city. Very old buildings all holding shops and cafes. I heard some good music, had some nice conversations managed not to buy anything. Last week, friends of Linda and Dennis' came over to visit. The three of us went into Dublin so I could show them around a little. Imagine - I'm the tour guide! We all three succumbed to sweater buying so I have a gorgeous new sweater. Outside of a couple of books and cds, though that has been my only splurge (oh yeah and the scarf to go with the sweater, sigh).

This coming week, more computer classes. I have also told Gerry, the librarian at Age Action, that I would be happy to enter new books into their database. It's not a shared database like C/W MARS, but an old stand alone type of system. So, I'll learn something new- not a bad thing!

Music highlight of the week - Linda and I have tickets to go see the Saw Doctors here in Dublin. That's kinda sacred!

Hope everyone is doing well
Lynn

This and that (or seo agus sin)

2008-02-11T18:47:00.000-05:00

Nothing earth shatteringly new here. I feel like I live here over the past few days. Just settling in to a routine of doing the volunteering stuff. Today, I helped unpack about 1/2 of the Age Action Library; couldn't finish, though, because I went off to another class. This is a new one meeting on Monday afternoons. I really, really like doing the classes. Everyone is so nice. In this new class, there is a woman who has been a missionary in Ghana for 27 years and is just recently back in Ireland. There are 11 other people all wanting to just jump in and figure out these damned computers.

On the agenda is a trip out to Galway city later in the week (psyched!). Train and B&Bs. Also, we planned for a trip to London and the Cornwall coast for early March. It will cost about 50 euro round trip to fly there and back - why not go?

I watched part of a rugby match on Saturday between Ireland and France. France won. There is a big to do going on called Six Nations . VERY big deal around these parts. On March 15 Ireland are playing England at Croke Park. Tickets to the game are gone, gone, gone, but we're planning to go into Dublin, find a pub, and watch the game there. The one on Saturday was quite exciting - even for those of us who know nothing about rugby.

Anyway - that's that - just being a Dub for a short time - v. cool.
Lynn

Oscar Wilde and W.B. Yeats

2008-02-06T03:30:00.000-05:00

Dia doibh go leir

Yesterday, I had no schedule on me until 6 pm when I met Linda and Dennis at the American Democrats Abroad shindig. What a crush of people there were. They know that there are about 400 Americans living in Ireland and I think that many of them were there.

In the afternoon, I visited the National Library . There is a fabulous exhibit featuring Yeats' work and life there. I had tried to visit it when I was here in April 06, but a fire alarm went off and we were all evacuated. I was so glad to see that it was still here. There is a circular space in which a poem at a time is projected on a screen. People have been recorded reading them (Sinead O'Conner, Seamus Heaney and lots of others). Music and photos compliment the poems. It's very powerful. I haven't read any Yeats for years and now think I should get back to it. Wonderful work.

Then, I schlepped over to Merrion Sq. What a beautiful green spot it is. Across the street from one corner of it is the house in which Oscar Wilde was born and on that corner of it is a stature of Oscar himself reclining on a rock. He looks a bit pie-eyed.

anyway, today, Linda has to go to Monaghan on business so i'll tag along to see another part of Ireland.

bye for now

Lynn

Super Tuesday here in Dublin

2008-02-05T04:02:00.000-05:00

Hi all:
Yesterday we finished packing up the library at Age Action Ireland so it can all be moved today to its new location. The next time I'll go there to work will be next Monday, when we'll unpack it and reshelve it all. All of us who work in libraries know what a challenge that will be.

Tonight at a pub in Dublin called O'Neills, there is a Super Tuesday party for US democrats living in Ireland to vote. So even though Linda, Dennis and I have all sent in our votes already, we're going to see what it's all about. Sounds like it will be a fun thing to do.

This afternoon I may turn into a tourist again and go do some more sightseeing around Dublin. Maybe a museum or go find the Dublin Public Library, something that kinda way. I'm trying to learn some Dublin talk and it seems that instead of you know it's 'that kinda way'.

