cailín broc : badger girl

Wednesday, we got to visit Dublin!

1. We were a bit early for our appointment with Eamonn O’Cuiv, so we had about an hour in the museum next door to the Dail. This first picture is of one of the “bog bodies,” so called because their mummification by bog.

We weren’t allowed to take pictures during the time we were in the legislative building. We did get to experience a lot, so I will try to run through what I can.

First, after the museum, we had lunch with Eamonn O’Cuiv and we got to talk with him about the ongoing relations on the island. After a week and a half in the north, it was an interesting change in perspective. He was very gracious in answering the questions that I’m sure every group of ambassadors has asked, which must have been hard to do after hearing them over and over.

Next we were given a tour. The building itself is as beautiful and full of history as Stormont is; and similar to our tour in the North, we got to sit in on parliamentary procedure for both houses.

After our time there, we met with the CEO of Foras na Gaelige (the organization created during the Good Friday agreement responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island, north and south). It is the counterpart to the Ulster-Scots Agency, where I had my placement. much like the Ulster-Scots offices in Ballymoney, where I had my first day of placement, they had a radio station where they did broadcasts in their language (though we didn’t get interviewed this time!).

Dublin Day was absolutely packed with things to do! We didn’t really get much time in the city, which was a shame, but otherwise it went off alright. Plus, the drive home was beautiful. (2)

1. In the morning, we took a ferry from Strangford to Portaferry and drove up the coast a bit. We had a pit stop at the oldest pub in Ireland (est. 1611). It was a bit early, so I just had coffee :)

2. A large part of our day was taken up at the Somme Heritage Institute. It included some fascinating wartime propaganda for women. “Keep mum, she’s not so dumb!”

3. I wrote about Isabella Todd in my application so to see her in this museum was really exciting!

4. They had a replica of the trenches at the Somme Heritage Institute. Scary but interesting.

These are a few snapshots of Stormont, where we met Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, who are the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the Northern Irish legislative assembly. Please keep in mind that a Wikipedia page is not a full representation of any situation and thus the above links should be used as a barebones reference and not a comprehensive study. We didn’t really get to speak to either of them - more of a photo op, less of a meet and greet. It was a little disappointing but I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many people while here that I couldn’t feel too bad.

The building itself is absolutely beautiful. The paint seen on the ceiling above has never once been touched up since the building was built in the early 20th century. It was sealed through a special wax process which died with its creator, who never wrote it down. We also go to sit in on some parliamentary procedure but as photography is limited to the main hall, these were really the only pictures I could take.

(June 11)

Giants Causeway! So much fun was had. I took a ton of photos but I think these could be my favorite. (June 10th)

Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, Antrim, Northern Ireland. This was more for the view than for the actual bridge walk, at least for me. Amazing stuff. (June 10th)

Cushendun, a town owned by the national trust, and their goat mascot (Katie wanted to take him with us).

(June 10th)

According to legend/Tim, this Spanish chestnut tree grew from the corpse of a Spanish officer who washed up here after the defeat of the Spanish Armada. It was apparently common to keep acorns on one’s person at all times.

Before heading to the rope bridge on Sunday, we stopped in a little town for ice cream (sadly the name escapes me). It was, apparently, a Young Ambassador tradition.

(June 10th - a busy day. More to come in the next post!)

Sunset near the Lakeside Inn.

The Titanic Exhibit (or, as I like to call it, a museum on the history of Belfast with brief mentions of that famous ship built there).

1. Nobody ever remembers the Mauretania. Awww.

2. White Star Line, the Titanic’s shipping company.

3. What a first class room might look like.

4. They showed a film about the underwater discovery of the Titanic, and the floor was a screen showing the footage. Very cool.

(Saturday, June 9th)

Murals in Belfast. (June 9th)