Sunday I ventured down to County Kerry to do some hiking at Killarney National park. This is somewhere I had been three years ago when I cam but have wanted to return to. The landscape and scenery at Killarney are absolutely breathtaking. The town is situated just off the coast of a large lake connected to two smaller lakes and surrounded by Ireland's highest mountains.
I went with Agathe and her friend Estelle from France. We did a round trip hike of 16km (roughly 10 miles) beginning and ending in Killarney town with our furthest point being Torc Waterfall and the surrounding mountainside.
At this park you could hike all day and still not see half of the sights. You could easily take 3-4 days to hike all through the countryside here. I would certainly love to return and do a biking trip here but I do not know if I will have enough time.
One suggested trip is to rent a bike in Killarney town, bike to Ross Castle and take a boat though the lakes to the other side of the park where you can bike through the mountains through the Gap of Dunlow and finally back to Killarney town.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Beginning of the End
As May begins the general look and feel has been doom and gloom. Everyone is preparing for their final exams and papers knowing full well that they'll be leaving soon. On Saturday one of my best friends here, Audrey, left to return to France. It was hard to say goodbye for everyone. Audrey was always one to go to a pub to watch the Rugby match, and that being the case, that very night was the big rugby match between Munster (west Ireland) and Leinster (east ireland) for the Heineken Cup semi-final. Munster had only weeks earlier completely decimated Leinster yet that sad afternoon, with one fo their biggest fans gone to France they just couldn't do it. It wasn't even a good match to watch it was just sad to see them being run over but a far inferior team.
As the game stretched ona nd got worse and worse, so did the weather. We watched the match on a big outdoor screen seeing as it was Limerick's Riverfest weekend. by the end of the amtch the sky was dark, the wind was roaring and the rain began to fall. Sad day for Munster.
As the game stretched ona nd got worse and worse, so did the weather. We watched the match on a big outdoor screen seeing as it was Limerick's Riverfest weekend. by the end of the amtch the sky was dark, the wind was roaring and the rain began to fall. Sad day for Munster.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Easter Trip part 1
Agathe and I set sail (via bus..) from Limerick to Dublin a little before midday on Saturday. We got into the lovely capital city here around 3pm or half 2 maybe. We spent the afternoon just walking around the town and enjoying the parks within the city. We found a internet café that we used to print our boarding passes for the plane then set out to meet the Keanes for drinks and dinner. We met Michael Keane and his wife at the Mercantile Bar near Temple Bar in Dublin for a drink before going to dinner. Afterwards they showed us a splendid pub called Porterhouse where there aare hundereds upon hundreds of beers you can order. That was a lovely way to start off the vacation as most pubs in Limerick have a very slim selection of beer outside of Guinness, Bulmers (cider), Budwiser, Coors Light (for some reason people over here think that is good beer..) and Carlsberg.
The Keanes left to head home but Agathe and I stayed to listen to some of the live music. Out flight was at 6:20 am so we were planning to just head out to the airport and try to sleep there as best as we could. We took a Taxi to the dublin airport as we missed the bus we wanted to take by about 30 seconds. For being Easter Sunday morning the airport and out flight were a lot more crowded than I would have imagined but its still nothing like dealing with the crowds at O'Hare
The flight to Nice, France was short and simple. We landed in Nice around 10am their time (hour ahead of Ireland) making it just under a three hour flight. We picked up a bus from the airport into town along the Promenade Des Anglais and took in the sights of the Mediteranean. Finding our Hotel was simple however the room wasn't to be ready until 1 or 2pm so we dropped off our bags and set about walking into town. We had a breakfast of coffee and croissants (both were so much better in France then I've had anywhere else) then went and sat along the beach for a while. On the east end of the Promenade Des Anglais there is a castle/park area that you have to climb way up onto the hillside to access. I didn't count the number of stairs but it was enough to make the both of us rather tired by the time we got to the top. After that we headed back to the hotel to shower and have a nap before going out into town again
The Keanes left to head home but Agathe and I stayed to listen to some of the live music. Out flight was at 6:20 am so we were planning to just head out to the airport and try to sleep there as best as we could. We took a Taxi to the dublin airport as we missed the bus we wanted to take by about 30 seconds. For being Easter Sunday morning the airport and out flight were a lot more crowded than I would have imagined but its still nothing like dealing with the crowds at O'Hare
The flight to Nice, France was short and simple. We landed in Nice around 10am their time (hour ahead of Ireland) making it just under a three hour flight. We picked up a bus from the airport into town along the Promenade Des Anglais and took in the sights of the Mediteranean. Finding our Hotel was simple however the room wasn't to be ready until 1 or 2pm so we dropped off our bags and set about walking into town. We had a breakfast of coffee and croissants (both were so much better in France then I've had anywhere else) then went and sat along the beach for a while. On the east end of the Promenade Des Anglais there is a castle/park area that you have to climb way up onto the hillside to access. I didn't count the number of stairs but it was enough to make the both of us rather tired by the time we got to the top. After that we headed back to the hotel to shower and have a nap before going out into town again
Loosing Faith in my Immune System
School is over now except for final exams. I have already had three finals but have 2 more on the 8th and 14th of May. This weekend I was supposed to go to Dingle, Ireland for a hiking trip however Thursday night I became ill. Fever, swollen throat, aches and pains etc. Friday didn't show any significant improvement so I had to stay at home this weekend. I spent Friday in bed the whole day which is unfortunate in itself as my bed here in limerick is mighty uncomfortable.
