A Farewell to Ireland

Last October I had the amazing opportunity to come to New York and perform my one-woman show. In the months leading up to my New York debut I spent a lot of time reflecting on my three years in Ireland. Over the summer while visiting my family in California I had this overwhelming feeling that my time in Ireland had come to a close. I still hadn't received a de facto visa (for reasons far beyond my control)and was not allowed to work in the country. What had once been a wonderful adventure was becoming a fearful, bureaucratic nightmare. While in California I visited the Musée Mécanique a museum devoted to vintage arcade games. I put a quarter into an old machine and this was my fortune "You are going to be greatly troubled by an important decision you have to make. Fear nothing, think clearly, act wisely and you will have the right answer to your worries."

I am not a superstitious person but I did feel it was serendipitous.  So I followed my gut instinct and decided that I would go to New York and spend some time there after my show in order to see if I wanted to stay. And I did. But it was such a difficult, heart-wrenching decision that is has taken me this long to even write it down in my blog, where I have documented my entire journey to Ireland.

It is a bittersweet farewell that I say to the fair Emerald Isle. My time in Ireland was an incredible adventure, it's difficult to put into words or to sum up three years into a few sentences. So I'll let my photos say it all.

Jameson Distillery on my 23rd birthday

Cliffs of Moher

Newgrange

My seal friend from Howth

Greystones, Co. Wicklow

The Big Shmoke

Christmas in Dublin

Co. Dublin

Top of the Sugar Loaf, Co. Wicklow

Dublin Castle

My cow friend in Sligo

Pint of the black stuff

St. Patrick's Day

Horse Fair in Smithfield

Co. Galway

Meeting the President of Ireland

Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Feeding a baby cow on a farm in Clare

The Burren, Co Clare

Sheep (of course)

Slainté!

Thank you to all my friends in Ireland for helping me make so many wonderful memories. I miss you and hopefully I will be back one day. And thank you to everyone who has read my rambling blog over the years. I am thinking of starting a blog about my new adventure in the Big Apple, so watch this space.

Shameless Self Promotion Post

So, as you may know, I'm performing a play I wrote, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gardaí in New York in October as part of the United Solo Festival! I have been very busy working on making changes to the script and doing a lot of other administrative and production related tasks. Being a full time artist is very time consuming, really.  So in lieu of an update about Ireland (it's raining) this is a shameless self promotion post. Sorry I am not sorry.

Please check out the blog for the play here.

Our Facebook page.

Follow us on Twitter.

And if you can spare a few bucks for our Indiegogo campaign it would really be appreciated.

And if you are able to come to the show you can book your tickets!

Thanks a million! Have a good weekend!

Photo Credit: Sarah Ahern

June Went By Too Fast

Oh my god. I know. But my usual excuse of being busy, well I've been really busy. Here's how busy, I'll break it down for you:

Since my last post I volunteered for the Dublin Dance Festival. I got to see a lot of amazing contemporary dance from international dancers. Despite living in Dublin for over two and a half years (that went fast!) I have never had the chance to see any of the Dublin Dance Festival before so it was really great to finally see some exciting performances.

Then I started rehearsals with the theatre company for a new project, my official title was research assistant which meant I got to combine my love of history and theatre and hit the books.

The next week I went to Lithuania with the theatre company for a meeting with one of European partners who are based in Vilnius. My grandmother on my dad's side was from Lithuania so it was great to see where she was from. Vilnius is a really beautiful city, I had always pictured Lithuania as a cold, dark place but it was actually sunny and warm.

Then it was my birthday! I am twenty-five now! I am not freaking out at all just kidding time for my quarter-life-crisis. To celebrate my birthday I decided to run a 10k. Because that's what you do when you turn 25, right? Don't worry the Irishman took me out to a really nice dinner afterwards to really celebrate/stuff my face.

I found out that my show got into the United Solo Festival in New York! So I will be performing in New York in October!  I'm very excited and also extremely nervous! Watch this space! New York here I come!

The next weekend I went to Leitrim with the theatre company for a seminar on clowning and how that can be used in work with peace and reconciliation. We also had a work in progress showing of the play that we are developing so we could get feedback. I got to participate in one of the workshops which was really fun and I've never really done any clowning before. I laughed so much. Plus, I got to keep my red clown nose!

The following weekend the Irishman and I went to his family's house for father's day. We spent the evening on a small barge on a canal enjoying a few drinks, as you do. Did I ever mention Ireland has canals? Well it does.

