Miles with Margaret

  Today I went to volunteer at an elderly activity center based in Dungarvan, for my graduation requirements. Most of our volunteering was having conversations with the elderly folks around us. After making my rounds and introducing myself, I sat down next to Richard, a sweet old man, eager to chat. After talking a bit, he whipped a book out of his bag titled To The Beat of a Different Drum , a poetry collection written by him. He let me have a look, I read the back cover and the acknowledgments. I asked him if I could crack open the book, eager to explore the contents.  He took the book from me and opened it, and began showing me his favorite poems. All of these poems were about Dungarvan, the pubs, Abbeyside, the locals, and all of the best parts of Dungarvan. Many of them were "depressing but real" as he said, some about heartbreak, some about death. I recall one was about the only friend in the world being a pint of beer. Although that sounds illy, it was some of the best...

On Easter Sunday, when I was in Dublin with my Mom, and my brother, we attended mass at St. Theresa's. It was a beautiful mass, a breathtaking church, an angelic choir, and a perfect way to celebrate Easter together. After mass, we walked around the church for a bit, observing the many statues and areas it held. As I walked past some pews, I noticed a sign that read "The first thirteen Sisters of Mercy are buried in the crypt of this church." I got super excited, and felt more connected to my normal life back at hone, where I attend Mercyhurst University.  Mercyhurst University is known for being founded by some of the Sisters of Mercy, and they are a big part of the history and everyday life at school. I find the historical aspect of it super interesting, I guess you could say that I am "digging" like Heaney, reflecting on the past and the power of reflective looking. Even my boyfriend Nick thought that the nuns were the mascot of Mercyhurst, silly I know. It i...

This past weekend, me and my friend Paige made an impulsive decision to go cycling on the Waterford Greenway. Note: if you have not been there, I 100000% recommend, it was breathtaking. This is my second time traveling down the greenway, however the first time I went straight on, not really stopping to look at much. This time me and Paige went down every little road we found, we saw some cows, we went up to cliffs, and we biked down to the beach where we jumped into the water! The beach was only 2 miles down the coast from Dungarvan, it is called Clonea Beach. There were also saunas located right on the beach to give tourists comfort after jumping in the freezing cold water. We however were not lucky enough to get a spot in the sauna, but the sun dried us off well enough. As my last week in Ireland begins, I am determined to soak in every moment, and live every experience that I can. The spontaneous decisions made on this trip are the best ones, like cycling adventures on a Friday afte...

 As you know, I have been traveling around quite a bit, barely in my townhouse! I journeyed to Dublin, and spent time with my brother Joe and my Mom there this past weekend. There was a restaurant/pub I had been wanting to try for quite a bit, but have not gotten the chance to. It is called The Merchant's Arch, and it is located right on O'Connell Street, on the River.  Before you even enter the beautiful restaurant, you are promoted up a winding staircase, with the most stunning mirrors, historical photos of Ireland, and windows. Then you are let into the restaurant, which is equally stunning, photos and frames plastered on the walls and ceilings.  The food was grand, the beers were good, and the vibes were immaculate, I personally recommend the cottage pie to any readers who decide to embark on this journey. Once you are done eating however, you must head downstairs! The pub is the coolest place to hang around, not as busy as the Temple area, but still packed and bustli...

I believe that St. Stephens green is one of the more hidden gems in Dublin. Online, it is normally not listed as one of the tourist spots to hit when in the area. Even in the group study abroad trip to Dublin, St. Stephens Green was not even mentioned. I suppose it is tucked away in a corner of the city, all the way down Grafton Street.  I believe this park is worth the visit! The greenery, and blossoming trees are stunning, especially in the Spring. There is a pond located in park as well, occupied by all different types of animals. I saw a black duck, which was a first for me! I saw swans as well, which I have only ever seen in Ireland, never anywhere else in my whole life! It reminded me of Yeats' poem "The Swans at Coole", which highlights how mysterious and beautiful swans are. One comic observation I had was how bendy their necks are, they are always twisting around! Anyhow, around every twist and turn of the paths in the Green, there is a new kind of plant, tree, a...

Uh oh, another foodie blog post! I promise this one is worth a read. On my recent trip to London, my aunt put together an itinerary for our entire trip. On Sunday before me and Gianna caught our flight back to Ireland, I noticed she had written in "Sunday Roast." I assumed it was something food related, yet I still was curious about the contents of a Sunday roast. She spared details until Sunday approached and we dined at this beautiful joint hidden in the countryside of Essex. I ordered the mixed roast and received lamb, beef, and turkey. However, you do not just get meat, you also get potatoes, an array of veggies, cheesy cauliflower, and dessert. When all these dishes were brought out to us me and Gianna's eyes got super big. The waitress immediately asked us where we were from, seemingly knowing we were foreign (wonder how!)  I would 10/10 recommend getting a Sunday roast to anyone who is journeying to London AND having a glass of wine. Yeats wrote a short poem about ...