Halloween in Dublintown

Happy Halloween! 

Tomorrow is Halloween in Dublin (and the world over) and there are many festivities on to celebrate. The Wax Museum has a chamber of horrors, and the Leprechaun Museum has a Celtic Mythology show that is meant to scare even the bravest adults! 18 & overs only! Check out this little creep show below.  The Bram Stoker Festival is on and the holiday happenings are everywhere. In my research of Halloween in Dubs I came across the tidbit that is was Irish immigrants of the late 18th and early 19th century that really brought the traditions and customs of the holiday to America. So yet another connection between my American heritage and my new Irish home.  I am hoping to get to some of the events on this week.

Speaking of Halloween and the dead, that was me last week as I was suffering the worst sickness I think I've ever had in my life. Hunkered down in the "bunker" (my bedroom) for 7 straight days with one thing after another. First I had a sinus infection, which I have come to realize the Irish call the "flu". The with my low immune system I caught a terrible stomach flu, which the Irish call a "vomiting bug". Even the sicknesses have different names over here. Either way they suck, and I was straight out of commission for 7 days. Now that I am among the living again I have some big news....

I have a new job! 

My current company is selling and I have a new job working for an Inbound Marketing Company called HubSpot. They are a Boston-based software co. opening EU headquarters in Dublin and I am one of their first 12 local hires. At the end of November I head to Boston for training for 4 weeks. So any Americans that want to come visit in December feel free. I am still determining holiday plans but may be home for Xmas! I am finished up at my current job today so I have actually have about 4 weeks off for the first time in my life. After going straight from HS > College > Job #1 > Job #2 I have never had this much free time, I am a lady of leisure! 

I am thinking of taking 2 weeks in Dublin then Peadar and I are going to make the most of it and head to Thailand for our first real, proper vacation together. I had a hell of a time convincing him to go since they are still stressed about getting the potatoes out of the ground and the harvest pressure is STILL ON. 

Basically the harvester drives along and drags the grader through the mud. Then the grader sifts through the mud and drops the potatoes into boxes in a trailer being driving by a tractor next to it. 

Peadar told me we can't go to Thailand until all the spuds are out of the ground and it has been too mucky and rainy to dig them. So I did the only thing I knew, and took over the job myself.

Peadar is a bit of a legend in my book. This hair and this harvest beard, recognized the world over.  My mom pointed out to me after reading my last blog that I forgot the most important part of the story of the drunk guy in the bar in Galway recognizing Peadar from years ago. "THAT HAIR MAN, THAT HAIR. I'D RECOGNIZE IT ANYWHERE."

To be honest I think Padman might be the antithesis of the Gym-Tan-Laundy motto. He has been too busy working to hit the gym, he has never tanned in his life, and laundry? We send that out. I may be a Farmer's girlfriend but that doesn't mean I have to do Farmer's laundry! 

There was a mass on for Granny Whyte last Sunday, and afterwards Peadar and I took flowers up to her grave. Many Whytes have been buried in the Naul and it really was a happy moment, because Granny and Grandad Whyte lived for many years together and died in old age. But we walked around and checked out all the graves and there were some very young people there too, and those are the saddest. Peadar told me the stories of the people he knew, like a 12 year old boy from the village who died of an Asthma attack, and I cried for them. It is a very old and interesting graveyard with chapel ruins. 

On a happier note, I have been keeping up with the swimming and water polo. There was a Celtic Masters swim event on with teams from all over Ireland last Saturday. I won gold in the 50 fly and bronze in the 50 backstroke. I actually won another gold for a relay I was in, but my good friend Laura Harvey has that metal... I'll have to get it off of her!!!

Have a safe & spooky All Hallows Eve!!!

XOXO

Amanda

Loose Change

A day that started off with loose change, and ended with Loose Change. Peadar had his first day off in over 6 weeks last Sunday, so we decided to make a day of it. Taking the idea of "saving for a rainy day" literally, we raided our New Tractor Fund jar full of change (after filtering out the American and British coinage) and went for a day out on the town.

The first thing Peadar wanted to do was see the Phil Lynott (lead singer from Thin Lizzy) exhibition in St. Stephens Green. Phil was a (half) black signer from Dublin in the 70's, a true novelty of the era. He was raised by his single mum, who kept all of his letters and notebooks and photos from when we was younger, which were available for viewing. It was an interesting display of Rock 'N Roll.

The next stop was Saba for Thai food and Saki. They had a good selection of gluten-free offerings, which was great for me. I have decided to start another blog that will cover places to eat GF in Dublin, for all of my fellow Coeliacs/ Celiacs out there. It's almost ready to be launched, so I'll keep you updated. 