And then the Irishman and I went to San Francisco for a few days where we hung out with my brother and saw his swanky office, I ate all the fish tacos and avocados, and we crammed in a bit of sightseeing, shopping, and hipster coffee imbibing. Then we drove up to Ukiah where my cousin was to be wed, thus the purpose/excuse for a trip to San Fran. U.S. highway 1 is one of the most beautiful drives, my personal opinion, but also a fact. Seriously. Ok I might be a little biased because my family used to make that drive every year to get to my grandparents' house for Christmas so there might be a bit of nostalgia swaying this opinion of mine. But then of course because I cannot go anywhere without something not going according to plan we got lost and the Irishman's navigational skills took us through the narrowest, windiest logging road, then past a gorgeous lake, and finally through rolling vineyards that we could not stop for even though at this point I desperately needed a glass of wine. Anyways, the wedding was perfect and wonderful and amazing and on a vineyard and I cried and laughed a lot and drank lots of wine and the newlyweds are adorable and my family is the best.

And then we came back to Ireland, very jet-lagged, and I slept a lot. Then I went to yoga. We went to the Irishman's family to celebrate his nephew's first birthday! A year goes by so fast. Oh and there was cake. And now I am here in my newly cleaned apartment writing my blog. Whew! That was quite the catch-up!

Till next time! Which hopefully will be sooner rather than later!

On Growing Up

Ok. So it just wouldn't be my blog without a long period of absence and a lame excuse for said absence.

Anyways.

I've been dabbling in this thing called growing up. I think I might be turning into a grown up. This is a big step for someone who was raised watching Peter Pan (especially the Mary Martin version) and may have even attempted to fly only crashing to the floor along with the television. I survived. Moving on.

Evidence of growing up item 1: I cooked a fancy meal for the Irishman for his birthday. I managed to cook this meal within a reasonable amount of time (it was ready when I said it would be!) and it was the very first time I had ever cooked scallops or made risotto balls. I didn't burn anything and neither of us got food poisoning. Oh and it tasted amazing.

Scallops on a bed of spinach, mushrooms, and pancetta.

Panko crusted risotto balls stuffed with honey-goat cheese.

Evidence of growing up item 2: I went to the races! Ok, I don't really know if it us strictly a grown up thing as there were plenty of children running about but let's just go with it. I didn't wear a fancy hat but I did wear fancy shoes so that counts, right?  The whole time I was singing Ascot Gavotte from My Fair Lady in my head. Probably shouldn't have mentioned that last detail.

After the races we (the Irishman's family and I) went for drinks in a pub (naturally). There was a 21st birthday party on upstairs. I felt very old as I noted how short the girls' skirts were. I was merely showing my ankles. Seriously. We were invited to attend the 21st party but we declined. We later crashed a 60th birthday party (there was cake!) and then I began worrying about inevitably growing old and what I would look like when I'm 60.

Evidence of growing up item 3: I went to a live podcast put on by The Antiroom. It was a panel of women who work in writing/journalism/media discussing women, feminism, and literature. It was a nice evening of interesting conversation and I am looking forward to the next one. I went because Sheila Heti, a Canadian writer, was there and I had just finished reading her book "How Should a Person Be?". The book is witty and honest and I felt very relevant to where I am in my life trying to figure things out and wondering about this growing up thing. Oh and I got my book signed.

Evidence of growing up item 4: I took the Irishman away for the weekend. We went to Wexford and I drove a car on the opposite side of the road for the first time. We stayed in a B&B on a farm. I awoke to cows mooing. It was beautiful and nice to get away. The sun was out so it was almost like summer.

So I think I might be growing up, a bit. And that's ok, as long as it doesn't happen too fast. And I can still eat more cake.

Tulips, Chocolate Eggs...Spring?

The sun is out, the sun is out! Why am I on my laptop? Everyone run outside and soak up some sun and get some vitamin D. We're all vitamin D deficient at this point. Seriously though I do drink the supermilk that has extra vitamin D. It seems very dull to be writing about the weather but you see I have come to learn that living in Ireland knowing how to properly chat about the weather is a major part of social interaction. And it has been cold and raining and snowing recently so the fact that the sun is out is a major improvement on Ireland's ice queen attitude towards spring. I really want to go and plant some tulips or have a barbecue to celebrate the long awaited arrival of spring but I don't actually have a bbq or a garden. Plus any premature celebrations might scare the sun away. I have also learned in Ireland you must be very superstitious about the weather. And hopeful. We are going to have a scorching summer because the winter was so wet and miserable. Because that's how science works. Yeah.

Last weekend was Easter which is kind of a big deal here although I think it has to do more with chocolate eggs than the whole Jesus thing. At least it seemed all everyone around me could talk about was chocolate eggs. I was never allowed the ones with gooey stuff inside because my mom thought they were filled with unhealthy sugary chemical stuff (she is probably right) but I have since had my fair share of Cadbury caramel eggs and those things are amazing. On Good Friday alcohol is not allowed to be sold so all the pubs and off licenses are closed. It's a bit absurd because most people just stalk up on liquor earlier in the week. I was in a theatre so I was allowed to drink because theatre's are exempt from this rule. I guess artsy, creative types can hold their drink? Or maybe they're all such winos so they can't be helped. I mean it's in a theatre so it will stay classy, right? I don't know.

