from Ireland with Love: June 2012

Last Thursday A Thoroughly Good Blue was invited to read from our anthology at a local bookshop in Dublin. Although not as huge a crowd as we garnered for the official launch back in May, we had a good crowd and I had my support group of friends by my side. It was another great experience and another step in my writers journey.

We toasted with wine and had a great time and then my friends and I went out on the town as has become our usual custom to celebrate!

The fabulous photos below are a sample of those taken at the reading - courtesy of my classmate John and his great camera.

Our anthologies on display.

For a few weeks leading up to the launch the bookshop had a poster of ours up in their window and our books up for all to see in the front display.

Me, reading from and excerpt of my novel.

Two weekends ago (June 15th) I went on an impromptu excursion to Buncrana, Donegal.

It was an amazing weekend, so nice to be out of the big city and the chaos of Dublin and just breathe in the fresh countryside air. The views were amazing and honestly, of all the places I've visited in Ireland so far, this little town tucked away in the north west of the island was by far the most beautiful I've seen. The rugged and untouched landscape was what made this place so amazing. I woke up the first morning to the sound of sheep bahhiing in the front yard and ran to the window with the biggest smile on my face. The first day was full of rain so we went on a car ride, toured the town of Buncrana (which took all of 5 minutes :P) and then went to see Prometheus in Derry, Northern Ireland. Buncrana is about a 30 minute drive away from the border which was perfect.

On Sunday, we went on the quad bike, up the hillside behind the house and it was one of the most fun times I've had in a while. Peaceful and calm with views like I've never seen before. Then we jumped in the car and went for a drive through several small towns to get to Malin Head. The most northern tip of Ireland. You can't go no further! Apparently on a clear day you can even see Scotland.

I was sad to leave, can't wait to go back.

Before I even made it Ireland I remember hearing from several people back home who had visited Ireland that Donegal was gorgeous. Now that I've seen it I can completely understand what those people mean.

Suited up for the Quad. I was wearing my own clothes, then a pair of old track suit bottoms, a hoody and then this pair of blue coveralls. I also had gloves and a hat.

I was laughing as I got ready but was thankful later when the wind made my eyes tear up. There is definitely a method to the madness.

Up by the windmills, exploring on the Quad.

The Sheeps!

Rolling turf - part of every Irish childhood and apparently a very unpleasant job!

Onwards to Malin Head

Rocks...

View from the bottom.

We thought we saw a Puffin fly by and got really excited....turns out it wasn't a Puffin.

Past visitors wrote out their names all over this hill in stones. One super large one spells out Eire (Ireland in Gaelic) and we later realized it was written using huge pieces of cement and rocks...must have taken ages.

We started walking along the cliffs and came upon this burnt out car. We were both fascinated by it and the randomness of it being all alone in this remote place. Figured it must have been a crime dump - burning the car to get rid of risky evidence! So naturally we started snapping pictures.