‘It’ll be grand’: Studying Abroad in Ireland’s capital city

Day Four

I got to play Gaelic Football again yesterday.  I love playing football because it reminds me of playing soccer (I love soccer!).  After that Steph and I went to go get gelato because it was so hot out. That night, a group of us went to Howl at the Moon which is the usual Wednesday night thing. It was a fun night of friendship and dancing!

Day Five

The movie, The Fault in Our Stars, came out yesterday in Ireland so Steph, Gwen and I went to see it.  The book by John Green was so good that we couldn’t wait to see it.  The movie held up to my expectations.  It was so good but I, as well as the rest of the people in the theater, cried a lot!

Day Six

Yesterday was a nice day to relax and catch up on rest.  Steph and I were supposed to go to Belfast to visit our friend for the weekend but we both weren’t feeling good so we cancelled.  Instead we hung out around the house and had a good evening!

Day Seven

Yesterday I got to go to the zoo with Colum and Gwen! I was so excited because they have giraffes there and I got to go see them as well as the rest of the animals. Ali and Courtney from the last group came back to Dublin later on for a night before going back to the states.  We became really good friends so I was happy to see them again. We celebrated with Bunsen and then went out with a group of people from the house.  It was a lot of fun!

Day Eight

Over the weekend I went back to Galway so that I could get a bus from there to the Cliffs of Moher. I felt really sick on the bus ride there.  But after all it took to get to the cliffs, seeing them was worth it! I’m glad I got to experience the view from the cliffs; it really is something that you have to see when visiting Ireland!

Livin’ it up in Dublin: A student perspective on Ireland’s capital city

Day 14:

Friday!!  It is finally the weekend!  We decided to go to The Porter House because they have 2 for 1 Daiquiri’s on Fridays. They were sooo good! But, get there early because there isn’t a lot of seating.  I was hungry so I asked if a couple people wanted to go to credo with me to get gluten free pizza.  I ended up getting pizza and a burger at Bunsen.  Those are literally the best burgers EVERRRR!!! I have never had a burger that fresh, it was amazing! I want to go there everyday.  So I ended up buying two meals but I decided to save the pizza for tomorrow.

Day 15:

Today, we went to The Cliffs of Moher they were completely beautiful! The tour that we went on was called the paddy wagon; we went to about four different places throughout the tour.  I did not like the tour very much because I felt very rushed.  We went to so many places and we could only stay for about ten minutes! It was awful!!! But seeing he Cliffs of Moher was worth the rush.  They were so beautiful it didn’t even seem real!!!

Day 16:

Shopping!! Sunday afternoons are always lazy days, but we made it fun.  We decided to walk around and go shopping which was really fun, we went to all the stores that we usually wouldn’t have time to go in, and we walked all around the city.  It was a blast!

Day 17:

Maura’s had a race today; we went to go support at the finish line.  We underestimated the amount of people that were going to be there, so it took us a while to actually find her, but we did eventually.  She ran for the Special Olympics in Ireland, and I think she did a great job! After Maura’s race we decided to go to the movies, but we ended up being a little late so we did not go in.  Instead, we tried a gluten free fish and chips restaurant.  It was very good for being gluten free and I was very happy about how accommodating they are with Gluten allergies.  I wanted to eat fish and chips at least once while I was here and I am very happy, that I did.

Day 18:

Tuesdays are usually very uneventful days.  It was pouring so we decided to stay in and watch movies. After dinner, some of the students went to a musical pub-crawl for their culture class, when they got home they decided to go out again to Dicey’s.  A couple of us decided to just stay behind and have a relaxing day.   Later on in the night we wanted to get some fresh air so we decided to grab food.  They bought pizza from Pizza Hut (and got an AMAZING deal) and I bought some bacon and gluten free bread in order to make a BLT. It was delicious!!

Day 19:

Wednesday night we went to howl at the moon, it seems to be our tradition now.  We always reserve a table and it loads of fun, drinks are relatively cheap and it is just a good time all around.  We got there early because if it is before 9 you have free admission, but the time went by very quickly.  After a while we down to the lower level where the dancing was and had fun dancing the night away.

Day 20:

I didn’t do much today, after work I went home and cleaned.  Living with so many people it is hard to find time to get organized and clean, so I took a day where I did laundry and organized my room.  The other students learned how to play hurling, which sounded, really interesting and fun.  They seem to have a blast! I was upset I couldn’t make it but I didn’t get a lot of much needed organizing done.