Today it seems to be getting better, I've been able to be up and out of bed for the most part of the morning though my stomach is still tossing and turning.
On the upside I guess this gives me plenty of free time to update my blog with some stories from France and Italy
Today it seems to be getting better, I've been able to be up and out of bed for the most part of the morning though my stomach is still tossing and turning.
On the upside I guess this gives me plenty of free time to update my blog with some stories from France and Italy
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Excerpt from Europe
Agathe and I finally made it to Florence!
Its absolutly amazing.
the trip has had some small bumps but its going well.
We had to take two trains to get to Genoa yesterday with a lay over at a small border town called Ventimiglia
Then we got a train from there to Genoa. Genoa ended up being not so great. We could not find a hostel and the interet didn't give s any worthwhile budget hotels. So we decided to take a night train to Florence rather than a hostel.
Begin Adventure...
so we wait until 11:53 at ngiht to grab the train to Florence which first drops us in Pisa for a 2 hour Layover before another train to Florence. We weren't fast enough to get seats on the train (the kind with sleeper cabins for highr paying tickets and small 6 seat cabins for the rest) becasue many peple take up to many seats for themselves. So we ride at the very end of the train just laying in the cabin. Its not that bad actually. Then we get to Pisa and there doesn't appear to be a tilet in any part of the station that is still open. It's now 2:15 am so there is nothing open in ton either. We make a last ditch effort to try and see the Leaning Tower but we never made it as we were worried about missing our train. Turns out we were so close and just didn't know it. Regardless we are now utterly exhuasted and we grab the train to Florence which gets in at 5:15 am. The train ride is Freeeeeeezing cold. Apparently it got cold that night in Flornece and the Florence train station is also cold. We sleep on a bench until 7am when the passenger waiting room open up. Finally we can warm up so we sleep until 9:30 am or so, though very uncomforably.
We had don a bit of rsearch on the internet in genoa to see where the hostels are in Florence so w decide to set out to find a Hostel. WE finally find one and it seems great only the roomas aen't ready until 2pm.
So we frshen up a bit then start exploring the town of Flornece which turns out to be absolutely beautiful. The weather turns splendid, sunny and warm with not a cloud in th sky. We are now back at the Hostel havng showered and taken naps.
will keep you posted and let you know how France was (amazing in short)
Its absolutly amazing.
the trip has had some small bumps but its going well.
We had to take two trains to get to Genoa yesterday with a lay over at a small border town called Ventimiglia
Then we got a train from there to Genoa. Genoa ended up being not so great. We could not find a hostel and the interet didn't give s any worthwhile budget hotels. So we decided to take a night train to Florence rather than a hostel.