For dessert we went to Fallon & Byrne, which is kind of like a Whole Foods. There is a wine bar, gourmet deli, grocery store, and even a fancy restaurant upstairs. Pad and I got glasses of port, Eton Mess (my new favorite dessert, besides pavlova, that I have been introduced to in Ireland), and the Sunday Independent. We then spent an hour discussing: why everyone is going topless (Rosanna Davidson, Kate Middleton), why how much people leave in their wills get published in the paper, about how teachers now have to work 40 hours a week (the horror!), and what is the story with government employees viewing copious amounts of porn at work! 

 

Then things got extra touristy when we hit-up Gogarty's for some live Irish music and whiskey. This is probably the most tourist-centric pub in Dublin, and is full of non-Irish people, but is nevertheless a must see on your tour of Dublin. Located in Temple Bar.

I get asked a lot how Peadar and I met. I was studying abroad at Dublin City University in Ireland in 2008, and my American friends and I wanted to watch the Superbowl. It is on really late on a Sunday, so only a few pubs show it, and the pub pictured below, Buskers in Temple Bar, happened to be one of them. Pad's football team also went there for a night out, and the rest is history. Check out an authentic picture of the actual night Peadar and I met. And then 4.5 years later, our 3rd time being back.

 In 2008, with Ciaran, Pad's bro...

UPDATE: New pic of Pad and I the night we met:

...and in 2012, all in love and shiz.

After that, believe it or not the party continued on the train back to Malahide, and into our local pub Gibney's for one more cheeky pint. The band "Loose Change" was playing their usual Sunday night gig, a perfect ending to our grand day out. 

I have lined myself up a very busy fall, as I am a new volunteer coach for the Special Olympics swim team, the NAC Sharks! I have also joined the St.Vincents water polo team (shouts out to K8 the G8, Snorkel, & Moni Babi from WVHS). It remains to be seen whether I will actually survive the training sessions and play in actual matches, especially since I am still swimming with the NAC Masters team, but I'm trying.

And everyone... don't forget, It's Friday. 

Lots of Love.

Keato

A Laborious Day!

Happy Labor Day to all Americans back home! 

A day to celebrate the working class, the start of the NFL season, the end of summer and back-to-school! Unfortunately it will be a labor-filled working day for me, since it is not a holiday in Dublin, however the sun is shining (finally) and the harvest is in full swing, much to Peadar's delight that they can finally get working. Unlike the USA, which has drought conditions, we have been swamped with rain here in Ireland.

The morning paper recently had a front page article about a Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna, where people go to find love. I kid you not, this is an actual quote from the story, "But Mr. Daly, who still uses a tatty 100-year old diary to conjure up love matches, said he expects there to be more rich pickings for bachelor farmers than ever before at the 200-year-old singles fest. He explained that farmers are more in vogue than ever: 'A few years ago a fella's looks were important. Now since the recession, even if a fella has missing teeth, but has a house and his mortgage paid off, he could still attract a good bit of interest.' " Hilarious!


Dublin has played host to some great outdoor events in the past few days, including the Emerald Isle Classic football game Notre Dame vs. Navy, and the Tall Ships Festival.

The Emerald Isle Classic was held in the Aviva Stadium, and was the most fun I have ever had at a sporting event! There were so many Americans there, a girl who graduated from University of Illinois one year after me was sitting right behind us! Ciaran (Pad's bro, in the Cutler jersey) and his friend Doug were loving on all the funny traditions the fans were participating in, and especially the theatrics from the Notre Dame Marching Band, who were sitting right next to us.

Summer in Dublin has been close to non-existent weather-wise, the rain and cold has been pretty abysmal. However before I left for my 5 week long biz trip, I was able to get one sea swim in on a decently warm day at Windsurfer's Pier. The water was freezing and I came in almost dead last (but was on a heavy handicap- I couldn't start until 7 minutes, 30 seconds after the race began) but it was great to get in the ocean and work on my open-water training!

Peadar and I also recently hiked out to our future home, Westown House in the Naul (Pad's hometown village). It is completely derelict, but has amazing views of the countryside. We want to buy this place and do it up. A girl can dream, right?! :)

I was back home in Chicago on my birthday (July 27th) for my friend Andrea's wedding. I was a bridesmaid  along with my friend Kristen (see picture below) and 4 others. Check out the bride and her beer on the party bus after the ceremony. I love that picture! Congratulations to Andrea and Shawn Shotts!

