Ireland Day Seven: Hello Galway!

Today we said goodbye to the wonderful castle

 with one last morning adventure 

before getting back in the coach and heading to Galway. 

On the way we made one last off-the- road 

stop to see the national famine memorial in County Mayo.

 The memorial is a giant ship with skeletons floating around it like a wave,

 remembering the people who died on the coffin ships leaving Ireland during the famine.

 An interesting fact: In America we call it the Great Potato Famine,

 but in Ireland they call it the Great Hunger

 which is much more personal and first hand.

 The area around the memorial was another example 

of an extremely beautiful spot in Ireland.

 First there was an awesome view of Croag Patrick 

which people hike up as part of a pilgrimage.

 I would love to take the hike; 

I bet the view from the top is spectacular. 

The view of this lake and the surrounding area is so peaceful and calm.

 If I lived there I would go there all the time

 just to think and clear my mind.

 It was nice to get off the coach and

 just sit for a second and look. 

Then after a long bus ride during which I slept a lot 

and read a little bit of homework and a lot of Her Fearful Symmetry, 

 we finally reached Galway.

 I think out of all the cities we visited, 

Galway was my favorite.

 It’s a harbor college town and just seems like such a nice place to live.

  The university college Galway is located there.

 We got to do a lot of shopping on Shop St. 

which is one of the main streets in the city. 

We all got Claddagh rings. 

Here is the story behind them

 (well at least the story that the shopowner gave us).

The Claddagh: A unique Irish symbol of love! Direct from its home in Galway. The hands of friendship, Crown of Loyalty, and the heart symbolizing Love. The tradition dates back to the 16th century when a native of Galway City, Richard Joyce was captured by Moor pirates on his way to the West Indies, eventually he was freed and on his return to Galway his fiancée was still waiting for him. He settled in the small village of Claddagh here in the City of Galway where he crafted the first Claddagh ring. Traditionally we wear the crown towards the top of our finger when we have found love. The crown turned down in the ring means that you are single. As the years passed, the powerful sentiment that the Claddagh evokes of Love, Friendship and Loralty endures.

It’s kind of a cool tradition and a beautiful ring regardless.

  I also found a copy of Harry Potter written in Irish. 

People living in Ireland who were forced to learn Irish growing up in school

 probably think I’m absolutely ridiculous.

 Nevertheless I think it’s interesting.

 I also love getting books in different languages as souvenirs; it’s unique. 

*photo taken by Abby from my trip

Then later that night, after dinner,

 we went out to the pubs which were a really awesome place to hang out. 

I drank my first pint of Guinness of the trip (I started off with only a glass in Dublin). 

It was actually pretty good,

 I’m not going to lie: I’m a girl and I actually like beer better than fruity drinks

 (the Bulmer’s cider was good though). 

Several of the pubs we went to had live traditional music,

 which was very loud, but very nice to listen to.

 Interestingly enough a couple of the pubs we went to

 just played bad American pop and hip hop, 

I think one place we went to in Dublin may have even played Johnny Cash.  

Safe to say I definitely enjoyed the traditional music better. 

The thing I liked most about the pubs in Galway though is just how friendly people are.

 I feel like in America it would be weird to start talking to total strangers,

 but we had a great conversation with this married couple. 

They were impressed that we were learning Irish literature 

and said that we probably new more than they did

 (although I doubt that since the husband quoted James Joyce to us). 

It was so cool to go and talk to people; 

everyone is so friendly 

(unlike in France where no one smiles!).

Highlight of Today:

Today’s highlight is an interesting fact from Galway:

The word lynch, or death by hanging, 

comes from the Mayor of Galway James Lynch Fitzstephen 

who hanged his own son for murder.