Begin Adventure...
so we wait until 11:53 at ngiht to grab the train to Florence which first drops us in Pisa for a 2 hour Layover before another train to Florence. We weren't fast enough to get seats on the train (the kind with sleeper cabins for highr paying tickets and small 6 seat cabins for the rest) becasue many peple take up to many seats for themselves. So we ride at the very end of the train just laying in the cabin. Its not that bad actually. Then we get to Pisa and there doesn't appear to be a tilet in any part of the station that is still open. It's now 2:15 am so there is nothing open in ton either. We make a last ditch effort to try and see the Leaning Tower but we never made it as we were worried about missing our train. Turns out we were so close and just didn't know it. Regardless we are now utterly exhuasted and we grab the train to Florence which gets in at 5:15 am. The train ride is Freeeeeeezing cold. Apparently it got cold that night in Flornece and the Florence train station is also cold. We sleep on a bench until 7am when the passenger waiting room open up. Finally we can warm up so we sleep until 9:30 am or so, though very uncomforably.
We had don a bit of rsearch on the internet in genoa to see where the hostels are in Florence so w decide to set out to find a Hostel. WE finally find one and it seems great only the roomas aen't ready until 2pm.
So we frshen up a bit then start exploring the town of Flornece which turns out to be absolutely beautiful. The weather turns splendid, sunny and warm with not a cloud in th sky. We are now back at the Hostel havng showered and taken naps.
will keep you posted and let you know how France was (amazing in short)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Easterbreak plans
For Easter Break I will make my first appearance on Continental Europe
Easter Sunday - early morning flight from Dublin to Nice, France
2 nights in Nice at the Hotel Dante. perhaps taking a day trip to Villefranche-sur-mer for the beach as the beaches in Nice are rocks and pebbles not sand.
Train to Milan, Italy through the Alps on April 14th during the afternoon.
spending remaining days in northern Italy with no set agenda.
Possibly seeing Venice, Verona, and Florence.
Flight back to Shannon from Turin, Italy on April 18th late late late at night.
Also pending my exam schedule there are tentative plans to meet Maureen and her friend in Croatia at the beginning of May
Easter Sunday - early morning flight from Dublin to Nice, France
2 nights in Nice at the Hotel Dante. perhaps taking a day trip to Villefranche-sur-mer for the beach as the beaches in Nice are rocks and pebbles not sand.
Train to Milan, Italy through the Alps on April 14th during the afternoon.
spending remaining days in northern Italy with no set agenda.
Possibly seeing Venice, Verona, and Florence.
Flight back to Shannon from Turin, Italy on April 18th late late late at night.
Also pending my exam schedule there are tentative plans to meet Maureen and her friend in Croatia at the beginning of May
Trip to the North
This past weekend the Mary I international group took a trip to visit northern Ireland. We stayed two nights in Belfast and also took guided bus tour of other parts of the north. We visited the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dun Laois Castle, and the City of Derry where the Bloody Sunday incident took place.
I think Derry was one of my favorite spots, I have been there before but only briefly, this time i got to explore the city a bit more. We visited Bogside, the Catholic neighborhood in Derry, where the Bloody Sunday incident actually happened. Now there are a series of murals painted by local artists from the bogside commemorating what took place and calling for an end to the violence.
Also noted there were numerous marks of grafitti from the RIRA stenciled on the walls. This was a bit disturbing to see as they are the group claiming responsibility for the latest violence in Northern Ireland. Now its impossible to tell if the grafitti is new or if it has been there for years but if it is new grafitti then it really is a bit disturbing. In large letters on one rooftop there was written "RIRA Pride" which is scary if it is new.
The city of Belfast was a great spot as well. We saw the two sectarian neighborhoods and the political murals associated with each one along wiht the giant wall between the two neighborhoods still restriciting access.
We also walked throught the campus of Queens University Belfast which was gorgeous.
I think Derry was one of my favorite spots, I have been there before but only briefly, this time i got to explore the city a bit more. We visited Bogside, the Catholic neighborhood in Derry, where the Bloody Sunday incident actually happened. Now there are a series of murals painted by local artists from the bogside commemorating what took place and calling for an end to the violence.
Also noted there were numerous marks of grafitti from the RIRA stenciled on the walls. This was a bit disturbing to see as they are the group claiming responsibility for the latest violence in Northern Ireland. Now its impossible to tell if the grafitti is new or if it has been there for years but if it is new grafitti then it really is a bit disturbing. In large letters on one rooftop there was written "RIRA Pride" which is scary if it is new.
The city of Belfast was a great spot as well. We saw the two sectarian neighborhoods and the political murals associated with each one along wiht the giant wall between the two neighborhoods still restriciting access.
