Gaelic Games

So sorry it has taken me so long to do another post, guess I got a little busy recently (Sorry Mom!)

Last weekend myself and twenty-five other classmates and I went to another part of the city and got to learn and play some true Irish Sports.

We started off learning Gaelic Football. We learned the correct way to pick up the ball Kicking it up into our arms, "dribble" or run down with the ball (cradling it like a baby), and to kick the ball (similar to juggling the ball in soccer). The ball was very similar to a volleyball but weighed a little more than a soccer ball. Since the rain had started to pick up some we learned how to play in the handball alley inside. This was kind of hard for me because I just wanted to be back on a field, and falling down on cement is kind of painful. After learning the basic steps to play this game we split into four smaller teams and played a basic game of keep away, after passing the ball four times without interception from the other team you get a point. So much fun and aggression came out on our side of the court, but it was honestly just a hilarious game.

After that they brought us upstairs fitted us with helmets and sticks and took us outside to teach us hurling. Now hurling is a mix between lacrosse, hockey, football and baseball. We learned how to pick up the ball using the sticks, (just like scooping in lacrosse, hit the ball on the ground (like hockey), and even the best way to score (swing the stick at the ball like baseball). We learned how to pass the ball to our teammates (like throwing in baseball), run down the field with the ball (holding the ball like football), and how to always protect ourselves with the stick (stick in front across your body like lacrosse). Before we knew it they were putting ourselves into two teams and telling us to play a game. Many people got the hang of the game before the others, but it was hilarious to watch. I whiffed the ball way to many times, but I did hit it once so I was happy. There had been a football game going on next to us and when it was over some of the spectators started watching our attempt at playing, I think they got a good afternoon of laughing. My team ended up only losing two or three zip, which we attest to the fact that Adam our head resident was playing center forward for the other team.

After the hilarity of that game was over they brought us back inside and had us take a breather before bringing us back down to the handball alley to teach us handball. Now this is very similar to racquetball and I even think I played it back in gym class growing up. Basically you bounce the ball and then hit it with your hand onto the wall, then your opponent (standing next to you facing the wall) hits it back. It goes until just like tennis or racquetball someone misses it. We played to learn and then played to win, it was a lot of fun going down the line seeing how many people you could beat. I have to say running and leaping to hit the ball back to an opponent really is quite fun. We played until it was just two students left, and then one student against the teacher. Even after someone got out we still cheered on students who were left, and created a high-five gauntlet to run through.

It was such a fun afternoon learning these games, and to just work as a team with my fellow classmates. As I said that day I could make bank at handball, I could make a living at Gaelic football, but I'm going to have to kiss my hurling career goodbye.

Sorry I don't have any pictures but as soon as I get some I will post them! Here is a video about what I did though to give you more of an idea about the sports! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAYwBwtjNlI

Sorry again this took me so long. Next weekend I am going horseback riding with some classmates, I think in Wicklow (around where I went camping).  I am just excited to ride a horse on a beautiful landscape. Then that night (Friday) I fly to Paris to meet up with Tori and Mitch for a well-deserved weekend away. Stay tuned for a few blog posts and way to many photos!!!

Photos of me playing these games (of course I get them two days after I finally published this post...)

 

They're hereee

There is nothing better than visiting with good friends, except maybe when they come to visit you in a different country. We were so lucky this weekend to have Tori (one of my best friend's from school, and freshman year roommate) and her boyfriend Mitch come to Dublin.

Tori and Mitch are studying this semester at Cardiff University in Wales. They have had a much different experience being with a third party abroad program, but they are enjoying their experience. They came to us for the weekend and we tried showing them around the city.

The anticipation leading up to their arrival was positively unbearable, both during the week leading up to it, and the time spent during the night waiting until the moment they would step off the bus. We were all very proud of ourselves though being able to be at the bus stop (after running across four lanes of traffic in order to get to the correct bus stop) for greeting our travelers.

We had given Tori our phone numbers, and were waiting for a call letting us know they had landed, were through immigration, and were maybe even getting on the bus soon, but no such call came. BUT O'Connell Street is so fabulous, and has Free Tourist Wifi, and because of the magicalness of Facebook, we were able to message her (plus her bus had wifi) and find out that they would be there soon.

There is nothing better than giving a good friend a nice long hug I have to say, and there is almost nothing better than catching up with good friends on a Friday night. We all just went out and talked, caught up, and learned the craziness of the Welsh language.

Saturday morning we woke up far too early (9:00 o'clock) and made our way to The old city (just ten or so minuted form our apartments) to the Queen of Tarts for breakfast. We all are very boring though and got juice, coffee and scones-except Nicole, she got some Apple Crumble thing-but it's only because brunch (as in eggs and pancakes) wasn't offered till 11 am. We then showed them around Temple Bar, and some of Dame street before making our way to the Milkshake Bar. So many delicious milkshakes.