Anyway hope everyone is doing great
Lynn

A new discovery

2008-01-31T13:20:00.000-05:00

I have discovered a tasty treat here in Ireland that I'm ever so grateful is not available in Mass. I went to the shop today to buy something for dinner. At the cash register were all the Cadbury things, some of which were familiar, some of which were not. The Cadbury Buttons (made with CREAMY WHITE chocolate) just sang out to me. That was 3 hours ago. Are there any left in the package you might ask. And the answer would be - nope. Goodness were they good. Maybe I'll bring some back for everyone to try.
Lynn

My first session with Getting Started

2008-01-31T12:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I presented myself at Age Action Ireland to begin my volunteer work. They had me start by doing some typing; transcribing notes of a meeting that had been tape recorded. It was hard, but everyone was so glad that they did not have to do it, I've been invited out for many pints. I met Margaret who is in charge of the Getting Started program. She was very nice and welcoming and this morning, I met her somewhere in the North side of Dublin to see what the training sessions were all about. I ended up working exclusively with one lovely woman named Jenny. She had missed a class and was a bit behind so it was good for her to have one on one attention. She is the nicest lady. We had a tea break during which she told me that her two sons were arguing about which was the better of two Internet providers. She said she wished they'd just stop arguing and get her something! She made me promise to return next Thursday. Not a problem, said I.

Then after it was done, Margaret gave me directions to Parnell Square which was very near where we were. All around that area are examples of the Georgian architecture that Dublin is famous for. So, off I went. Beautiful buildings, those Dublin doors and lots of history including the Garden of Remembrance. I visited the James Joyce Center which is in the neighborhood. Got to see James Joyce's death mask - now how many of you can say you've done that, I ask you. I'll put in a photo. They also have the door to 7 Eccles St., which was Leopold Bloom's address in Ulysses. The building was demolished but someone saved the door. While I was walking around, the skies opened and the rains, snows, and sleets all came thundering down. I don't think I'll dry out til April. Two days ago, it was mild and sunny. For the last two days, winter has settled in. I thought I was going to be able to ignore the freezing temps this year. My friend Dennis even got to use the ice scraper I brought over for him! yuck

Tonight - the Dropkick Murphys somewhere in City Centre. That'll be a blast. I'm dreadiang the walk to the train and from the train to the venue. Frigid, freezing, narsty cold, just like home, sigh

New project

2008-01-30T06:40:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm going into Dublin to Age Action Ireland where my friend Linda works. Their agency is moving down the road. The library has to be packed and moved so I'm going to help out with that. Also, Linda is administering a grant called Getting Started which teaches elderly people how to use computers. She needs a volunteer teacher who is available in the daytime. She asked me; I said I don't know enough about computers to teach anyone. She said, this is moving the mouse, finding the enter key - reminds me a bit of STCC (!!!) So, I'm going to do it. I'll go to someplace called Bally Munn one day a week for a 2 hour session. Linda said she sat in on a training session in which one man was able to see photos of his grandchildren and his son's house in Seattle for the first time. He was so moved, he cried. So, I get to be a part of that! I need the structure so I won't spend my whole time here wandering around.

I'm going to try to load a photo. Not having much luck today but I'll try. It was last Thursday in St. Stephen's Green in Dublin. Notice the lawn, palm ferns and flowers - how much snow is back in Mass.?

bye for now - gotta go catch the DART

Lynn

back to the real world

2008-01-29T09:57:00.000-05:00

well, vacation is over and i must get to work. I've found that I can get into the Eircom.net network on my own computer within 500 yards of a wap. It's a bit pricey, but necessary. The Howth Public Library is in that circumference as is a very cool pub up the street. So, I could have a glass while I'm learning new things. Tomorrow, I will concentrate on getting my camera organized so I can send some photos and maybe do a flickr thing to hold all of them. I have an opportunity to volunteer in a library that supports Age Action Ireland so I think I'll do that to get some structure. Very easy to sleep in.... and I don't want to waste time.