We also walked throught the campus of Queens University Belfast which was gorgeous.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Turning 21
Tomorrow I'll be 21 finally..
I have planned a pub crawl here in Limerick with some of my friends to tour the various pubs having live music tomorrow night, but the schedule is actually dependent on which pubs will really have music. A lot of them say they have music each Wednesday nights but which pubs will actually be having a session will be up to us to find out I guess.
We will try to go to Dolan's Pub, The Royal George Hotel, Nancy Blake's and finally The Locke Bar, all of which may have live traditional music tomorrow night. Then perhaps we'll end up going to Molly's which is the night club of choice of the erasmus students because its free entry. Actually a lot of us, myself included, have quite a bit of school work and essays due soon so we may not have such a late night after all
This weekend a group of 35+ of us are traveling to Belfast for a tour of Northern Ireland so we will continue the celebrations up north.
If any one wants to donate to the cause, there is a link for paypal donations on the top right of the page here. Thanks in Advance to any and all!
I have planned a pub crawl here in Limerick with some of my friends to tour the various pubs having live music tomorrow night, but the schedule is actually dependent on which pubs will really have music. A lot of them say they have music each Wednesday nights but which pubs will actually be having a session will be up to us to find out I guess.
We will try to go to Dolan's Pub, The Royal George Hotel, Nancy Blake's and finally The Locke Bar, all of which may have live traditional music tomorrow night. Then perhaps we'll end up going to Molly's which is the night club of choice of the erasmus students because its free entry. Actually a lot of us, myself included, have quite a bit of school work and essays due soon so we may not have such a late night after all
This weekend a group of 35+ of us are traveling to Belfast for a tour of Northern Ireland so we will continue the celebrations up north.
If any one wants to donate to the cause, there is a link for paypal donations on the top right of the page here. Thanks in Advance to any and all!
Grand Slam!
On Saturday Ireland Beat Wales in the final match of the Six Nations Rugby Cup 17-15 to complete their first Grand Slam since 1948. Needless to say pubs all over the country went wild that evening as it happened. They let the match go right till the last second to confirm the win as they conceded a penalty to Wales in the last second of the game. Wales kicked a penalty kick from 48 m out (having earlier in the match scored a penalty from 49m) with only a few seconds to go which would have made the final score 18-17 for Wales however the kick fell short and Ireland Won!!!
I watched with a few friends in The Bank pub here in Limerick and the atmosphere was outstanding. Limerick is the Rugby center of Ireland and many of the players form the National team play for the regional team here, Munster, and thus do their training here at University of Limerick. So they should be coming to town soon to have a parade and celebration.
I watched with a few friends in The Bank pub here in Limerick and the atmosphere was outstanding. Limerick is the Rugby center of Ireland and many of the players form the National team play for the regional team here, Munster, and thus do their training here at University of Limerick. So they should be coming to town soon to have a parade and celebration.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Home Recordings
This is the first recording my friends and I have done while here in Ireland.
Agathe wrote the lyrics, the song is called Rastaman. Ben and I play guitar and Ben and Agathe do the singing. We recorded this in my flat with my Macbook.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
School closed!
Thursday at college it was announced that school would be closed and all classes canceled until the following Wednesday due to a viral epidemic causing many student to get sick. what was originally thought to be food poisoning from a dance the school hosted has now spread to the school itself making it unsafe until it has been cleaned.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F1_0_s_4_0_t&usg=AFQjCNE29xm-3H0mvgpHEfKth3OY5t78MQ&cid=1314585741&ei=9hW9SajUJajAwAHf-N3FAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fnational-news%2Fvomiting-bug-strikes-students-1672773.html
unfortunately for me I have no Friday classes, only one class on Mondays, and Tuesday is Patrick's Day so there is no school anyway so I only miss one class due to the outbreak.
None of my friends were sick but there were plenty of people at the nurses office all day Monday through Wednesday before they decided to close school down on Thursday.