I know I have been neglectful about updating the Dublin Connection since the Spring, but I blame work and my world travels! I just arrived back 2 weeks ago from being gone for almost 6 weeks. Hitting up San Francisco, Sonoma, Seattle, Chicago, Michigan, Aspen, Dallas, NYC, and Germany on the way! After the wedding in Chicago, which Peadar flew out for, we were able to do a few days in Silver Lake boating, tubing, and off-roading on the dunes. We then escaped to the Double JJ Ranch for some R&R. If Peadar weren't a tillage farmer he could definitely be a rancher. 

   

The funniest part of the whole trip was getting Peadar on a horse. He has no affinity for them whatsoever, so after some convincing, I got him to come with me on a private trail ride. It was the funniest 30 minutes of my life. Especially because his horse was named Dumbo, and cantered sideways. 

I was also able to get away for a few days to my sanctuary, Aspen, Colorado, to see my aunt, Nancy Lovendahl and uncle, Scott Keating. 

This is the view from their backyard in Old Snowmass. Sabe is their beautiful rescue dog. The property is called Hey Dude Ranch.  

We also got to stay in an amazing private cabin on the back of AJAX for a night.  

Private lake at the cabin.

Hiking on AJAX

 

The most interesting part of the Aspen trip was mushrooming (and not in the way you are thinking right now!) I didn't think I would be that into it but I was like Sherlock Holmes up there on the mountatin hunting these bad boys.

That's all for now folks! I will keep you updated more consistently this fall...

Happy Labor Day and Happy Harvesting. 

Lots of Love,

Amanda

The View From Home... Even if it's only for a few days!

Hey there pretty people! I know I say this every time, but... I know it's been awhile since I blogged last! My life took a turn for the crazy, and I have been travelling like a maniac for work lately. I went to Barcelona then Dublin, Chicago, San Fran, Dublin, Turkey, and now tomorrow I head off for another 3 weeks away, in San Francisco and Los Angeles!

The last time I talked to you, Peadar and I were moving into our new apartment. A bit more spacious and with a view of the sea, it was time for us to move on from the lovely "Anchorage". We now live in "Marina View".  See the view from our balcony below, on a lovely Irish day. 

 

Peadar Rockin in the Kitchen

 

Big Windows

Peadar's Contribution in Decorating the Apartment

To try and cover the last two months in one post, I am going to break it up between Swimming and Travelling for Work. I started swimming with the National Aquatic Center's Masters Swim Team back in the fall and between now and then have gone to three "Galas" or swim meets.  The first was in Derry, in the North of Ireland, just after the new year. Peadar and I went up for the day, in the morning we walked around the city, and in the afternoon I did some swimming. 

Northern Ireland is still considered part of the UK, although they have an independent justice system and police force. During the 80's was a time called "The Troubles" when there was conflict between those that wanted to be independent of Great Britain called "The Republicans" and those that were loyal to GB called "The Unionists." Derry was an important city during this time and saw a lot of violence. The thing that struck me the most about visiting here was how much a part of everyday life the history of the conflict is, between graffiti on road signs and buildings to the ever-present wall around the city (from long before the 1980's - the city has been in conflict for hundreds of years) to the more recent communication towers previously used to spy on rebels. Check out some pics below:

Peadar standing on the wall, a good view of Derry behind him. 

The pic on the left shows graffiti on the walls with the names of Republican prisoners. The pic on the right shows a sign from Unionists saying "no surrender" to the Loyalists, and right next to it graffiti against the PSNI (Police Service Northern Ireland) most likely from the Republicans. The painful history of the town runs deep.

Real cannons that were used to defend the city.

 After swimming hard, Peadar and I headed to a chipper, which is basically like a local fast food restaurant. Normally I can't eat in them at all because they are full of gluten, but there was a lovely one in Derry that did celiac-friendly fried food! Check out the menu board below:

The next swim meet after Derry was the opposite direction, we headed South to Cork:

 

Peadar and I stayed on the Fota Island Resort and walked around a coastal town called Cobh (pronounced "Cove" for all my American peeps) which was awesome because it was the last port the Titanic visited after Southampton before she sank. Seeing as it's the 100 year anniversary of the maritime disaster, it was interesting to walk around the town and see the "White Star Line" headquarters and the bridge where people walked out to get on the boat to board the steamer.

 If you look closely you can see the sign that says "White Start Line" on the top of the building. There was a historical center we visited as well, which was small but informative. There is a major Titanic museum up in Belfast (where it was built) that Peadar and I are definitely going to go visit soon. The cultural center in Cobh had history on the Famine and the practice of sending prisoners to Australia by the British authorities as well. Apparently they sent so many men there that there was a shortage of women and they had an incentive program to try and get some ladies down there!

Peadar the Potato Farmer determined not to let history repeat itself!

