tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86830966742003530702024-03-19T12:03:46.595-07:00My Irish ObsessionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-70582648648711615422013-05-03T12:31:00.003-07:002013-05-03T12:31:24.929-07:00My Favorite Irish Writers
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When it comes to the writers, I can’t rank them. They are
all equally good and I love them all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are in no particular order:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo1gVjYZN9Ubxv55OE0Cr_roV425ME6F7HFxjOwfGAJzLftBk6_qf7SsLcO_UXCXpq3BBCHFQmKMF8jxuohhJ-Pj6KyRFaTVwNPV2lIjpar7eIvumvORXFqE7TP2jf5FjWznF0lOp6dlL/s1600/jonathan+swift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo1gVjYZN9Ubxv55OE0Cr_roV425ME6F7HFxjOwfGAJzLftBk6_qf7SsLcO_UXCXpq3BBCHFQmKMF8jxuohhJ-Pj6KyRFaTVwNPV2lIjpar7eIvumvORXFqE7TP2jf5FjWznF0lOp6dlL/s1600/jonathan+swift.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Jonathan Swift-</strong> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gulliver’s
Travels</i> was the first work by Jonathan Swift I read<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Oscar Wilde-</strong> I read him the first time in junior high, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Importance of Being Ernest<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfa-WKOmDw36rFWRXQ1oPjJrGaFgGQXakiPetbXrXLKYAU0xca8Vph0lDtkOlU5_JyaxjsE1OYCmrn4usMXtMxNUMvQzrkzV4gynXXrKkTnOG_9XtUmNvMBNDcvUMeA2cRWcWd_y9Dxow/s1600/pygmalion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfa-WKOmDw36rFWRXQ1oPjJrGaFgGQXakiPetbXrXLKYAU0xca8Vph0lDtkOlU5_JyaxjsE1OYCmrn4usMXtMxNUMvQzrkzV4gynXXrKkTnOG_9XtUmNvMBNDcvUMeA2cRWcWd_y9Dxow/s1600/pygmalion.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnRlsJqz9jGEvtVnfjVBef6F3gae_34DtqFmyjwnyzlQnH0p_WkZYYGfqmOirNhMi5cjLUW4T7l5fXjVjMcpkiVJMcAsj2QnCb_EnV4CHMh-kxrfb8dp5pQ6Dyib3UQFyY2TaQ-3EHKE/s1600/george+bernard+shaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnRlsJqz9jGEvtVnfjVBef6F3gae_34DtqFmyjwnyzlQnH0p_WkZYYGfqmOirNhMi5cjLUW4T7l5fXjVjMcpkiVJMcAsj2QnCb_EnV4CHMh-kxrfb8dp5pQ6Dyib3UQFyY2TaQ-3EHKE/s1600/george+bernard+shaw.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>George Bernard Shaw-</strong> I read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pygmalion</i> for a high school lit. class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>James Joyce-</strong> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ulysses</i>
was assigned in a different lit. class<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhyphenhyphenXnQN-76DGY9R06HMggKu8VM1lyj-uKhEH8IszNYZXM9JGUIpOvh8HtE-rl-N-wZ9guq4fEhgLz3NK-xmoHUHhmlmIrzsxzyZb5i4GLaRY6eck7GzmwFdrWTp2Hjj5Xc8lmF8JHJyMw/s1600/narnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhyphenhyphenXnQN-76DGY9R06HMggKu8VM1lyj-uKhEH8IszNYZXM9JGUIpOvh8HtE-rl-N-wZ9guq4fEhgLz3NK-xmoHUHhmlmIrzsxzyZb5i4GLaRY6eck7GzmwFdrWTp2Hjj5Xc8lmF8JHJyMw/s1600/narnia.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEuxsFrVK1IyqE6Zw8nmzT5q3x9E4jjrFILOL43HlUsqNvghfUJ8wxdiCMYKKVqf3UrLyLkEk8VLAVOsXnqvNqxLoyuLczdiLb-MAJxgcf-gbe4QZti2EDfsyu6880L-Ru584y4l1o2mf/s1600/c.s.+lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEuxsFrVK1IyqE6Zw8nmzT5q3x9E4jjrFILOL43HlUsqNvghfUJ8wxdiCMYKKVqf3UrLyLkEk8VLAVOsXnqvNqxLoyuLczdiLb-MAJxgcf-gbe4QZti2EDfsyu6880L-Ru584y4l1o2mf/s1600/c.s.+lewis.