On a note unrelated to the current viral epidemic, I contracted a Staph infection somewhere along the line leading to Impetigo, which is a skin rash. It came out on my face about a week back. I was given a prescription for antibiotics and skin cream and all is well now.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F1_0_s_4_0_t&usg=AFQjCNE29xm-3H0mvgpHEfKth3OY5t78MQ&cid=1314585741&ei=9hW9SajUJajAwAHf-N3FAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.ie%2Fnational-news%2Fvomiting-bug-strikes-students-1672773.html
unfortunately for me I have no Friday classes, only one class on Mondays, and Tuesday is Patrick's Day so there is no school anyway so I only miss one class due to the outbreak.
None of my friends were sick but there were plenty of people at the nurses office all day Monday through Wednesday before they decided to close school down on Thursday.
On a note unrelated to the current viral epidemic, I contracted a Staph infection somewhere along the line leading to Impetigo, which is a skin rash. It came out on my face about a week back. I was given a prescription for antibiotics and skin cream and all is well now.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Return of Troubles in the North
I'm not sure if it has filtered over to the news in the States yet or not but anyway:
The Trouble in Northern Ireland has started again, a group called the RIRA (Real IRA) has claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of two British soldiers in County Antrim northwest of Belfast over the weekend on March 8th. The soldiers were leaving their army barracks to accept a pizza delivery when they were ambushed. 4 other people were injured including 2 other military personel and the pizza deliveryman.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/two-soldiers-dead-in-northern-ireland-army-base-shooting-20090308-8s5d.html
The Trouble in Northern Ireland has started again, a group called the RIRA (Real IRA) has claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of two British soldiers in County Antrim northwest of Belfast over the weekend on March 8th. The soldiers were leaving their army barracks to accept a pizza delivery when they were ambushed. 4 other people were injured including 2 other military personel and the pizza deliveryman.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/two-soldiers-dead-in-northern-ireland-army-base-shooting-20090308-8s5d.html
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Snow!
Last night it snowed maybe 2 inches or so, which is quite a lot for Ireland.
The students in our housing complex all went nuts over the snow so of course a snow ball fight happened immediately and continued until security came to break it up claiming we were being obnoxiously loud.
The students in our housing complex all went nuts over the snow so of course a snow ball fight happened immediately and continued until security came to break it up claiming we were being obnoxiously loud.
London Awaits
Thursday morning I am flying to London with my friend Maggie who goes to UL. She and I are just staying in London for a few nights and will be returning to Ireland Saturday evening as I have water polo.
We will stay in a hostel Thursday night and then stay with a friend of Maggie's who studies in London on Friday night.
We will stay in a hostel Thursday night and then stay with a friend of Maggie's who studies in London on Friday night.
Unfortunate Results
Over the weekend I played in the Inter-Varsity Water Polo tournament with the UL water polo team. It was hosted by NUIG in Galway.
Unfortunately Our men's team failed to make it past the group stages and into the semi-finals. We tied our frist match 8 a piece with Trinity College Dublin, then we lost to University College Dublin 9-8. Then Trinity went on to beat UCD 9-7 or so, don't remember the final score, so we got knoced out of our group.
It was depressing because it was the best water polo we had played all season long. We were actually winning 8-6 over Trinity with 2 mins left to go in the game. Then we blew it. We gave up an ejection (man advantage foul) to Trinity with 17 second left in the game and the tied it up.
We were down by two points to UCD with 2 mins to go in the amtch, and brought it to a one goal defecit. We stole the ball or forced a turnover 2 times whilst UCD just tried to kill the time on the clock but we couldn't get the last goal to force the draw.
On a happier note, however, The UL Women's team took 2nd place in the tournament losing to Trinity in the final 6-5 havign previously lost in the group stages to Trinity 6-1.
This weekend we play Trinity for a league match sunday morning, so we will be looking for payback.
In the National League, we are currently tied for thrid place. We play the teams ahead and behind us this weekend, so we can possibly move into 2nd place in the League with two wins this weekend. However, the team ahead of us has one or two matches in hand so they will have to opportunity to regain the lsot points later in the season.
Unfortunately Our men's team failed to make it past the group stages and into the semi-finals. We tied our frist match 8 a piece with Trinity College Dublin, then we lost to University College Dublin 9-8. Then Trinity went on to beat UCD 9-7 or so, don't remember the final score, so we got knoced out of our group.
It was depressing because it was the best water polo we had played all season long. We were actually winning 8-6 over Trinity with 2 mins left to go in the game. Then we blew it. We gave up an ejection (man advantage foul) to Trinity with 17 second left in the game and the tied it up.