Day 21:

On Friday all of the ACD students went on a hike to Bray.   This was really fun, because the view was breath taking.  I suggest if anyone has the chance to go on a hike to Bray defiantly take it.  The only thing is that it is defiantly a hike; it is not an easy stroll by any means.  So just be prepared.  But once you make it to the top the air is so clean and the view literally is like a scene in a movie.

Day 22:

We got up really early on Saturday in order to visit Galway.  It was a wonderful time; we did a lot of shopping at cute little shops.  The only bad thing about Galway was the weather; it went from pouring to sunny, to cold, to pouring again.  But other than that it was perfect.  We had lunch at a restaurant call The Kings Head it was very good and the plates that they served the food on was really cool.  The only thing that I didn’t like about my food was the capers’ that they put on my salmon; those were gross but other then that the food was very fresh and excellent.  Later we stopped by a local bakery that had gluten free pastries, it was so amazing! We sat outside for a little and had an amazing view but then it started raining again.  Galway is a beautiful place and I suggest that if you are in Ireland to visit Galway at least once.

Day 23:

On Sunday our plans changed multiple times.  We tried to go to Waterford but it just didn’t seem to work out.  Instead we ended up just going shopping and walking around Dublin all day.  I know it always seems like we are shopping.  There are a lot of really interesting shops in Dublin.  BUT, it is more expensive then the U.S. so you will be surprised about how much things actually cost.

Livin’ it up in Dublin: A student perspective on Ireland’s capital city

Day 9:

First full weekend started off with a wonderful tour to the Wicklow Mountains.  This tour was probably the most amazing tour I have ever been on, it was very educational and the sights were breathtaking.  At first I was very concerned about the tour, because it appeared to be solely a bus tour, but as we got further into the day, it was clear that it was so much more.  Our first stop was the “p.s. I love you” which is very beautiful.   Then we stopped at a couple other places are more beautiful then the next.  The tour of Wicklow mountain was worth it, and I suggest anyone if they like countryside and want to see Irelands to take this tour.

Day 10:

Sundays, are always lazy, this Sunday was no different.  We got to sleep in for the first time, which was so nice.  When we finally awoke, we went to the Porter House for lunch.  It was so good, they had gluten free bread that tasted so good, it was a very filling meal and delicious!  Later that night we went to the ComedyCrunch again, it was even better then last week, just make sure you get there at 815 because it fills up quickly.

Day 11:

If you are interested in poetry and the spoken word, I would suggest going to the Monday Night Echo at the Independent Bar.  It is a very interesting place, it is suppose to start 8 but it usually starts at 815 (Irish time).  Get there early because the seats fill up quickly. There are a variety of people so you have to keep an open mind.  It defiantly is worth attending because it was full of locals and it was very authentic.  If you are not already interested in poetry and the spoken word you might find it odd, and not appreciate the quality of the performances.  Also, at the end they have an open mic, which is pretty cool too.

Day 12:

After work today we decided to go to Malahide Castle and Gardens.  We took the bus there, which wasn’t bad, but we did realize that the dart would have been a lot quicker, and their prices are the same.  Malahide Castle was wonderful, but you do not need to pay for the tour, you will feel like you wasted money if you do.  The castle is located on a park, so a lot of people are walking their dogs, or chilling on the grass.  But the outside of the castle was beautiful, so of course we had to take picture- specifically princess pictures!  After our mini-photo shoot we decided to walk around and see what was there.  We found this awesome playground that we had to try out. The slide was huge! Needless to say we had a brilliant time.

Day 13:

After a long day yesterday, it was time to relax.  We didn’t do anything really but watch movies and hang out with each other.  We had to raid the movies that were already in the house because our Wifi is broken.  We found a 24 hour Starbucks with WiFi really near the house so problem solved!

American College Dublin. A Graduate Intern’s Perspective: Maura Haverty

Hello everyone!  My name is Maura Haverty and I am working as Colum Cronin’s intern this summer at American College Dublin! I previously attended ACD during the Summer program of 2009 and I am currently a Graduate student at University College Dublin, obtaining my masters degree in Irish Studies.

