Long Time No Post/Family!

Hello world, it has been awhile since I have posted and I apologize, but give me a break, I'm in Ireland you know! Anyway, I have been keeping busy with class and excursions as well as cooking, doing dishes, sleeping, and well, having an amazing time!
This week was pretty low key for the most part, after returning from our adventure in Connemara. Class has been going well and for the most part has been interesting, although 3 hour lectures get rather long... Regardless of the class, religion, history, archaeology, it all is history so I am definitely getting my fill of history for the year, or next few years.
In a very gracious gesture, Professor Davis, our director, canceled our excursion and class on Thursday giving us a free day to relax, finish work before our trip to Westport, and enjoy ourselves. Possibly the most exciting part of Thursday though was the arrival of my backpack! Oh and Eric and Anna showed up and surprised me at the PLH! It was so awesome to see them and it will be awesome to see them again on Sunday! Thursday happened to be Arthur's day here in Ireland, celebrating the 250th birthday of Guinness beer, so there was lots going on in Galway. All 28 of us, 29 including Allison, our assistant director, went into Galway to celebrate. Eric and Anna met up with myself and my 4 cottage mates at the Spanish arches, went and ate some fish and chips, and proceeded to have a great night with some Guinness and lots of fun. It was awesome to have them out with my friends, I think everyone enjoyed themselves! I am very excited to see them again on Sunday before they head out for Dingle!

As for the rest of the weekend, we are in the town of Westport, in County Mayo, north of County Galway. Today we visited the Ballintubber Abbey, the only Abbey built by an Irish king still in use today, it was built in 1216. We learned much about the abbey, how it was built, how it was destroyed during the reformation, and how it was rebuilt and restored to it's current state. After Ballintubber Abbey we ventured farther into County Mayo to Foxford and the Foxford Woolen Mills, a working wollen mill that makes beautiful blankets, scarves, sweaters, tweed coats, and other wollen products. It was a very cool place and it was really cool seeing how all the mechanized looms and weaving machines worked and spun out these amazing, beautiful woollen products. After Foxford we visited a cultural center, which ended up being the sight of a man and his family's home and where this man had grown up in a small, 3 room cottage where 3 generations of his family lived together in the cottage. We learned about daily life and migrant workers like his father, who he did not know until he was 14 years old, due to being a migrant worker himself. We learned about the history and past culture of County Mayo and the west of Ireland. It was a very interesting and educational tour that lasted for a good 2 hours. At the end of it all we had homemade tea and scones with the man and his wife, it was excellent!

We arrived in Westport around 6 this evening and made dinner here in the hostel and have been more or less bumming around most of the evening. We have a busy day tomorrow starting at 8:30 when we leave to climb the famed Croagh Patrick. Croagh Patrick is the 3rd highest mountain in Ireland and is most famously known as a pilgrammage sight because of St. Patrick making a pilgrimage from Ballintubber Abbey to the peak of Croagh Patrick. As St. Patrick did this pilgrimage barefoot, many people attempt the pilgrimage barefoot also, as Pat will attempt tomorrow! I am excited for the history behind this hike and to climb the 3rd highest mountain in Ireland, it should be challenging and fun! We have several other stops after Croagh Patrick but as it is late and I am tired I don't remember them at the moment, I will update you tomorrow, Sunday, or in the future of the other experiences that tomorrow will bring. Along with the entry, I hope to have some more photos to share with everyone of Westport, Croagh Patrick, and various other things!

I hope all is well and that the rain isn't too horrible for all of you back home, I need to get some rest! Night!