Great Craic!

           The title of this post means ‘Great Fun’. It is already week 3 and I find myself using Irish terminology and using some similar pronunciation. The accent although is easy enough to seemingly pick up because I never realized how similar it is to some of the pronunciation of certain words in Bahamian English. In Irish Gaelic the ‘h’ does not exist so many words that have the ‘th’ sound; those ‘h’s are not pronounced. Instead of ‘three’ ‘tree’ is said. So I am slowly reverting from my American English to my original Bahamian English.

           Many of my roommates and I have been going to the pubs a bit and we have introduced beer pong to some of the locals. Which many have heard of in passing but never played it, they found it enjoyable. The one thing I love about pubs and bars here is that the idea is to not get drunk but to socialize. Many locals leave for the pubs around 8 and leave at midnight, now we have begun to follow that pattern.

          Since we don’t have cars here we have been walking and utilizing the bus system on weekend trips.   I have found since we walk everywhere and are doing manual labour at the site we are gaining muscle and losing fat. I have not lost weight per se but I have gained a lot of muscle which I am happier about. I am very happy that I decided to spend my summer excavating because I have found what I want to do for the rest of my life. We are not allowed to disclose our exact findings on social media but I can say we have found some amazing and shocking things. I am sure I have said this before but it is amazing how I am helping to bring history out from below the ground. That I have a hand in the past, present and future; the past because I am taking out of the ground and the future because future generations will know about these findings and understand the history of humanity and their ancestors.

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Battle of the Boyne site

Fought in 1690 by 2 claimants to the Scottish, Irish and English thrones. King James who was a Catholic and King William who was a Protestant and King James's son-in law and nephew. (Talk about bad blood) Despite the two fighting for their places on the throne it was ultimately a turning point that would keep Ireland a predominately protestant country for years after. King William had won which ensured the Protestants having a higher place in society. Catholic Irish had their lands and titles stripped away and in the decades that followed they would be sent as slaves to the Caribbean. 

Actual site of the battle

Sassy mannequin, these  paintings and mannequins within the tour were very expressive.

 "Is that mahogany?" he pondered as he stood there looking at an empty table.

Muskets that were used!

A cannon from the time period.

Phrases that are still used nowadays.

More weapons!

A very fancy saddle; I assume was used by the French King or by the French aided English King James. There was no sign but the styling of the saddle appears French.

The grounds located behind the house where the Battle took place.

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Filming

So we are going to be on the History Channel. Yes we are getting filmed this week on a episode on burials. You might be able to see me in the background somewhere, 15 minutes of film anyone? About to jump start my film career. WHAT!!!!

But I won't be in the foreground, this one girl found an infant burial right when the film crew was around so now she gets to be filmed.

You might see me walking around in the background somewhere, walking to and from my cutting to the office/tool shed/canteen

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Mellifont Abbey

On Thursday we went to Mellifont Abbey which is the first Cistercian abbey in Ireland founded in 1142.  Founded by St. Malachy, with the same ideals and architecture as the abbeys in France.

The little chapel that is still standing from the ruins, it is protected by the tarp and is going through some preservation work.

Map of the Abbey

This was on top of a massive hill and is the location of the old grave yard

The lavabo: it is the only surviving in Ireland. It is where the friars would wash their hands before mass.

A full picture of the lavabo.

Inside the chapel

Ave Maria

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Fight for clean clothes

I would like to dedicate this post to the washing and drying machines in the U.S for they are much simpler to use.

Let me talk about for a post about the debacle that Americans and Canadians who are here for the dig are having with the machines here. So we have a washing/dryer combo at my house. The washing part works great but the drying part, not so much. It just becomes a wet hot. I am not sure if there is a secret mechanism , or if having fully dried clothes fresh out of the dryer is something unheard of. Most houses I have seen line dry their clothes which is what we ultimately have done. It takes a couple days to dry, which is why you need to start washing clothes a couple days before you need them.

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Newgrange and Knowth

A few days ago I went to Newgrange with a bunch of people to check out the mounds which were interesting. The day was cold and rainy but the sun would come out every so often and I was able to capture a beauty of the landscape.

Here are some pictures.

The main mound with the fertility stone.

If you touch this rock you are granted fertility and the part to be touched is the back which feels glassy and smooth which means that for centuries people have been traveling to touch this stone.

The sundial rock that was possibly used as a calender, although some disagree.

One of the passageways

A wooden henge.

From the top of the main mound, for the following pictures as well.

Inside one of the smaller burial mounds

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First week

So this week is coming to a close and it is all about come into the weekend. I honestly am falling in love with this country, at first I was wary and I wanted to go home to the US because I missed everyone and the culture. Mostly the culture. Everyone in this town is so kind and I feel at home because 1. It is a small town, so it feel like home. 2. It's European and it feels like I am back at home in the Bahamas. While the scenery is very different, the type of people are similar and the words in grew up with and used as a child are used here. For example the accent, they don't really pronounce the 'th', and neither do Bahamians. Although some people I don't understand because their accent is strong but for the most part I am translating for everyone.

The people in my group are absolutely amazing, we have been hanging  out and getting to know one another. In my immediate group that is living with me there are 13 of us. 

Now for the best part, the excavation. Now I am not allowed to take pictures and post it to any social media, so my description is what is going to be best. There are 9 cuttings which means there are 9 areas where the soil has been dug out and we are digging down to find the features of the church and the persons who were buried within the walls. Medieval townspeople paid to be buried within the walls because they believed it would get them to heaven quicker. But after the friary had fell out of use the stones were sold and used in other buildings around town, so we have been excavating through the rubble that was left to find the actual walls to the buildings. But in the years that followed the ground was no longer considered sacred and children who died before being baptized were buried here because of the belief of limbo. So we have found bodies from the friary's heyday and bodies of babies from after. These children seem to be preemies. 

Although I am having a lot of fun excavating and taking part. This is such an amazing experience and I am so glad that I chose to go into the field. We are seeing, holding and looking at history right before our eyes before it goes to a museums and you can only look. We are able to hold it and appreciate it long after the people of the 13th century have gone.

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Abroad Life

I have used the title of my blog in a post. I think I deserve a pint of Guinness! hahaha

So it is a good thing I began to line my sleeping schedule with it here, because otherwise I would be in terrible shape. I am exhausted mind you but it is bearable.

I can't begin to tell you how gorgeous this country is, although I expected it to be greener but it is nice. The weather has been wonderful and every citizen is walking around and enjoying the beauty. My feet are so swollen, yesterday some people from my hostel and hostels nearby when touring the city and we pretty much walked around for 12 hours. My foot that is almost healed was not too happy but I can't let this chance slip away.

 I will be editing the videos soon.

Update:* I just found out that most of the towns shops are closed on Sundays.

Update:** I can't access Pandora in this country.

Some pictures of Dublin for your enjoyment. Credit me if you want to use these pictures, please.

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