After a crazy, hectic weekend of airport pickups and delayed flights, many members of the Summer 2014 American College Dublin Study Abroad group have arrived! It is hard to put into words what it is like to be on the other end of this amazing journey this time around. In 2009, I remember arriving in Dublin as a shy twenty year old who had never traveled on her own before, let alone in a foreign country. Now, as a 25 year old graduate student that has been living in Dublin for a year, the old feelings of excitement are beginning to resurface. As Colum Cronin’s intern this summer, I get to relive my amazing ACD experience through the eyes of this study abroad group. As an intern, I get to show this them how truly amazing the city of Dublin is and I would not want it any other way. I can only hope that this group of young adults falls in love with Dublin like I have. Most importantly, I want them to get the experience of a lifetime and enjoy every moment of their Dublin journey.

That being said, the first weekend of arrivals was a bit hectic. Many flights coming from the U.S were delayed or canceled and many students arrived a day or two late. However, once they arrived, excitement outweighed fatigue. On Saturday, the day when the majority of the students arrived, Colum and I brought the students on a hike from Dalkey to Killiney Hill. A gorgeous day in Dublin, the views that the student’s experienced were some of the best that Dublin has to offer. On Sunday, when the last of the student arrived, Colum and I held orientation for them and explained the ins and outs of the college and of Dublin city life. To end the weekend, I brought the students to a free comedy show on Sunday night which is held in the Stag’s Head pub in city centre. The Comedy Crunch as it’s called, is a free comedy show that is held every Sunday and Monday night and showcases Ireland’s newest up and coming comedians. Rated number one on Trip Advisor as a must-see, many of the students enjoyed themselves and had some good laughs. It was a busy weekend overall but I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks and I am so grateful for this opportunity. So stay tuned because there is much more to come!

-Maura Haverty

Livin’ it up in Dublin: A student perspective on Ireland’s capital city

Summer 2014

This year I have an amazing opportunity to study in Dublin, Ireland at the American College Dublin. For the next four weeks I will be living and experiencing Dublin like it is my home.  Ireland so far has not been what I expected; it has been so much more.  These are just summaries of my day-to-day adventures, so that you can see an inside look at what Ireland is like from an outside perspective.

Day 1: Getting to Ireland

Flying can be difficult sometimes, there is no getting past it- delays and cancelations are bound to happen.  I suggest you plan an extra day of travel time just in you’re your flight gets canceled or delayed.  My flight to Ireland was canceled so I had to wait till the next day to fly out.  Most flights are at night because of the time difference.  Just make sure the receptionist helps you because it is their responsibility to find you a new flight with the least hassle to you. But, when I finally landed in Dublin airport it was defiantly worth the wait.

Day 2: We made it, now lets go hiking!

Since my original flight was canceled, I got to Ireland a day later then I planed, but it was a beautiful day.  So, instead of sleeping away jet lag, I decided to go on a hike with the rest of the ACD crew.   It was a great decision.  We first took a train to Dalkey, which is probably the most beautiful village I have ever seen (and also my future home J).  We walked through Dalkey, taking lots of pictures of course, in order to get to Killiney Hill.  Killiney Hill is defiantly a climb, but it is completely worth it!  The view is outstanding! And apparently if you climb to the top of “Killiney wishing stone” your wish comes true, so of course I had too!

Day 3: Orientation and ComedyCrunch

Orientation was today; it was very interesting and fun.  We walked to the school (it wasn’t far at all).  Colum (Dean of Students) showed us around, he told us a little bit about the school and showed where everything was.  After our tour he took us around the city, we walked for a bit, but of course, we ended up on Grafton Street.  For those who do not know Grafton has tons of shops and restaurants, it is such a fun street that should defiantly be visited.  After some much needed shopping we went to Nando’s for lunch.  It was excellent the chicken was so great! I defiantly suggest going there, if you have a chance.  Later that night we attended the ComedyCrunch, which was an amazing experience that I suggest anyone to go to! But make sure you get there early the seats fill up quick.

Day 4: First day of ACD and visiting Trinity library

The first day actually attending ACD, I got lost.  Make sure you know where a place is especially in another country before you leave the house.  DO NOT try to go off memory double check, because I was about thirty minutes late because I took a wrong turn.  Other then that mishaps in the morning, the first day went great.  We stopped early because we had a meeting about safety.  Some police officers came in to talk to us about what is okay and what is not okay in Ireland. The things that they said are really logical and need to be kept in mind especially when in another country.  Other countries have different rules, so abiding by those rules is vital or you could get in a lot of trouble.  The thing that surprised me the most is how strict Ireland is with weapons, pepper spray, which is common in the United States for girls to carry, is completely illegal here. Also, the common misconception about being able to drink on the streets is wrong; it is not legal to do that here like people usually believe.  After this meeting we stopped by trinity library on the way back to our house. The Trinity library is so beautiful and huge, if you love books as much as I do, you defiantly need to stop by, it is also super affordable!

