My first writing trip to Ireland was to stay at Anam Cara Retreat on the Beara Peninsula near the village of Eyeries. The name Anam Cara means “soul friend” in Irish; it was chosen, in part, to pay tribute to the work and writing of John O’Donohue. The hostess, Sue Booth-Forbes is an experienced writerContinue reading “Writers’ Retreat in Ireland”
Category Archives: Blog
Travel for Spancil Hill
My first trip to Ireland was many years ago when I was younger and more adventurous. I was in London for a conference and decided to delay my departure back to the states and go see Ireland. My research, this is before Google, turned up two ways to go: fly or take a ferry. IContinue reading “Travel for Spancil Hill”
Last day of class at UCD
The students presented their website to the staff of the UCD Summer program. They talked about their stories, were animated in their descriptions, and made me quite proud of them and their accomplishments. After class I met up with Maruja (my former graduate student who lives in Dublin) and we had lunch and talked andContinue reading “Last day of class at UCD”
Private Lives at the Gate Theatre, Dublin
Idling around the upper section above the Liffey River in Dublin, I had a ticket to see “Private Lives.” I got there early and they were serving tea in china cups in the lobby for early patrons. The doors opened into an old but renovated theatre with no center aisle but cushioned seats. I wasContinue reading “Private Lives at the Gate Theatre, Dublin”
High Tea at UCD
High Tea at the University College Dublin was to be an event we were not to miss. The administration told us that we needed to register to attend. The registration would open at 9 AM. At 9:05 AM, the program assistant interrupted class to alert the students that the registration was open. Every student immediatelyContinue reading “High Tea at UCD”
Galway Trip with 18 people
Warnings shot through my brain when the 3 trips to the Hueston Train station resulted in our group booking did not allow us to print out the tickets…no one, program assistant, me, nor the Duty Officer in charge. So….we boarded the train with our booking page only and the duty officer’s card with all ofContinue reading “Galway Trip with 18 people”
Stones in his pockets
I saw a play tonight. There was a dinner in the banquet hall before. The rain was fierce and I had to hop off the bus after a 20 minute ride was taking an hour and walk to Wood Quay and the Smock Theatre. I was late and sat at trestle tables with other folks.Continue reading “Stones in his pockets”
Jazz Brunch and Macintosh
Sunday morning in Dublin had 12 tour buses unloading on Nassau Street outside of Trinity College with hundreds of people walking on the sidewalks. My first reaction was there would be no way I would get a table at the Kilkenny Design Store upstairs restaurant where they have a jazz brunch. Working in my favorContinue reading “Jazz Brunch and Macintosh”
Day trip to Wicklow Mountains
Bus was to leave from the Molly Malone statue at 8:15 AM, translated that meant that I had to catch the 7:15 AM bus 37A from UCD to get there in time. I planned ahead, had fruit in a bag for breakfast, got the bus, got there, saw lots of groups come and go butContinue reading “Day trip to Wicklow Mountains”
lunch in Dublin
Wandering around in St. Stephen’s Park, through the shopping center layered in white gingerbread trims, and found lunch near the Gaiety Theatre in the Temple Bar area, Sheehan’s. I had a Guiness beef pie with chips and a glass of Shiraz. Satisfied me for the entire day.
Leara Rhodes 