For the Harry Potter fans out there this is where the Half Blood Prince scene was filmed. Specifically, the the scene of Dumbledore and Harry Potter looking for one of Lord Voldemort's Horecrux.
Location:Exchange Street Upper,Dublin,Ireland
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Day Five - Cliffs of Moher
We had a wonderful guide who sang us Irish songs. He also looked a lot like a good friend of mine back in Arizona. It had me doing double takes the entire day!
For the Harry Potter fans out there this is where the Half Blood Prince scene was filmed. Specifically, the the scene of Dumbledore and Harry Potter looking for one of Lord Voldemort's Horecrux.
For the Harry Potter fans out there this is where the Half Blood Prince scene was filmed. Specifically, the the scene of Dumbledore and Harry Potter looking for one of Lord Voldemort's Horecrux.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Day Four- A Day Out of Dublin
Today we made our way to two beautiful and historic locations in Ireland.
It started off very cloudy, foggy and rainy.
The first of these two sites was the Hill of Tara. The land was consider an entrance into the Otherworlds and therefore was very sacred land. As a result this was the seat of the kings during prehistoric and historic times.
The stone on the right is a phallic stone. In these times the king was not only married to his human wife but he was also married to the Earth Mother. The stone is symbol to represent that union.
Although the buildings themselves no longer remain you can see the indentations in the ground of where they once stood.
This was the one 'building' left at the site. It was where hostages were kept.
For lunch we found ourselves enjoying warm soup and hot tea on a farm near our next destination. I had a grand time going around and interacting with all the animals, most of them were very young.
Baby quail! Not like the ones we see in the western states, no adorable questions on the top of their heads but just as fluffy.
Two little puppies intent on chewing everything.
Lambs. Ireland is famous for their sheep and wool products as a result.
Some doves and bird humor.
Next stop New Grange in the Boyne Valley.
This is a tomb built by the Irish in Neolithic times (Stone Age). That was 5,000 years ago! This tomb is older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stone Henge. Amazing!
The engineering is so well thought out that the tomb is completely dry inside. No rain has touched the floor in 5,000years. Considering Ireland gets 3inches of rain a month that is truly mind blowing.
Imagine hauling those rocks when the wheel hadn't been invented yet. It is believed they brought them by river since they originate from the western coast of Ireland
That tri-spiral symbol is common in the art work on and within the tomb. No one knows exactly what it means.
Nearly all of the symbols that represent Ireland stem from the art found on/in this tomb.
No pictures were permitted inside the tomb sadly. It consisted of three small 'rooms' opening to the middle. Surprisingly a very small space inside.
The tomb never actually housed bodies. Left over ash, bines and teeth tell us that the bodies were cremated. We can only speculate what the tomb was truly used for.
The entrance of the tomb has boxed 'window' above it. As you make your way into the tomb you climb up a slight incline. Once you've reached the center that window is at foot level. On the day of the winter solstice the position of the sun lines up with this window and lights up the entire tomb. It's suppose to be a magical sight.
Imagine the time, engineer and physical labor that went into building this sight. It must have meant a great deal to those early Irish farmers.
It started off very cloudy, foggy and rainy.
The first of these two sites was the Hill of Tara. The land was consider an entrance into the Otherworlds and therefore was very sacred land. As a result this was the seat of the kings during prehistoric and historic times.
The stone on the right is a phallic stone. In these times the king was not only married to his human wife but he was also married to the Earth Mother. The stone is symbol to represent that union.
Although the buildings themselves no longer remain you can see the indentations in the ground of where they once stood.
This was the one 'building' left at the site. It was where hostages were kept.
For lunch we found ourselves enjoying warm soup and hot tea on a farm near our next destination. I had a grand time going around and interacting with all the animals, most of them were very young.
Baby quail! Not like the ones we see in the western states, no adorable questions on the top of their heads but just as fluffy.
Two little puppies intent on chewing everything.
Lambs. Ireland is famous for their sheep and wool products as a result.
Some doves and bird humor.
Next stop New Grange in the Boyne Valley.
This is a tomb built by the Irish in Neolithic times (Stone Age). That was 5,000 years ago! This tomb is older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stone Henge. Amazing!
The engineering is so well thought out that the tomb is completely dry inside. No rain has touched the floor in 5,000years. Considering Ireland gets 3inches of rain a month that is truly mind blowing.