American College Dublin. An Intern’s Perspective: Dave Shirer

Monday, 24 June 2013

Out and About

For “class” on Friday, a group from ACD went south to Bray to climb Bray Head. The Dart ride itself was great. The rail goes right along the coast, and the views are amazing. We were accompanied by a group of school children on the Dart for part of the trip, and it was funny to watch them interact. Kids are kids, and silly no matter where they’re from. Bray is a neat little town and Rory told us some of the history of Bray and how it became a hot spot for ocean bathing in the 1860’s. Then we began out assent up Bray Head. It was somewhat of a strenuous hike to the top, but an absolutely stunning view of the sea and the town of Bray below. Hiking down was such a welcomed treat after the hike up. It was a perfect day, sun shining, and I got to meet some of the American students who are studying at ACD this month.

Saturday, some of us went north to Howth for another hike. It was great to see both areas that surround Dublin to the north and south (that are both easily accessible by the Dart). The hike around Howth was much less strenuous, but just as great a view. The trail runs along a ridge at the top of some cliffs directly over the sea, so it was treacherous at times (with a few signs warning of dangerous cliffs). After the hike we headed to Malahide for lunch, proper fish & chips by the sea, and visited Malahide Castle. A fairly small castle, but very well maintained with amazing grounds and gardens.

Friday was also national music day in Ireland and I was fortunate enough to claim a ticket to a very special event held in Christ Church Cathedral. It was quite an impressive venue for some interesting music: singer/songwriter Richie Egan (frontman of Irish electronic-rock band Jape), White Collar Boy (a two-man electronic-garage group), and Come On Live Long (electronic-rock) who were probably my favorite of the night.

If you enjoy live music, Dublin is the place to be. There is usually someone playing in any pub you walk into, and there are a number of street performers along Grafton Street, Henry Street, and throughout the Temple Bar area.

American College Dublin. Student Blog: Lindsay Doran

Monday, 2 July 2012

Last week was yet another busy week of my internship at American College Dublin. The week started with with an amazing dinner with Marsha Glines, her two friends, Mary Kirk, and Colum. We went to a very delicious restaurant called Matt the Thresher which is known for its fresh seafood. The dinner started a bit rocky when we found out that most of the seafood offered on the menu was no longer in stock due to a busy weekend for the restaurant. After deciding on a few different dishes and all being told they were out, our table laughed with amusement. Everyone eventually chose a dish that was available and made a mental note to not go to fresh seafood restaurants on Monday considering there is a strong possibility that many of their main dishes would be out. After getting our orders taken care of, we enjoyed each others’ company while discussing a variety of topics. Throughout dinner I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was to be in such good company with many people that I had developed relationships and friendships with. Marsha: a four year and still going relationship from my undergraduate career at university in Florida. She is and I strongly believe someone I will always keep in touch with for the rest of my life. She is a smart, genuine, funny and caring person who I have always felt more than comfortable talking to and truthfully love spending time with. Colum: In one short year, as I mentioned in my earlier blogs has become more than just an advisor, he is my friend. I constantly joke with him that he is also my free therapist. He is an amazing listener and always gives me great advice and allows be to look at a situation from different perspectives. He knows how to keep me calm and rationalize my thoughts when I dramatically think my world is in shambles. Mary Kirk: I have worked with Mary Kirk for almost two months now, and she always seems to keep me laughing. Her humor and friendly personality are two of her many amazing personality traits. Mary Kirk is also another very caring individual. I had mentioned at dinner that I was beginning to get nervous about not finding a job when I get back to Ireland before my school classes start in the fall. The next morning, I wake up to a facebook inbox from Mary Kirk with a few different websites highlighting jobs in Dublin. I couldn’t help but think how sweet and thoughtful that was for her to take the time and send me on links. It is meeting amazing people like this that makes my experience so much more enjoyable and meaningful. It was also a great pleasure to spend time with Marsha’s friends as well. They are two very inspiring women who are in the process of building a center for children and families with autism. Coming from a strong background and passion to help people myself, it is nice to see others doing such great things.