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>C. S. Lewis-</strong> I first read him in elementary school with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Chronicles of Narnia<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-76388474488522136912013-05-03T10:49:00.001-07:002013-05-03T10:49:29.391-07:00The Blarney StoneThe Blarney Stone is located in the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney, which is around 8 kilometers from Cork, Ireland. According to the legend, anyone who kisses the stone will be given the gift of gab. Over the years, millions of people have kissed the Blarney Stone. In order to kiss the stone, the person must climb the battlements, and lean backwards over the edge. I don't know if I'd be able to do this. I don't mind heights as long as I know I won't fall. Dangling upside down over a high drop does not make me feel safe. I can't imagine what it would have been like before they installed the safeguards. I wouldn't have trusted another person to hang on to my ankles as they hung me over the edge. I still want to see the Blarney Stone, but now I'm not sure I have the guts to try to kiss it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYlwQfrf5q0TdpliU_Ohe-jmJ9FwyPLepBFJ9P0tJu5VBU2dnvTwR4eIGQ3ze3HqviqEviaApM0Xcjbus6CyxSyi2vi-_0Chw85EbKboZ4vHS4HYMZ4znj6x9aVIjXGiu1MSw3KiFpAnK/s1600/blarney+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYlwQfrf5q0TdpliU_Ohe-jmJ9FwyPLepBFJ9P0tJu5VBU2dnvTwR4eIGQ3ze3HqviqEviaApM0Xcjbus6CyxSyi2vi-_0Chw85EbKboZ4vHS4HYMZ4znj6x9aVIjXGiu1MSw3KiFpAnK/s1600/blarney+castle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blarney Castle, the battlements where the stone is located</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLae2X8diLCHt0KYpS96l24_EuRX-If_7N2yV4sXOUdA7Kydx76t6GtTxOpsETtqz4tyHmNG0tjfzJH2fuiMF0tVF0D3NKZRFJfbTeH9jEIGze3a8tvxRin-uaQokVPQisjn1wuWGeNGC/s1600/fake+blarney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLae2X8diLCHt0KYpS96l24_EuRX-If_7N2yV4sXOUdA7Kydx76t6GtTxOpsETtqz4tyHmNG0tjfzJH2fuiMF0tVF0D3NKZRFJfbTeH9jEIGze3a8tvxRin-uaQokVPQisjn1wuWGeNGC/s1600/fake+blarney.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only this is what the Blarney Stone actually was,<br />
then it would be much easier for me to kiss it</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Kissing the Blarney Stone</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-86285514384907554022013-05-03T10:19:00.001-07:002013-05-03T10:19:48.107-07:00My Favorite Irish Musicians<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Warning, the views in this post are totally subjective, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-6ZFLH65I4f5xRgAzEdF-hp55TwRsfsweCwNrWzXyKDaoMpI6uMG8DK6IEX63OabZ50OEWw-vZUbcB09y2yVqJMYfWGPc47qz498zMqX7GKgCUxQ2iR40mz2awEQFkgar4Hk-YHsrc-h/s1600/enya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-6ZFLH65I4f5xRgAzEdF-hp55TwRsfsweCwNrWzXyKDaoMpI6uMG8DK6IEX63OabZ50OEWw-vZUbcB09y2yVqJMYfWGPc47qz498zMqX7GKgCUxQ2iR40mz2awEQFkgar4Hk-YHsrc-h/s1600/enya.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">#4 Enya- Enya has the voice of an angel. The first song of hers
I heard was “May It Be.” Since then I’ve discovered more of her music and I
enjoy it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">#3 U2- One of the most successful Irish bands of all time, I
can’t remember the first time I heard one of U2’s songs, it was so long ago.