Cobh was a gorgeous town, built into cliffs in the side of the sea. 

 

I took this funny picture when we were walking through the village. A shop called "The Princess Rooms" right next door to the Social Welfare Office. Ironic :)

The latest of my swimming adventures was to the West, in Limerick, for the Irish Long Course Championships. My mom, Suzie, flew into town the day before, just as I was getting back from Barcelona. She, Pad and I headed down for the day, and it was a great success. I got a bronze medal in the backstroke and swam in two relays that broke Irish records! 

My friend Laura Harvey and I. Laura was also in the relays that broke records. 

After Limerick my Mom and I headed to Adare Manor for a girly weekend. 

We then had a chance to visit in the Naul before I was off to my next biz trip and Suz got to meet baby Joey!(Peadar's Sister Olive's Son Joseph Edward. Dad is Finbar. Pad's nephew.) I was just hanging out with him for Easter Sunday yesterday and he looks so much bigger and his features are more defined than when this was taken just a few weeks ago. 

 Such. A. Gem. 

While we are on the baby Joey track, his christening was last Saturday and it was the same time the local GFC (Gaelic Football Club) that Pad plays for to host the "Sam Maguire" which is the trophy the Dublin county team won last season. So baby Joey got to take his picture in the cup! Is it a sign he is going to grow up and play football? 

Above: Grandpa Eddie holding Joey. 

Thanks for hanging in there. A few quick words on my travels and then I'll have caught you up on all my comings and goings :) At the end of Feb I went to Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress. This was my second time there, and found this to be way more enjoyable than last trip. Barca is amazing, but it is pretty annoying how concious you have to be about your surroundings and always having to worry about whether you are being pick-pocketed. But at least this time I was staying in better hotels and eating at nicer restaurants  so I had a great time!

 Pic of the conference I was at from the roof of the Museo De Rock (Rock and Roll Museum) 

Paella and Sangria

Fancy Night Out in Barcelona

I was home for a few days for the Limerick swim meet and the Adare weekend and then it was off to San Franciso for work. I was staying at the Fairmont on Nob Hill. 

The Iconic Fairmont

View from my room

While got a little carried away playing with our bendable boxPAY men at the booth!

I was there for a tech conference, and these days I am carrying around a serious amount of electronics. My purse is getting very heavy!

 The weather was mostly bad but we got some sun one of the days!

One of the days we went to a private speak easy called Bourbon & Branch. They served old school drinks and had quite the whiskey collection. It was a cool place! Another good spot was the Tonga Room bar inside the Fairmont. It rained indoors every half hour and had good tropical drinks. 

As a city San Francisco was lovely, but the hills are unbelievable. San Franians must have great calf muscles from all the walking. It was very  high-tech too - most of my cab drivers used Square, which is a little toggle that plugs into your smart phone or tablet so you can swipe a credit card to accept payment. 

After San Fran, I flew home to Chicago for the day, and it happened to be St. Paddys! An American living in Ireland, but yet I managed to be state-side for an Irish holiday. I had some gluten-free beer to celebrate, and we had amazingly warm weather for March in Chicago! Apparently there has been like no snow there all winter, which is so unusual.

My little brother Greg, and friends Andrea and Shawn (who are getting married this Summer!) Shawn looks sad because he is referencing his leg, which he broke the last time I was in town and we were out. He even had to get metal plates in it. 

...

The last leg (pun intended) of my journey was to Istanbul, Turkey. Unfortunately I was working almost the entire trip and didn't have much time to explore, but I did get to see a lot in the short amount of time we had. 

The teas and coffees were fab! Above is a traditional Turkish tea and on the right is a banana split coffee!

Above is a traditional Turkish symbol of protection that adorns ornaments and jewellery and the colorful treats on the right are Turkish Delight.  Chronicles of Narnia, anyone? The below picture is a bar that is actually indoors, but looks like an outdoor cafe. 

• Turkey was great, but the craziness continued as the day I got back we had a black tie event for work in the Dublin convention center (see pic below). The Digital Media Awards were a good time, but I picked up a cold from all my travels and didn't want to stay out too late. 
•  

When Peadar was out at a bar this weekend an American girl came up to him and started telling him how much she "loooved" his hair! Such a novelty for us USA chicks. I laughed when he told me, and said "if it wasn't me it'd be her" Any American will do :) We then proceeded to give Pad a new nickname... "Yank-Trap".

Lot's of love from the two of us, and I will write again soon. 

X's & O's,

Amanda

P.S. Found another American girl that married an Irish Farmer... I guess it's not as rare as I thought :) Check out a fellow Yank's blog:
http://marriedanirishfarmer.com/