On Wednesday Marsha, her two friends and I decided to take the Dart into Howth, which is another small fishery town on the outskirts of Dublin City Centre to get some fresh fish and chips. We really lucked out with the weather, which made walking around Howth that much more enjoyable. Although both Marsha and I have been to Howth before, it was her two friends first time ever visiting. I was delighted to hear that they loved the area and thought the lunch we had was delicious.

My weekend ended on a great note with a casual interview at one of my favorite pubs in town called Four Dame Lane. Over the course of the month and a half I have lived in Dublin this summer, I managed to become friendly with Four Dame Lanes manager and joking asked a few weeks back if they ever had any job openings I was in desperate need of a job starting in August. Surprisingly, on Friday night the manager asked me if I was still in need of a job and if so to come back the following evening anytime after 6pm to have an interview, no resume needed. After a brief conversation with him Saturday night he told me that the job was mine, and we wanted to me start this Friday at 9pm. I couldn’t be more pleased how everything seems to be turning out and falling into place for me. Just a few days prior I was paranoid that I wasn’t going to be able to find anything and now I am the newest employee of Four Dame Lane. Once again, its moments and opportunities like these that make me firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and things will always fall into place the way you want them to. Although I am nervous about my new job, I am excited to have this experience and share it with my readers as well. Until next week!

American College Dublin. Student Blog: Lindsay Doran

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Last Wednesday, June 6th the Olympic Torch was taken on a tour of Dublin involving a number of Ireland’s recognizable Olympic medal winners, including Wayne McCullough, Michael Carruth and Ronnie Delaney. Being an outsider it seems that having the torch relay throughout Ireland is very significant and exciting because of how close Ireland is to London, where this year’s Olympic Games will take place.  It was even more exciting that the Olympic Torch passed right in front of American College Dublin. At around noon Colum, a few other colleagues, and the study abroad students met outside ACD to see the lighting of the torch. Although Colum mentioned that this was an exciting moment for Ireland, I wasn’t expecting to see the large amount of crowds outlining Merrion Square. Everyone was in such high spirits cheering and clapping as the torch was being carried down the street. The man who was holding the torch was Ronnie Delany he was very friendly and allowed people to come up take pictures with him, as well as touch the famous Olympic torch.

This weekend was the kick off to the 2012 European Football Championship, which is commonly referred to as Euro 2012 with 16 nations all competing to win. Although the games began on Friday, it wasn’t until Sunday night when Ireland would be playing their fist match against Croatia. This match was especially important to Ireland because it was the first time in 25 years that Ireland was qualified to play in the Euro matches. While there was no doubt that Dublin City Centre was expected to crowded with fans, my friends who I had made last year basically demanded that I take the DART to Howth to meet them at their Soccer Club/Pub to watch the game in a “proper Irish atmosphere, far away from tourist.” Even though the match did not start until 7:30, my friends made it clear that I should meet them in Howth about an hour earlier so we were sure to have good seats to watch from. My friend Ciarian met me as I got off at Howth-Junction DART station, and directed me towards his team club called Naomh Barrog GAA Club. This local club consists of two different types of members. You are either a “social member” which means you pay a certain fee to drink there and have free admittance to gigs that occur throughout the year. The other types of members are considered full members which means you play on an intramural team of hurling or football. As we entered the club I felt like we were celebrating St. Paddy’s Day. The club house was packed with all local Irish people (no tourists, well besides me) dressed in their most authentic and festive Irish attire. Everyone was wearing green, some had their face painted, and others were wearing the Irish flag as a cape. It was clear that the Irish were ready to support their team proudly! Throughout the game the clubhouse would burst out in two chants, the first one was “you will never beat the Irishhhh, you will never beat the Irishhhh” and the second was “come on you boys in green” (I was told its usually boys in blue because of the Dublin hurling team at Croke stadium, but it was appropriate to change up the color for the occasion).  I knew very little about the Euro prior to the game, but with the help of my two good friends Ciarian and Stix, as well as a club house full of Irish people I quickly learned and got into the game. My friend explained to me while laughing that Ireland is typically “considered the underdog in most sports” so even if they get one goal it will be a huge deal. And what do you know, GOAL!!!! The club house went crazy! We all jumped up in excitement, some people got on the tables, others were dancing around and hugging each other. Although Croatia ended up beating Ireland by 2, I was surprised to see the lack of sore losers in the club house after the lost. I eventually made my way back in to town, where I thought most pubs would probably be closing or empty. I was wrong. Ireland might have lost, but the party was still going on! I am once again reminded why I love this country so much, the Irish mentality is truly unique and amazing. Everyone is just out to have a good time! Hope you all are enjoying my blog, please keep reading to hear more about my summer experiences in Dublin!