Like Enya, I enjoy all of their music.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">#2 Van Morrison-Van Morrison get second place just for his
song, “Brown Eyed Girl.” This was my song growing up because I was the only one
of my siblings with brown eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">#1 Celtic Thunder- Celtic Thunder is amazing! I have almost
all of their albums and have been to several of their concerts. All the guys
have amazing voices and they blend together beautifully.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-5747137839953671962013-05-03T06:26:00.001-07:002013-05-03T06:26:13.657-07:00Newgrange
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Newgrange is a prehistoric monument built over 5,000 years
ago as a tomb and temple comparable to modern day cathedrals. It was built in
County Meath during the Neolithic period, which means it is older than the
pyramids or Stonehenge. Newgrange is a large, circular shaped mound with an inner
passageway that leads to a chamber inside. The retaining wall around it is
surrounded by large stones decorated with artwork.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3qFGQtP7YYN3wsDkEGHDNHBFI3SjqszMCqLNi8SdwbGVnDV25hEr_Z8w0xfbtHaj3SSHQc_0IQk50EA3bVtzvjaZRhsFhyphenhyphen9xDX__vTBY27XauJZq-aBfe6n-NRrGin8UZG-FRKeczi1t/s1600/Newgrange+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3qFGQtP7YYN3wsDkEGHDNHBFI3SjqszMCqLNi8SdwbGVnDV25hEr_Z8w0xfbtHaj3SSHQc_0IQk50EA3bVtzvjaZRhsFhyphenhyphen9xDX__vTBY27XauJZq-aBfe6n-NRrGin8UZG-FRKeczi1t/s1600/Newgrange+Art.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the artwork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMcMB6RlP05XH9uRvQ8to1k6ysTGoWF8lERiLstu6XZlyV0QMM_25FSFtaR5lf1QRrjYFYSFlLl6UAOH-B5ImBFNQHz_ooHF5Vb_W_9sxyDF8tlFj2O0I7ziw2GTsbFA5roctHiX9HUu9/s1600/Newgrange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMcMB6RlP05XH9uRvQ8to1k6ysTGoWF8lERiLstu6XZlyV0QMM_25FSFtaR5lf1QRrjYFYSFlLl6UAOH-B5ImBFNQHz_ooHF5Vb_W_9sxyDF8tlFj2O0I7ziw2GTsbFA5roctHiX9HUu9/s1600/Newgrange.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newgrange from a distance</td></tr>
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Newgrange is probably best known for the winter solstice,
when the passageway and chamber are lightened by the rising sun. From December
19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> to 23<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>, at dawn, a beam of light pierces the small
window above the entrance and as the sun, the beam grows to illuminate the
whole chamber. Newgrange is an extraordinarily accurate time-telling device
that was most likely used to mark the beginning of the new year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCc7UoN7e_GXLYgDvHhiidkv6jk7S5MPyjZUxK-tNCLbY7a_jnkkW8sO0JLU3NQ5hqhIdX5X4gjWd1aqFrTJ0rRq8BcdeZacCZgJhr5mb0X8PWsqHkw3qggeMOrM9ppDwaajbkEoiXzaa6/s1600/Newgrange+winter+solstice+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmvcY3zdK2QfvEv9pUmMcwTgJGRrKrWDdLEsT8sSUOpMZs-swxYnLeM807_6qgD4ZZrwzc5-0D-ESWAumTvRYWON8vdYdFVoa1L3dOFkfLa6HPAIdFjCxiOarWQuelW4cemUeTdnFVhZT/s1600/Newgrange+winter+solstice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA1hN4r7PneHccVkJj5heE8WCZLjv_cse7dZgEDqpQyhSCkfSAoGU96sDF-HKkW3jZ3tCStKYMDSCr1e2JVRrIY7qi2gPs9JzVIZFzfA1hE5ONQebTCsE0s_JOtd-fGEpXW0k98s4KnOI/s1600/new+newgrange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA1hN4r7PneHccVkJj5heE8WCZLjv_cse7dZgEDqpQyhSCkfSAoGU96sDF-HKkW3jZ3tCStKYMDSCr1e2JVRrIY7qi2gPs9JzVIZFzfA1hE5ONQebTCsE0s_JOtd-fGEpXW0k98s4KnOI/s1600/new+newgrange.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Winter Solstice sun rise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, this post is totally subjective. You don’t have to