I miss everyone. No big plans except for a Dropkick Murphys concert on Thursday night. Have to go to Dublin to hear a Boston band - cool.
Love to all
Lynn

Dublin sightseeing

2008-01-26T17:10:00.001-05:00

So, for the past 3 days, we've been doing Dublin sightseeing - The Arbour Hill Cemetery, the Museum of Decorative Arts and History (aka Collins Barracks) where there is a reconstructed longboat. We also did ChristChurch Cathedral which is English. I kept hoping my Irish Catholic forbears were not watching. It's kind of a creepy place, but beautiful architecture. At the Temple Bar Trad Festival huge crowds and last night we just gave it up and came back to Howth earlier. We went into a pub for a nightcap and found a powerful session going on. Got to hear wonderful Irish music with no crowds of tourists

Dublin to Dingle and back

2008-01-24T03:53:00.000-05:00

We're just back from spending 2 1/2 days down Kerry as it is said here. We flew to the Kerry airport on a very small plane, rented a car and drove out to Dingle. Got to hear some wonderful music, visit and stay with 2 generous friends, Frank one night and Fran the second night, and did some driving out to Slea Head. We tried to show a friend the Blasket Islands but it was so foggy and rainy, they were just bumps on the horizon. We found some family members and visited the homestead and the cemetery and just had an all around good good time.
Now back in Dublin for some city sightseeing and more Temple Bar trad fest tonight. All in all, life is grand!

we're here

2008-01-20T13:46:00.000-05:00

Hi
We're here! safe and sound trip to dublin. Easy flight. Dennis picked us up at 5:30 am and took us home to Howth and went right back to bed. He had been on an awesome pub crawl the night before and God bless him for getting up and retrieving us at the crack of dawn. After a nap, Dennis and Linda took us walking around Howth to show us the lay of the land. The we took the DART into Dublin and we went to O'Donoghues Pub, the pub where the Dubliners got their start. My friend Tim who plays a concertina was able to sit in. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. It was a powerful session. Today, Sunday, we went to another session at the Pier House in Howth. Tim sat in on that one, too. Another powerful session - wonderful singers at that one.

Tomorrow at the crack of dawn, we board a flight to Kerry where we rent a car and drive out to Dingle, the most beautiful place on the earth's face.

I don't have my own computer up and running yet, so no photos yet.
Love
Lynn

Friday leaving

2008-01-18T08:24:00.001-05:00

hi everyone:

today's the day. Leaving in a few hours for Boston. I'm still packing and repacking the suitcases. Reevaluating - how many sweaters do I need? Someone pointed out to me that in fact, Ireland is kind of well known for sweaters so I could always get one there if I run out......

A pair of jeans and a sweater and some odds and ends are being left behind.

I'm taking an ice scraper with me because Dennis and Linda have said that on the rare icy morning in Ireland, no one scrapes - they just pour hot water on the windshield. Just think - 2 months without snow. Heaven!

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Howth view

2008-01-10T16:38:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone:

Here's the view from the living room of Linda's and Dennis' home in Howth a section of Dublin. They look across to Ireland's Eye in the Dublin Harbor. Not too hard to take? Of course, the sun was shining when this was taken. I'm checking the Dublin weather daily and it ain't sunny! But it's so much fun there, who cares?

Here's a little bit of information about Ireland's Eye

Linda and Dennis

2008-01-08T08:05:00.000-05:00

Good morning:
Here's a picture of my good friends Linda and Dennis Desmond with whom I'll be staying for much of my time in Ireland. They are from Northampton, but 2 years ago packed up and left for a new life in Ireland. Dennis is the one in blue, Linda you can tell. The other person is Gerry, a good friend of theirs. Gerry is a librarian in Age Action Ireland where Linda works. It's an agency that takes care of elders. The classification scheme in the library is one that was developed by someone in Scotland just for libraries in elder services. Must get busy and stop fiddling with my computer.
Lynn

Ireland 2008

2008-01-07T09:06:00.000-05:00

Only 11 days left to go til leaving for 2 months in the Homeland. I'm excited, but scared, too. There is still so much to do to prepare.