We then walked around Trinity, made our way up Grafton Street, walked through St. Stephen's Green and then the Green Shopping Center, and then even made our way down the Liffey quite a ways, and showed them the Harp Bridge (which probably has a real name, but I don't know it off the top of my head ). We walked so far today, but it was fun just showing them our cute little city.

This weekend really wasn't about showing them the city, because there really isn't anything spectacular about the city to see, but they enjoyed seeing some sights. It was just so nice to be with friends and sharing so many laughs.

Saturday night we went out and a fabulous time at dinner, having far too many laughs and making a lot of people in the restaurant stare at us I am sure, but it was so nice. We then set up camp in the living room, watched a great movie, and Skyped some friends back home-too funny!

We then woke up far too early again on Sunday and made our way back to Grafton Street and ate breakfast at a great place we never knew about called Bewley's. We got our pancakes, and hot cocoa, and everything was more funny by the fact that I lost my voice and my laugh was priceless!

We lost track of time though and before we knew it, it was time to bring Tori and Mitch back to the bustop. We said our goodbyes and made sure they made it safely into their seats. We knew this would only be a short goodbye though because we will be heading to Wales in just two weeks, to go visit them!

All in all it was a wonderful weekend with great friends! I wish it wasn't over so soon!!!

North Day Two: Ballintoy Harbor, Rope Bridge, Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle

There is nothing better than starting off a morning by walking through a small little town and making your way into the harbor. A harbor that has these gorgeous hills throughout it that you can climb on and run around on. Walking down to this harbor and walking around it was so beautiful. OH! did I mention that Game of Thrones films here!
 Yes I think that made it that much better in this harbor. It was just so beautiful to be out on a such a clear day climbing around in a harbor with good friends.

We then made our way back to the bus and headed to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. The trail leading along the coast line was breathtaking and there were some fabulous views.

Then we started making our way down the never-ending steps to the rope bridge. This bridge although made very well is still 70 feet from the water, and terrifying for anyone scared of heights.
I still don't know how I made it across the bridge, but I did, and the views from the little island on the other side were almost worth the fear.

I thought going over the first time was the hard part but going back was much worse, we won't get into that though. After following the path back, and getting back to the bus we all headed to a cute little pub for lunch.

We then headed to the Giant's Causeway. The causeway is made up of thousands of rock columns that were formed from a volcanic eruption. This was a beautiful place, and one I would really like to return to. The way the water just slowly laps up onto the rocks, with the mountains behind us, it was yet again another breathtaking sight to behold.

Before long it was time to get on the bus again, and make one last stop, this time to Dunluce Castle. Our wonderful leader Lily had set up a tour, and we got to hear some great old stories about the history of the Castle. How many times it changed hands, forbidden love, the ghost, the extravagant parties, and even how a stove fell into the ocean. Again there were some fabulous views from this castle, and there is something too fun about running around an abandoned castle with friends.

Soon enough we were back on the bus and headed back to the Republic. It was a fabulous weekend, and I couldn't have had a better time. I wish I had gotten to see more and there was more time, but who knows, maybe I will go back.

*disclaimer: I am so sorry for my lack of enthusiasm in these posts, next post is sure to have more zazz!*

North Day One: Political Taxi Tour and Titanic Museum

The second school trip, and this time we were headed to Northern Ireland. We took off at 8:15 in the morning on Friday and made our way up to Northern Ireland, stopping once for a break and then arriving in Belfast. We were being driven by our favorite coach driver Frankie, and being led by Lily and Adam.

Our first event was a Political Taxi Tour in Belfast. Everyone split up into groups and we all got put into these old style cabs.
The cabbies gave us some background information on the History of Belfast with the uprisings, the peace walls, and the bombings that had happened. As well as some of the history behind the Catholic versus Protestants. We stopped in different neighborhoods and learned about the communities that lived in each along with the murals painted on the apartment complexes.

We then visited one of the many peace walls in the city. This one was about forty-five feet high, and had so many peace messages posted on it. After the cabbies gave us some more information on the walls and then gave us time to take pictures, and write our own messages of peace.

After finishing up the taxi tour we had a short break at a really cool indoor outdoor mall, and then made our way to the Titanic Museum.

This museum was really cool, it was interactive for all ages, and just really enjoyable to walk through and learn about how the ship was built. Some crazy workers built that ship and Belfast is still very proud of it, and how it was fine when it left the city.

"Standing on a boat"

After walking around inside the museum we went outside to where the ship was actually built, and got to see the harbor front. We were able to look over at Titanic Studios were pieces of Game of Thrones was filmed.

Titanic Studios

It was a fabulous afternoon, and before we knew it, it was time to go back to the bus and make our way to Ballintoy. 

Ballintoy is another very small town in Ireland (similar to Doolin in the west, but even smaller) We all stayed in a very cute little hostel where they made us a great dinner and made us all feel like we were at camp. After dinner most of the group made our way to the pubs. In Ballintoy there are two pubs, so most people ended up in one rather than the other. It was so nice just to hang out with everyone, talk, relax, and have a drink.

Majority of everyone made it an early night in preparation for an early morning Saturday and much more to do in the North.