Ireland is an ancient country, filled with lore of fairies, leprechauns, and banshees. Its history ranges from the conquest of the vikings in the 9th century to the Easter Rebellion of 1912, and how Ireland is changing in the new European political climate. My time in Ireland was phenomenal. I absolutely loved living and working in Dublin for two months, exploring the city and learning as much as I could about both my architectural interests and my heritage. Dublin served as a perfect place for me to learn more about architecture and myself. Ireland is a second home for me, and leaving was the hardest part of my journey. My time in Ireland is unfinished.
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LIFE IN DUBLINOut of the European cities I visited, Dublin seemed not only the most lively, but the most comfortable for a young traveler. The city is very manageable, with distinct districts – Grafton Street is the Shopping District, Temple Bar is the "cultural" district, and the Medieval Quarter is where a lot of the museums are. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the city, crossing the Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey and into the Temple Bar District, walking around the Trinity College campus and seeing the Book of Kells in the Long Library, as well as going from the Spire on O'Connell Street to the Convention Center along the quays on the River Liffey. Everything about Dublin was easy and fun.
I lived in my homestay in Sandyford, which is a borough of Dublin south of the city. I was a 10 minute walk from the Luas, the tram system that runs all through Dublin, where I would catch the Luas to get to work in Dundrum and go into the city. I was on the Green Line, meaning that I didn't need to make any transfers or connections to get into the city, which was extremely convenient. Even though I was not living in the city, I was able to go into Dublin every night after work and on weekends. Such a convenience is something I do not take for granted. Over the two months I spent in Ireland, I definitely saw everything I could in Dublin. My favorites included Christ Church for its extensive history, Gogarty's for live traditional Irish music, Mulligan and Haines for tapas, The Hairy Lemon for a traditional Irish pub experience, Grafton Street for Christmas decorations and street music and the River Liffey for photographs. Being there for so long allowed me to get the most out of the city, and the time flew by faster than I expected it would. Dublin is an amazing city, full of history and fun. There are so many opportunities to enjoy everything that Dublin has to offer. It is a place where I can see myself living in the future, but in the very least it is a place where some of the best memories of my life were made. |
ARCHITECTUREI worked as an intern at an architecture firm in Dundrum. My experience far exceeded anything I could have every hoped for. When I pictured an internship at an architecture firm as a high school graduate without a professional degree or education, I figured I would be folding plans and cataloguing projects – office work rather than project work. However, the experience I had couldn't have been farther from this notion. I was treated as a General Architect, which meant I worked on current projects for real clients and had the creative freedom to add to the designs based on my own experiences and knowledge of architecture. My boss and my coworker were extremely supportive of me, teaching me how to use ArchiCad and the logistics of working in an architecture firm in Ireland. It was an amazing opportunity to be given the tools to expand my knowledge of architecture, and my future architectural education will be greatly benefited by the diverse and immersive experiences I had.
I learned the technical aspects of architectural design in Ireland, which is different than that in the states. First, I had to get used to the metric system, as they do not work in the imperial system. Second, I learned the building standards in Ireland: walls are 300mm thick and made of concrete, there is a 150mm thick floor slab with a 20mm thick finish floor on top, and interior walls are 120mm thick. I was given the opportunity to have autonomy in the office, being able to design work for projects and add my input, which is the most impactful experience from my internship. I did anything my boss asked of me, allowing me to work on dozens of projects in my two months in the office. The work I did will directly benefit the clients, which is an amazing feeling for someone with my age and experience. Beyond project work, I was able to make several site visits during my time working in Dublin, seeing first hand how the client, architect and contractor interact to make decisions on site. Such an opportunity gave me exposure to how a design becomes a structure, which was a very interesting and fascinating experience. My college education will be more meaningful and engaging having already had this experiential education. |
CASTLES IN KILKENNY, IRELANDKilkenny is a medieval town in the south of Ireland, with deep rooted history and tradition. My ancestors, the O'Dwyer Clan, had a foothold in Kilkenny, though I descend primarily from Co. Tipperary, also in the south of Ireland.
I made a day trip to Kilkenny three weeks after arriving in Ireland. The highlight of my visit was Kilkenny Castle, a 12th century fortress built by the Normans who invaded Ireland, which has been restored over the centuries. It served as the stronghold of the Butler family, who had ties to the British Royal family. In the Gallery, portraits of British monarchs were hung along side portraits of the Butler family. The castle is a traditional Irish castle, though it has more of a British style to it. Nonetheless, it was very interesting to walk the grounds and explore the many rooms of the castle, seeing the history of British and Irish relations in a unique context. Beyond Kilkenny Castle, I walked the Medieval Mile in Kilkenny, which is exactly what it sounds like: a mile stretch that has about a dozen landmarks and buildings originating from the Medieval Age. I visited St. Canice's Cathedral, which has a round tower from the 800s. Round towers are scattered across Ireland, and are built on the site of monasteries and churches. Additionally, I visited the St. Mary's Museum, which is a museum built in the ruins of a medieval church and houses countless relics from the Medieval Age. I swear I saw a grove of four leaf clovers in the museum, though the picture I tried to take through the glass unfortunately doesn't capture it very well. Such a opportunity to see remains of the Irish Medieval age was very fascinating and intriguing. From Celtic crosses to crypts of nobles, the museum was filled with history from the region. Kilkenny is an amazing city filled with so much history and character. I wish I was able to stay longer, but when I go back I plan to explore even more of Kilkenny. Although it is a quaint Irish town, you could spend a week in Kilkenny and still not see everything it has to offer. |
MAGIC AT THE CLIFFS OF MOHEROne of the last weekend day trips I made was to the Cliffs of Moher. In order to feasibly do it, I went with a Paddywagon tour, so the tour visited Kinvara (a small fishing village south of Galway), Doolin for lunch, and the Baby Cliffs of Moher before finally getting to the Cliffs of Moher. All of these stops were very cool and picturesque Irish landmarks.
The Cliffs of Moher were beyond anything that I could have expected. They were so much more impressive and stunning than I thought they would be. I had been wanting to see them for a long time, and I was not disappointed (I was not disappointed by anything I saw while in Europe!). The way the mist and fog made the sun shine across the cliffs created an almost magical and ancient look to the cliffs. Slowly the sky cleared and the extent of the cliffs came into view. I was blown away by how stunning they were. To make the experience even better, there was a flock of sheep grazing along the cliffs on the greenest grass I have ever seen. Everything about the Cliffs of Moher was quintessential Ireland. I enjoyed walking along the cliffs, seeing many different views of the cliffs and the Atlantic. It was such a magical moment, one that I will never forget. Upon arriving back on the bus, I went through the pictures I had taken while on the cliffs, and one picture stood out from the others. Now, I am not usually superstitious nor a fanatic about the supernatural. However, I have no explanation for this picture. In the bottom left there is a blue "orb" in the picture, which is not present in any of the other ones I had taken before or after. Initially I disregarded it as a sun flare, but the sun is not shining towards me due to the clouds and fog. I looked it up and the orb in my picture matches those of others where it is claimed a "guardian angel" is present. Believe it or not, but this makes my experience at the Cliffs of Moher even more remarkable. The Cliffs of Moher may be the most "touristy" attraction in Ireland, but that is for a reason. Its magic and scenery encapsulates the true nature of Ireland. From the Wild Atlantic Way to the ports of Dublin, the tradition of Ireland is present at the Cliffs of Moher. |