May 26 2009
School at Tipperary Institute
The people at Tipperary were some of the nicest people found on our journey. From Angela the most gracious host arranging receptions and trips to Hedge schools, Coolmore, and Irish dancing, she made sure we saw the best of her beautiful country. Derek, an irish man raised in England who came back to marry irish, working at the college also made himself quite hospitable. The facilities reminded me much of Pellissippi, being a modern building amongst the older ones. The lunch everyday at the College was quite good, I personally recommend the panninis or the ham and cheese. School was enriching with full text versions of multiple plays, by authors such as Harold Pinter and James Joyce. Poems (my favorite genre) by authors such as: Eavan Boland, Seamus Heaney and Yeats. One of my favorite lines that describe the Irish so well,
I loved his whole manner
Sure-Footed but too sly
His deadpan sidling tact
His fisherman’s quick eye
And turned observant back.
- Seamus Heaney (Casualty)
What made the experience of leaning Irish Literature(mostly) in the setting it was written is how you can transplant yourself back in the time it was written as you see the history still on Ireland’s landscapes. Elaine is constantly teaching History while we are learning Literature and effortlessly we are retaining it. It makes every poem become more alive to us as we understand why our authors are writing and why we are remembering.