Imagine hauling those rocks when the wheel hadn't been invented yet. It is believed they brought them by river since they originate from the western coast of Ireland
That tri-spiral symbol is common in the art work on and within the tomb. No one knows exactly what it means.
Nearly all of the symbols that represent Ireland stem from the art found on/in this tomb.
No pictures were permitted inside the tomb sadly. It consisted of three small 'rooms' opening to the middle. Surprisingly a very small space inside.
The tomb never actually housed bodies. Left over ash, bines and teeth tell us that the bodies were cremated. We can only speculate what the tomb was truly used for.
The entrance of the tomb has boxed 'window' above it. As you make your way into the tomb you climb up a slight incline. Once you've reached the center that window is at foot level. On the day of the winter solstice the position of the sun lines up with this window and lights up the entire tomb. It's suppose to be a magical sight.
Imagine the time, engineer and physical labor that went into building this sight. It must have meant a great deal to those early Irish farmers.
Day Three
Today I had my first adventure with taking public transportation in Dublin.
The busses and trains are so prevalent with such smartly thought out routes I can't imagine ever wanting a car in Dublin. The public transportation also comes so frequently and wait for a straggling passenger. A sight I've never seen in Denver ....
For the first time my curly hair blends in with the surround population. It makes me feel at home. My curls are also out of control with the humidity, they are the most beautiful they've ever been.
The busses and trains are so prevalent with such smartly thought out routes I can't imagine ever wanting a car in Dublin. The public transportation also comes so frequently and wait for a straggling passenger. A sight I've never seen in Denver ....
For the first time my curly hair blends in with the surround population. It makes me feel at home. My curls are also out of control with the humidity, they are the most beautiful they've ever been.
Location:Dublin, Ireland
Day Two
My mother and I started the day at this wonderful cafe called Avoca.
From there we took a sightseeing bus yesterday as a way to explore Dublin.
The guide was wonderful and the streets were narrow. I have no desire to ever drive in this city.
My favorite fact from the tour was the that the Duke of Wellington was Irish, a fact he was not proud of and kept well hidden. He once said "Being born in a stable doesn't make you a horse." Daniel O'Connell responded "It might not make you a horse but it certainly makes you an ass."
In the short time I've been here it is very apparent that Irish are very proud of their heritage. They are not loud and rude about it but there is an air about them that commands a level of respect.
I am absolutely, positively falling in love with this country and it's people.
From there we took a sightseeing bus yesterday as a way to explore Dublin.
The guide was wonderful and the streets were narrow. I have no desire to ever drive in this city.
My favorite fact from the tour was the that the Duke of Wellington was Irish, a fact he was not proud of and kept well hidden. He once said "Being born in a stable doesn't make you a horse." Daniel O'Connell responded "It might not make you a horse but it certainly makes you an ass."
In the short time I've been here it is very apparent that Irish are very proud of their heritage. They are not loud and rude about it but there is an air about them that commands a level of respect.
I am absolutely, positively falling in love with this country and it's people.
Location:Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Day One
Pulling into the airport the weather was absolutely beautiful. No clouds in the sky, it was all sunshine. The running joke with the locals is that sunny day, along with the day before it, was their summer.
So far I've noticed that people really interact with one another here. I hardly see people typing away on their cell phones.
There was one father in the airport with his small son who was one his phone. The son proceeded to slap his father in his rather enlarged beer belly. I found it rather humorous.
So far I've noticed that people really interact with one another here. I hardly see people typing away on their cell phones.
There was one father in the airport with his small son who was one his phone. The son proceeded to slap his father in his rather enlarged beer belly. I found it rather humorous.
Location:Dublin, Ireland
Monday, May 19, 2014
Present Day Irish History
It is very important to note that the island of Ireland is not one country. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is an independent country.
It wasn't until 1949 that the Irish Free State completely separated from Britain and became what they are today- the Republic of Ireland.
The Troubles. This was a period of time that largely affected Northern Ireland who had/has a slight Protestant majority with a Catholic minority.
Starting in 1967, being inspired by the African American rights movements in the United States, Catholics in Northern Ireland organized themselves into marches and demonstrations to protest their unequal treatment. The end goal was to obtain voting rights, more job opportunities and better housing. Protestant Unionist Orange-men counteracted this movement by marching themselves through Catholic neighborhoods as a way to show the dominant rule they had in the country. This only sparked a series of riots.