We were down by two points to UCD with 2 mins to go in the amtch, and brought it to a one goal defecit. We stole the ball or forced a turnover 2 times whilst UCD just tried to kill the time on the clock but we couldn't get the last goal to force the draw.
On a happier note, however, The UL Women's team took 2nd place in the tournament losing to Trinity in the final 6-5 havign previously lost in the group stages to Trinity 6-1.
This weekend we play Trinity for a league match sunday morning, so we will be looking for payback.
In the National League, we are currently tied for thrid place. We play the teams ahead and behind us this weekend, so we can possibly move into 2nd place in the League with two wins this weekend. However, the team ahead of us has one or two matches in hand so they will have to opportunity to regain the lsot points later in the season.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wish came True
Earlier in my trip I visited Blarney Castle in Co. Cork.
Kissed the blarney stone, hiked around the castle grounds and took part in a tradition called the Wishing Steps.
Now I can say my wish has come true. So if ever you find yourself at Blarney Castle, ask someone how to get to the wishing steps, read the instructions and try your best!
Kissed the blarney stone, hiked around the castle grounds and took part in a tradition called the Wishing Steps.
Now I can say my wish has come true. So if ever you find yourself at Blarney Castle, ask someone how to get to the wishing steps, read the instructions and try your best!
Ok. Go ahead. Laugh.Now that that's over, I think this is the only picture I will post from this night. You don't need to see the rest, this one just about sums it up. My friends and I dressed as the Power Rangers for a costume party. And yes, we went out to a night club dressed like this afterward. A one time only experience
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The band Formerly Known as SacreBleu!
Tuesday Night Agathe, Benjamin and I played guitar on a radio show for our campus radio station, 99.9 Wired FM.
Agathe and our friend Jonathan have a 30 min radio show about french music on tuesday evenings at half five. So this week we decided to do live music.
After polling our friends for a name for a group, Juan from Spain decided on the title SacreBleu. We then had the idea to keep the number of people who knew it was us to be playing on Tuesday to a minimum, and thus we fabricated a story about how the band was an up and coming group from France. We told the majority of our friends to tune into Agathe's radio show on tuesday to check out this new band who would be reallt great.
To fill time on the show Agathe and I had written a short history of the band, how we met etc. so Jonathan could interview us on the air. Jonathan announced over the air that Agathe could not be present for the show that day as she was on the road seraching for new music, leaving her free to play the part of Girly from SacreBleu. The band members were Curly (myself) , Girly (Agathe), and Gotee [goaty] (Ben) *Ben has a large black gotee.
We played a four song set beginning with two well known French songs sung in French, Champs Elysees and Aicha.
Then two popular modern french songs sung in English, New Soul by Yael Naïm and On my Way by Cocoon.
Our plan worked fine except for no one really listens to our school radio station anyway, so it was more for or own fun, but also we actually had intentions to be a real 'band' afterwards.
However the following morning we were struck with terrible news, and really just lack of research on our part, but it turns out there are already several bands named SacreBleu or Sacre Bleu, so alas, our band dissolved.
We are tenatively reformed under the name by Jove! which is a loose translation of Sacrebleu into english. We went to a local open mic night at white house pub to see if it would be worth playing sometime. It was there we realized we needed our own music. Luckily, Agathe to the rescue, Agathe has a brilliant mastery of language and poetry. So we took some of her poetry and lyrics she had previously written and put them to tune for the first time. We now have one original song ready to play (ready in a loose sense of the word) called Williamites.
Agathe and our friend Jonathan have a 30 min radio show about french music on tuesday evenings at half five. So this week we decided to do live music.
After polling our friends for a name for a group, Juan from Spain decided on the title SacreBleu. We then had the idea to keep the number of people who knew it was us to be playing on Tuesday to a minimum, and thus we fabricated a story about how the band was an up and coming group from France. We told the majority of our friends to tune into Agathe's radio show on tuesday to check out this new band who would be reallt great.
To fill time on the show Agathe and I had written a short history of the band, how we met etc. so Jonathan could interview us on the air. Jonathan announced over the air that Agathe could not be present for the show that day as she was on the road seraching for new music, leaving her free to play the part of Girly from SacreBleu. The band members were Curly (myself) , Girly (Agathe), and Gotee [goaty] (Ben) *Ben has a large black gotee.