The Irishman has returned from Prague! On Saturday we walked around Dalkey for a change of scenery and on Sunday he made a roast for dinner. Yesterday there was some big horse race or something.

I saw two plays last week, I, Malvolio written and performed by Tim Crouch, a brilliant one man show re-telling the story of Twelfth Night all from the perspective of Malvolio. It was a different and exciting way of doing Shakespeare, really clever and humorous. Then I saw Monster/Clock by Collapsing Horse Theatre, an original work with puppets and an extremely talented ensemble and beautiful singing.

Alright, I'll sign off for today. Go get some sun!

Is It Still March?

Did you think I had forgotten? I did, sort of, briefly. Only for like a second. Ok I have been super busy. I would say the busiest but I know that some of the people I have been working with recently have been even busier which is just mind boggling. When do they sleep? Are they vampires?

For the rest of you who don't know what I am talking about (how could you?) I have been involved in not one but two festivals since February. First I was a returning volunteer for the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. It is an awesome gem of a festival and one of the highlights of my experience living in Ireland. If you get the chance go see After Lucia, Blancanieves, and Broken. Those were the only films I had time to see they also happened to be very good films. How is that for film criticism? Yeah, it's not really.

My campaign for Jameson Poster Girl

Then I was a part of the Jack Burdell Collaborations '13 Festival in which I wrote and performed  "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gardai". It was a wonderfully nerve-wracking adrenaline pumping few weeks and I am so proud of everyone who was a part of it and made this incredible festival happen. I got strep throat days before my show was to go up but two jars (not exaggerating) of honey with turmeric, antibiotics and lots of vitamin c later I found myself on stage. It was a challenging experience for me (in the best way) and I look forward to seeing the work that was in the festival as all the wonderfully talented artists grow and develop their pieces further.

My show! Photo Credit: Emma Kavanagh

Today was my first weekend off since the onslaught of festivals. I cleaned the entire apartment. It's nice and shiny now. Also I put all my shoes away as the Irishman was threatening to hide them from me if I did not remove them from the living room. It's bad enough I can't find my wooly pink sock I don't need missing shoes.

The Irishman is in Prague for work. I was supposed to go with him but as my current visa situation remains unresolved I can't risk leaving the country. Boo! I really wanted to go to Prague. It was on my list of places to go. And everyone has been telling me how beautiful it is.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. It will be the third year that I am in Ireland for this drunken debaucherous (I've decided that's a word) holiday. I am looking forward to being a scrooge and staying home because I don't want to deal with drunk, messy strangers. Over it.

Well that's a wrap! For now. More updates to come hopefully at a more regular schedule.

Rain, Races, and Fiddles!

You guys it has been raining/snowing/sleeting for at least the past ten days if not longer. I wish I were exaggerating but I'm not. The sun came out briefly this morning and it was the first time I had seen it in a long time. It's really miserable. I spent some time planning my trip to San Francisco (which isn't till June) to try and cheer myself up.

Somehow I have managed to pack in some early morning runs before the rain. I think I should get a medal. And I'm still doing hot yoga and I am less sore than I was after the first class. Progress!

The festival my play is in, Collaborations '13, has launched! I have been rehearsing and rewriting. It's getting exciting! We had a fundraiser and reached our goal, thanks to those of you who funded us! Now we can make some theatre!

Speaking of theatre I've seen two plays in the last week. The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle by 15th Oak Theatre Company and Follow by WillFredd Theatre Company. Both were beautiful, inspiring and thought-provoking pieces of theatre. If you get a chance to see either I would highly recommend!

I took the Irishman to a trad music concert as part of the Temple Bar Tradfest. You'd think it would be the other way around, right? That my Irish boyfriend would take me to experience some Irish culture. But alas, he is a philistine and I have to show him the arts. The first act was The Sands Family, and while they are a talented group, they really weren't my style. A little too over-sentimental for my taste. The next act was Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, the reason I dragged the Irishman to the concert in the first place. I saw them perform in California before and they really are amazing. I love the way the can improvise together as if they can read each others' minds. The crowd went crazy for them and as it was performed in the Christchurch Cathedral the acoustics were incredible.

Yesterday the Irishman took me to the horse races! This was the first time that I had ever been to a horse race and I must admit I was a bit naive about the whole thing. I think I read too many books like Black Beauty and Seabiscuit. I put on a few bets, based purely on whether or not I liked the horses' name, and I didn't make a penny. The Irishman won two bets. Not exactly a great day for winning. But it was still great fun despite the rain. And I felt like a local sitting back with a hot whiskey and complaining about my losses. Next time I have been told we are going to a fancy race where I can dress up. Just like in My Fair Lady. Come on Dover!

I took that photo in the blue twilight of a cold evening the other night.

That's all for now!