1969: Britain sent troops to Northern Ireland to contain the riots. However, the troops met resistance from the IRA (Irish Republican Army). The IRA fought against the British soldiers from 1970-1990.
Ultimately The Troubles claimed 3,000 lives.
1998: The Good Friday Peace Accord or the Belfast Agreement was put into place thus ending The Troubles.
Jim Lyons came to speak to my class (CU Denver Study Abroad Ireland) about The Troubles and the United States' role in helping resolving some of the conflict. This issue held a special place in former President Clinton's heart which is why he asked Jim Lyons to be part of the negotiations.
There are two main aspects to take away from Mr. Lyons presentation. First, the role of this board was to help facilitate a peaceful agreement between the countries. They also had the goal to help re-build the Irish economy. The focus here was on bringing in new businesses internationally and to build new businesses within Ireland. They wanted to create an environment where Irish, regardless of country and religion, could find work.
The Irish history is long, rich and deep. It is also incredibly complicated. I personally grew up with no understanding of the Irish history and I wish that was not the case. There is so much to learn from it.
*A lot of this information is credited to the Rick Steve's Ireland book.*
It wasn't until 1949 that the Irish Free State completely separated from Britain and became what they are today- the Republic of Ireland.
The Troubles. This was a period of time that largely affected Northern Ireland who had/has a slight Protestant majority with a Catholic minority.
Starting in 1967, being inspired by the African American rights movements in the United States, Catholics in Northern Ireland organized themselves into marches and demonstrations to protest their unequal treatment. The end goal was to obtain voting rights, more job opportunities and better housing. Protestant Unionist Orange-men counteracted this movement by marching themselves through Catholic neighborhoods as a way to show the dominant rule they had in the country. This only sparked a series of riots.
1969: Britain sent troops to Northern Ireland to contain the riots. However, the troops met resistance from the IRA (Irish Republican Army). The IRA fought against the British soldiers from 1970-1990.
Ultimately The Troubles claimed 3,000 lives.
1998: The Good Friday Peace Accord or the Belfast Agreement was put into place thus ending The Troubles.
Jim Lyons came to speak to my class (CU Denver Study Abroad Ireland) about The Troubles and the United States' role in helping resolving some of the conflict. This issue held a special place in former President Clinton's heart which is why he asked Jim Lyons to be part of the negotiations.
There are two main aspects to take away from Mr. Lyons presentation. First, the role of this board was to help facilitate a peaceful agreement between the countries. They also had the goal to help re-build the Irish economy. The focus here was on bringing in new businesses internationally and to build new businesses within Ireland. They wanted to create an environment where Irish, regardless of country and religion, could find work.
The Irish history is long, rich and deep. It is also incredibly complicated. I personally grew up with no understanding of the Irish history and I wish that was not the case. There is so much to learn from it.
*A lot of this information is credited to the Rick Steve's Ireland book.*
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Irish History 101
Ireland has a long, rich and deep history. Too much to ever put into one blog post so instead I will try and touch on the key elements.
7000 B.C. Ireland became an island, separate from what is now England/Wales/Scotland due to rising waters covering the land bridge that once connected the two.
500 B.C. The Celts began to migrate and settle in Ireland. The most famous and influential of these tribes are the Gaels. This is where the Gaelic language stems from, which is still present in Ireland today.
432 A.D. St. Patrick arrived and converted the pagan Irish to Christianity. He was originally brought to the island as a slave for six years. After the six years he was able to escape and made his way to Gaul where his studies prepared him for a life in the clergy. Inspired by a dream St. Patrick found his way back to Ireland, this time converting the Irish to the Christian religion.
795 A.D. Vikings invade from Norway. However much havoc they wreaked on Ireland, it is the Vikings we have to thank for Ireland's first set of walled cities- Dublin and Waterford. These raiders slowly became traders, thus introducing the first bit of urban life to Ireland.
1100 A.D. The Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland. Strongbow, who was a Welsh earl, conquered Dublin and Waterford, marrying the local king's daughter. He became the new king once his father-in-law passed away.
1171 A.D. King Henry II declares the entire island English, reminding Strongbow of his original purpose in invading the island.
1348 A.D. Most of the Anglo-Norman population died out as a result of the Black Death, thus shrinking English control. The surrounding and more rural Gaelic clans went relatively untouched, giving them back most of the control that they had previously lost to the English.
