On March in Galway

Usually I do the average weather information at the beginning of the month, but this month I'm doing it at the end. Next month's will hopefully be tomorrow - making comparison quite easy! The general weather trend in Galway is generally cyclical (like everywhere) with December and January being the absolute worst (an hour of "sun" a day and a relative humidity approaching 90 with between 100 and 125mm of rain). March has been considerably nicer. The average high in March is just below 10 with the low around 3C. The wind speed averages to 10.6knots, and rainfall is all the way down to around 100mm. On top of that, we get an incredible 3.2 hours of "sun" per day! Which is pretty much amazing. But just wait to find out about April - apparently it CAN get better!

On St.Patrick's Day in Ireland

So I know it's been a while, but I've been gone. Easter break has been the past two weeks, allowing me a fair bit of traveling. I began my break with a visit from Lena (down from Sweden). We spent the majority of St.Patrick's Day in Dublin. Due to its proximity to Easter and Holy Week the holiday itself was moved and its status as a day of obligation was removed for the year. I wasn't in church for the moved date, and I don't think a whole lot of other people were, either. While its date was moved, it was still celebrated on the 17th - though celebrations began the previous Friday. It was quite similar to celebrations in the US, but in a way also similar to the 4th of July in the US. Green and orange were everywhere, various "Irish" costumes were worn, and everyone celebrated. Lena and I went to the parade (where she proved to me that to be small is definitely a disadvantage) and spent the morning about the city. In true Ireland fashion (not being insulting, it's just what I've found to be the case more often than at home) the parade started late. Half an hour late. The weather was absolutely gorgeous though, so it wasn't at all unpleasant to be out in. I'm completely convinced that side of the island is always sunny. It always is when I visit. Below I've included an RTÉ clip (from YouTube) of the parade:

On Connaught

While in Kilkenny about a month ago now, I stopped in at one of the small museums in town. My favorite exhibit was on Irish recent history, particularly the section involving Oliver Cromwell. What made it my favorite? A nice little board off to one side reading:

"...Cromwell tried once and for all to crush the Irish resistance by deporting thousands of Irishmen, using the catchphrase:

" 'To Hell or to Connaught!'

"At the sight of the poor and barren province of Connaught located to the west of Ireland, one of Cromwell's own generals observed that there was 'neither water enough to drown a man, nor tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury him.' "

It made me smile. It's really not that bad though, and can be quite scenic.

On Winter in Ireland and Photography

Yet another post, this time on visual art. RTÉ had a photography competition on "wintery scenes" (of Ireland). The winners and runners up etc. can be viewed at RTÉ's website. They're all fairly similar stylistically, but quite nice and very much natural Ireland.

On Music and Poetry

Continuing with the trend of including flash clips from YouTube, I've included a couple more here relating to Irish music. We've just begun covering the role of music in Irish culture in my Irish culture course here at NUIG, and it's by far my favorite part. Finally a topic worthwhile! (No offense to poetry but to me it is a waste of time and honestly, if it was important poets would just come out and say it instead of hiding it in allegories requiring hours of thought and interpretation). Then again I've no patience for poetry. Music I absolutely love though. The current musician we're covering is Sean O'Riada who composed the score to Mise Eire. For a bit of commentary (provided by BBC 4 via what else, YouTube):




For a beautiful singing of the song Róisín Dubh (from which O'Riada got his theme for his main composition of the piece) you can hear Caitlín Maude. You have to wait a moment to hear the vocals. The lyrics, provided, are as follows with the translation (this is one of many versions):

A Róisín, ná bíodh brón ort ná cás anois

Róisín, do not be sad or distressed now

Tá do phardún Ón bPapa is ón Róimh agat

You have your pardon from the Pope and Rome

Ta na bráithre ag teacht thar sáile 's iad ag triall thar muir,

The priests are travelling over the seas

Is ní cheilfear fíon Spáinneach ar mo Róisín Dubh

And Spanish wine will comfort my Róisín Dubh

Tá grá agam i mo lár duit le blain anois,

I have a lonely love for you for a year now

Grá ceilte, grá cásmhar, grá ciapaithe

Love hidden, love plaintive, love tormented

Grá a d’fhág mé gan sláinte, gan rian, gan rith

Love that has left me without health, without vigour, without energy

Is go brách, brách, gan aon fháil agam ar mo Róisín Dubh

And forever and ever, looking for my Róisín Dubh

Beidh an fharraige ina tuillte deagra is an spéir ina fuil.

The sea will flood with red and the sky will be blood

Beidh an saol so ina chogadh craorach de dhroim na gcnoc.

This world will be at war crimson war from the hilltops

Beidh gach gleann sléibhe ar fud na hÉireann is móinte ar crith

Every mountainy glen and bog throughout Ireland will shake

Lá éigin, sara n-éagfaidh mo Róisín Dubh.

Should me Róisín Dub die some day.

So I guess I do like poetry. Though I still say the vast majority wasn't even worth the time it took for the poet to write it.

On Dublin and Tourism

Most people I talk to here don't care overly much for Dublin; I don't either, but it's still a fun weekend and the commercial sure is cute.

On Dustin the Turkey

For those of you that haven't heard, Dustin the Turkey will be representing Ireland at this year's Eurovision competition. If you're interested, here he is: