Gaelic Football's New Biggest Fan:

Is me.

It shouldn't really come as a surprise. Or maybe it does, because I'm not really into sports, unless it has something to do with Notre Dame and American football. But that has all changed my friends. I am now a fan of Gaelic football. I've been converted.

How? You may ask. Or Why? You may also wonder.

It's all because of a little trip I took to Belfast last Wednesday to see NUI Maynooth play in the quarterfinals against University of Ulster Jordanstown.

It was glorious! Even if I didn't understand what was going on. That doesn't really matter does it?

(the team playing)

All I know is that it was great to watch...because the game was interesting of course. Just don't ask me how any of it works.

(Go team Go!)

And we won! Isn't that great? I don't know how exactly we won, because like I said, I don't get the sport at all, but we did!

(Goooooooooo Irish! Beeeaaatttttt Jordanstown!)

So now we are on to the semifinals. Here at Maynooth! Guess who will be there? Me, of course. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I am, after all, Gaelic football's new biggest fan.

(Oh hey team.)

You would be too if you where here. I don't see how you couldn't be. Just another reason why I love Ireland.

Cheers!!

Queen of the Cashel

So, as a part of our time here at Maynooth we take six trips with Roberta, our go to person here who was a St.Mary's student. Aside from the fact that they severely cramp the ability for us to travel on the weekends, they have been informative thus far. Last weekend we went to Newgrange, an abbey, a graveyard, and the Hill of Tara. Side note: all the following photos where taken by me.

Newgrange:

Newgrange was a place I was very much interested in seeing. Unfortunately it was also disappointing. Turns out that the lovely white stone exterior, while made with the original rocks, was actually put up in the '60s because the original exterior collapsed on itself a few hundred years after it was built. Oh, and they wont let you take pictures inside. I have problems with places like that. Moving on...

The Hill of Tara:

The Hill of Tara was breathtaking. Just countless green hills as far as the eye could see. You can feel the magic of the area that seems to permeate from the ground. It's easy to see how the ancients would have believed that this place was significant and why St.Patrick would come here as well to convert people.

The best part about today's trip, and the sole reason for writing this entry, was going to see the Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel was gorgeous and sits, well, on a rock. A rather large rock. It makes for some beautiful views. As you can see below.

This is the place where the High Kings of Ireland would be crowned, and more importantly, because somewhere down my family line I'm related to him, Brian Boru was crowned here. At this stone:

Which had a Roman High Cross on top. But the best part? Trying to hug the stone and fit your arms completely around it. It is said if you can that you will never get a toothache again and never have to go to the dentist. So of course, because I dislike dentists, I had to give it a shot.

I guess I'm going back to the dentist, because there was no way I was getting my arms all the way around that thing. But I was still happy, mainly just to be in Ireland.

Cheers!

Cooking for one.

So I've had success. In the cooking department. Yes, Colleen can cook. Surprise, surprise to some, to me not so much. I've always believed that I can cook it's just that I've never had to cook before. So being on my own, in a country that doesn't use the same measuring system as ours, I decided this would be the ideal time to experiment and see if it would work out for me. It did.

I follow this amazing blog called "The Pioneer Woman" and one component of her site is devoted to recipes that she posts that she loves to make. It's great because you can follow them easily with the step by step photos she puts up. So I decided to take a look and see if there were any that I would be able to do on my own with a limited budget. Turns out, it's possible. On Sunday night I made her "Chicken Scallopine" which was delicious, and also a miracle considering that the light in the kitchen only flashes light every 5-10 seconds, so I was cooking in the dark most of the time. I was so proud of myself! I made an amazing mushroom sauce that goes with it, that tasted so lemony and full of mushroom goodness. It's empowering to know that you can do what you thought you could. If that makes any sense.

So this week I'm on to other dishes: Cajun Chicken Pasta, from the Pioneer Woman's website, and chicken quesadillas.

Oh, and the very nice Irish repairman came today to fix the kitchen light. I almost hugged him I was so happy.