1500 A.D. Ireland became an important location as the English worked to colonize the Americas. Later, Queen Elizabeth I (daughter of King Henry VIII) gave Irish land to English Protestants to colonize. This began the long, and never ending, fighting between the Catholics and the Protestants. This feuding ultimately ended the Gaelic Irish rule.
1600 A.D. (End of) The, now, Protestant England put down every rebellion of the Irish Catholic and instituted the Penal Laws. These laws affected any person not of the Church
of England. In terms of religion you were still allowed to practice so long as you paid a very hefty fine. These laws made it impossible for any Catholic in Ireland to play the harp, join the army, hold public office, let alone vote, buy land or even buy a horse costing more than five pounds.
1800 A.D. Daniel O'Connell is famously known as the liberator of the Catholics. He was able to achieve this peacefully through legislation.
1845-1849 A.D. The Great Potato Famine. A fungus wiped out the potatoes in Ireland. At the time the potato was the main food group of the Irish. It is estimated that between 500,000-1,100,000 people died as result. A number of Irish started migrating to other lands. This is why we have a large Irish population in the United States today.
1900-1950 A.D. The focus becomes Independence for many Irish. The most famous of the parties advocating independence include Sinn Fien (which translates to "ourselves"), the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizens Army. In 1920 after a lot of fighting the British Parliament made the island of Ireland into two independent and self-governing countries that still belonged to Britain. This created Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.
There is much more to cover but I believe that is enough, and possibly too much, for this posting. For more information on Modern Irish history look to the next posting.
7000 B.C. Ireland became an island, separate from what is now England/Wales/Scotland due to rising waters covering the land bridge that once connected the two.
500 B.C. The Celts began to migrate and settle in Ireland. The most famous and influential of these tribes are the Gaels. This is where the Gaelic language stems from, which is still present in Ireland today.
432 A.D. St. Patrick arrived and converted the pagan Irish to Christianity. He was originally brought to the island as a slave for six years. After the six years he was able to escape and made his way to Gaul where his studies prepared him for a life in the clergy. Inspired by a dream St. Patrick found his way back to Ireland, this time converting the Irish to the Christian religion.
795 A.D. Vikings invade from Norway. However much havoc they wreaked on Ireland, it is the Vikings we have to thank for Ireland's first set of walled cities- Dublin and Waterford. These raiders slowly became traders, thus introducing the first bit of urban life to Ireland.
1100 A.D. The Anglo-Normans invaded Ireland. Strongbow, who was a Welsh earl, conquered Dublin and Waterford, marrying the local king's daughter. He became the new king once his father-in-law passed away.
1171 A.D. King Henry II declares the entire island English, reminding Strongbow of his original purpose in invading the island.
1348 A.D. Most of the Anglo-Norman population died out as a result of the Black Death, thus shrinking English control. The surrounding and more rural Gaelic clans went relatively untouched, giving them back most of the control that they had previously lost to the English.
1500 A.D. Ireland became an important location as the English worked to colonize the Americas. Later, Queen Elizabeth I (daughter of King Henry VIII) gave Irish land to English Protestants to colonize. This began the long, and never ending, fighting between the Catholics and the Protestants. This feuding ultimately ended the Gaelic Irish rule.
1600 A.D. (End of) The, now, Protestant England put down every rebellion of the Irish Catholic and instituted the Penal Laws. These laws affected any person not of the Church
of England. In terms of religion you were still allowed to practice so long as you paid a very hefty fine. These laws made it impossible for any Catholic in Ireland to play the harp, join the army, hold public office, let alone vote, buy land or even buy a horse costing more than five pounds.
1800 A.D. Daniel O'Connell is famously known as the liberator of the Catholics. He was able to achieve this peacefully through legislation.
1845-1849 A.D. The Great Potato Famine. A fungus wiped out the potatoes in Ireland. At the time the potato was the main food group of the Irish. It is estimated that between 500,000-1,100,000 people died as result. A number of Irish started migrating to other lands. This is why we have a large Irish population in the United States today.
1900-1950 A.D. The focus becomes Independence for many Irish. The most famous of the parties advocating independence include Sinn Fien (which translates to "ourselves"), the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizens Army. In 1920 after a lot of fighting the British Parliament made the island of Ireland into two independent and self-governing countries that still belonged to Britain. This created Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.
There is much more to cover but I believe that is enough, and possibly too much, for this posting. For more information on Modern Irish history look to the next posting.
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