We played a four song set beginning with two well known French songs sung in French, Champs Elysees and Aicha.
Then two popular modern french songs sung in English, New Soul by Yael Naïm and On my Way by Cocoon.
Our plan worked fine except for no one really listens to our school radio station anyway, so it was more for or own fun, but also we actually had intentions to be a real 'band' afterwards.
However the following morning we were struck with terrible news, and really just lack of research on our part, but it turns out there are already several bands named SacreBleu or Sacre Bleu, so alas, our band dissolved.
We are tenatively reformed under the name by Jove! which is a loose translation of Sacrebleu into english. We went to a local open mic night at white house pub to see if it would be worth playing sometime. It was there we realized we needed our own music. Luckily, Agathe to the rescue, Agathe has a brilliant mastery of language and poetry. So we took some of her poetry and lyrics she had previously written and put them to tune for the first time. We now have one original song ready to play (ready in a loose sense of the word) called Williamites.
Carnival!
Friday night, my two friends Lucia and Gaël, Dutch and Belgian respectively, hosted a party for the international students.
The theme was Carnival! which is essentially the Dutch/Belgian equivalent of Mardigras. Everyone dressed up in costume; my friends Agathe, Jen, Christophe, Benjamin and I went as a group costume, The Power Rangers. It certainly made for an interesting night as later we moved the party to Molly's which is the local night club we frequent. So we went out on the town still dressed as power ranger.
I may or may not post pictures of this.
The night culminated in a sleepover at Agathe and Jen's flat where we moved all the mattresses into the living room. We spent the next day thoroughly exhausted and though it was lovely weather, we laid in Agathe's living room and watched movies all day, moving as infrequently as possible.
The theme was Carnival! which is essentially the Dutch/Belgian equivalent of Mardigras. Everyone dressed up in costume; my friends Agathe, Jen, Christophe, Benjamin and I went as a group costume, The Power Rangers. It certainly made for an interesting night as later we moved the party to Molly's which is the local night club we frequent. So we went out on the town still dressed as power ranger.
I may or may not post pictures of this.
The night culminated in a sleepover at Agathe and Jen's flat where we moved all the mattresses into the living room. We spent the next day thoroughly exhausted and though it was lovely weather, we laid in Agathe's living room and watched movies all day, moving as infrequently as possible.
UL climbs the ranks
Heading into the intra-varsity Tourney, our polo team has climbed the ranks of the National League Division Three.
This weekend marked 5 wins in a row for the team as we beat University College Cork 10-4 Saturday night and played Blackrock again this morning securing also a 10-4 victory.
Our team should now be sitting at 4th or 3rd place in the league of 9 teams. We should qualify for the play offs and may be able to finish in the 3rd spot but the top two spots are fairly secured already.
This coming weekend is the Intra-Varsity Tournament hosted by NUIG (National University of Ireland - Galway) at their brand new sports complex. The tournament will have universities form all over Ireland but the big teams will be Queen's University from Belfast, DIT Dublin Institute of Technology, NUIG, and perhaps DCU or UCD (I always confuse the two) Dublin City University or University College Dublin.
Depending on the group draw for play on Friday we should have an ample shot at progressing pretty far into the tournament. There are some teams there we know we can beat and some we know we can atleast keep up with so the matches should be great. And for all else, The night life in Galway is brilliant.
This weekend marked 5 wins in a row for the team as we beat University College Cork 10-4 Saturday night and played Blackrock again this morning securing also a 10-4 victory.
Our team should now be sitting at 4th or 3rd place in the league of 9 teams. We should qualify for the play offs and may be able to finish in the 3rd spot but the top two spots are fairly secured already.
This coming weekend is the Intra-Varsity Tournament hosted by NUIG (National University of Ireland - Galway) at their brand new sports complex. The tournament will have universities form all over Ireland but the big teams will be Queen's University from Belfast, DIT Dublin Institute of Technology, NUIG, and perhaps DCU or UCD (I always confuse the two) Dublin City University or University College Dublin.
Depending on the group draw for play on Friday we should have an ample shot at progressing pretty far into the tournament. There are some teams there we know we can beat and some we know we can atleast keep up with so the matches should be great. And for all else, The night life in Galway is brilliant.
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