So today was the day I finally arrived in Ireland! I had a 22 hour layover in Philadelphia and almost had to sleep in the airport but I made it. And let me tell you it is beautiful. I’ve really never seen anything like it, which is kind of a problem when my professors are […]
Northern Ireland appears more British than Britain proper. There are hundreds of Union Jacks, flags of Orange and those of Ulster loyalist terrorist organizations. In response to my peer Alison’s remark that the Union Jacks seemed out of place, our driver responded vehemently “you’re damn right.” Although it is part of Ireland, Northern Ireland is […]
Ireland is a land I have always dreamed of visiting. I have dreamed up this image in my head ever since I was young. Of course this was something I had based off of movies I’d seen. I had no real idea of what it would feel or look like through my own eyes. So […]
YEAH WE’RE HERE. WE’RE ACTUALLY HERE. But what makes this here different than that here? Geography. History. Landscape. Landscape is SO much more than scenery. Previous to embarking on this trip, my advisor described the walls of Armagh. She raised her hands in gesture during her recollection. The vivid retelling lead me to […]
Off the rugby field is a sacred well of St. Brigid, patron saint of dairy and the mentally infirm. The women of Armagh Project 2012 found the spring last year, and today I returned to leave an offering of Wexford Cheddar and give thanks for the opportunity of this amazing journey. As I crossed the […]
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Actually, most of us had no idea what time it actually was. Somewhere between 2:30 pm and four in the morning, depending on the time zone. And yet, I doubt this is the real reason that our first two days walking the streets […]
Well, here I am. In Ireland. I don’t have my bags, which means I don’t have more than two changes of clothes, rainwear, or hygiene supplies, but, you know, I am here. The main quality that I feel most people would note upon their arrival is the living history in the air. It’s almost trite […]
We’re excited to kick off our first weekend in Armagh with a reading of Sean O’Casey’s Shadow of a Gunman. All of our students – journalists, playwrights and creative writers – are participating as we gather in the hostel lounge at 7p on Saturday to read the play out loud and discuss it after. If […]
I can’t believe it is already time to start packing for a Northern Ireland summer again! I looked back to our 2012 blog and realized I was doing the exact same thing at the exact same time last year – worrying about what shoes to bring and if my suitcase was big enough. This year, […]
The staff is actively planning our month-long stay in Armagh Northern Ireland during the month of July 2013. New additions this year include overnight stays in Belfast and Dublin, where students will meet and study with local writers as well as have time visit these two very different cities. You can find information about our […]
