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.
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| Jameson Distillery on my 23rd birthday |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Newgrange |
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| My seal friend from Howth |
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| Greystones, Co. Wicklow |
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| The Big Shmoke |
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| Christmas in Dublin |
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| Co. Dublin |
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| Top of the Sugar Loaf, Co. Wicklow |
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| Dublin Castle |
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| My cow friend in Sligo |
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| Pint of the black stuff |
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| St. Patrick's Day |
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| Horse Fair in Smithfield |
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| Co. Galway |
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| Meeting the President of Ireland |
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| Blackrock, Co. Dublin |
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| Blackrock, Co. Dublin |
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| Feeding a baby cow on a farm in Clare |
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| The Burren, Co Clare |
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| Sheep (of course) |
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| 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.