American College Dublin. Student Blog: Lindsay Doran

Monday, 28 May 2012

Since the students arrival two weeks ago, Colum and I had planned a few field trips and activities to do with the group of students. The first field trip we planned was the first weekend the arrived, which was taking the DART to Dun Laoghaire for a walking adventure. For those of you who don’t know the DART stands for Dublin Area Rapid Transit, it is a light rail network operating in Dublin and is one of the most common uses of transportation in the city. For someone who did not grow up in a city like me, this was a very exciting first time city transportation experience for me last year. Being more familiar with it now, it was interesting to see what the other students thought. Most students who lived near a city were able to relate this type of transportation, while for others it was another first time experience for them. The day was a fairly mild day, with some sun shining through highlighting the beauty of the numerous seaside town and villages dotted along the way. Once we got off our walking journey began. Colum toured us through pointing our various landmarks. As we continued to walk we passed what is known as the “40 foot” which is where Irish people going swimming. Myself and the other students were shocked when we saw a good amount of people going in for a dip on a slightly overcast, and to us chilly day in Dublin, but for Colum this was nothing out of the ordinary.  Colum had also pointed out to us a magpie, which is a bird that is found all over the country. What’s unique and comical to us (Americans) is that when you see one you are supposed to salute it, in efforts to avoid off bad luck. After a few hours of walking we made it into this next town over and hopped back onto the DART to head home. In my opinion DART trips are always a lot of fun because you can make a day out of it, and once you have used the DART once it’s easy and convenient to use on your own when you want to explore other areas outside Dublin City Centre.

Over the last week the weather in Dublin, Ireland has been magnificent, and if you ask any Irish person they would typically respond by saying “enjoy it because it’s the best it is going to get!” In order to fully take advantage of the great weather we planned a trip to a nearby park, where Colum and his colleague Damien taught the students how to play Gaelic Football. Gaelic football is very different from American Football, it consists of a mixture between soccer, rugby, and basketball. Prior to going to the park we went over the rules and guidelines, as well as provided them with a some brief YouTube clips on how the game is actually played. I was happy to see that most of the students had a competitive edge to them and were eager to get out on to the field. Kudos to Colum and Damien for coaching the students and running them through a few drills before starting the actual game. The group of students split in half and it was game on! For next 40 minutes the students competitively played against one another by throwing, kicking, catching, and running with the ball. While there is always a winner and loser when it comes to competitive sports, it was clear by the end of the match that everyone had a really good time playing, and some students even asked when they were going to learn another one of Irelands other sports.

As the week continued the sun shined on and got warmer and warmer. Colum and I spent our Sunday in Bray hiking to the top of the hill to look over the water. In efforts to be adventurous we decided to take a different route down the mountain. Little did we know our exploratory mind set led us down a path of uncertainty. We ended up getting lost and hiking up and down the mountain for 3 and a half hours. Despite the sore feet and exhaustion we enjoyed the hike in its entirety. By the time we made our way down the mountain we had missed lunch and couldn’t be more ready for a big dinner. Our first attempted to eat at a local restaurant in Bray failed when the waitress informed us that they were not taking anymore order temporarily because the kitchen was very busy and overloaded with food orders. Confused and starved at this point, Colum said we have 5 minutes to take the next DART into Dubin, we had to make a run for it. It was at this point that I decided I would never go sprinting in moccasins shoes again. Just a few feet away from the station, running as fast as I could, and dodging the people in front of me, I lost my balance and fell flat on my face. As I laid there on the ground for a minute Colum looked back to make sure I was okay, shaking it off as quickly as I could we made it to the dart station before it departed back to Dublin. If my body wasn’t going to be sore enough the next morning from the 3 hours of hiking, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to be waking up feeling achy and sore after a fall like that. I am excited to see what the next week brings! Thank you for reading and keep following along to find out! If you have any questions or comments regarding my blog please do not hesitate to contact me at ldoran@amcd.ie