agree with my choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfKOK6z0TwBWtwVsr-OL-znkjyZnuPidCIN_eP3QLob5dFBxpfJeVIwO2LsdvtJpf84odVXDNTpggzFx-nP_u7zVoe6WpYscPC5ut667HuoQ8vZvp7LI8GJ0MkakumLdKnG_Bw6shvc04/s1600/Saiorse+Ronan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfKOK6z0TwBWtwVsr-OL-znkjyZnuPidCIN_eP3QLob5dFBxpfJeVIwO2LsdvtJpf84odVXDNTpggzFx-nP_u7zVoe6WpYscPC5ut667HuoQ8vZvp7LI8GJ0MkakumLdKnG_Bw6shvc04/s1600/Saiorse+Ronan.jpg" height="200" width="136" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#4 Saoirse Ronan-</strong> I first saw her as young Briony in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atonement </i>and then again in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lovely Bones</i> as Susie. Recently she
starred in the movie adaption of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Host.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#3 Katie McGrath-</strong>She was in one episode of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tudors</i> and for the last few years she played Morgana on the
wildly popular show <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Merlin</i>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDfEF7_VTRoDKWBzM7craHCQmLvPQxL6qWf5HLnzaDDyPvENzZFjfGKE95b6GRHU4qqr6TzxeVI0-AnQObSJwGCJ0M7RVkNq5-hD5Un2J_BITDqaWVhVt71WmajrnRWaJMX9Wp-W1fvpp/s1600/sarah+bolger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDfEF7_VTRoDKWBzM7craHCQmLvPQxL6qWf5HLnzaDDyPvENzZFjfGKE95b6GRHU4qqr6TzxeVI0-AnQObSJwGCJ0M7RVkNq5-hD5Un2J_BITDqaWVhVt71WmajrnRWaJMX9Wp-W1fvpp/s1600/sarah+bolger.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#2 Sarah Bolger-</strong> Sarah Bolger got to work with Jonathon Rhys
Meyers on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tudors</i> as Mary Tudor.
Recently, she has played Princess Aurora on the hit show <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Once Upon a Time</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<strong>#1 Evanna Lynch- </strong>Evanna Lynch comes first in my line up for the
simple reason that she was Luna Lovegood in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harry Potter </i>movies and no one is better than Luna.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-12191592821113484992013-05-03T00:15:00.000-07:002013-05-03T00:15:43.259-07:00My Favorite Irish Actors
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Warning! This post is completely subjective! These are <u>my
</u>favorite Irish actors. I don’t expect them to be everyone else’s I am sure
my tastes are different from others. As you can tell, my favorites tend to have
been in at least one sci-fi/fantasy movie or TV show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#5 James Nesbitt-</strong> I first saw James Nesbitt in the BBC show <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jekyll</i> and I only grew to like him more as Bofur in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hobbit</i> movie.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeuvmdGbWF-EI5YIeX9PaxZyNiDNQhLfAwPMdQM4d5Abf58HyvXAO4j4FzrHegJezW1_xh2KWVXLRR5pkOcMyT9iwicGR59eLSB3yZvnUY_7u4Y4rVXm4b-i4q03gomZaeOxTnq977VX0/s1600/Jack+Gleeson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeuvmdGbWF-EI5YIeX9PaxZyNiDNQhLfAwPMdQM4d5Abf58HyvXAO4j4FzrHegJezW1_xh2KWVXLRR5pkOcMyT9iwicGR59eLSB3yZvnUY_7u4Y4rVXm4b-i4q03gomZaeOxTnq977VX0/s1600/Jack+Gleeson.jpg" height="320" width="302" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#4 Jack Gleeson-</strong>Jack Gleeson plays the sadistic King Joffrey on HBO’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Game of Thrones</i> and he is so good he makes it easy to hate him. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYGzcKHNW9MRzFRLLT-RLq13TQ7Y2G065e-IqfJ-U_ALAoiSNhOTTjT-D_QPJQQ8sqk9hyphenhyphenQ4yJS5BBLxEMNfYOcmCxF_6rndVdCfEP0tvsaevLYNoEI9FVqvdWm4bXnh2yGBcxu2PuITh/s1600/Liam+Neeson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYGzcKHNW9MRzFRLLT-RLq13TQ7Y2G065e-IqfJ-U_ALAoiSNhOTTjT-D_QPJQQ8sqk9hyphenhyphenQ4yJS5BBLxEMNfYOcmCxF_6rndVdCfEP0tvsaevLYNoEI9FVqvdWm4bXnh2yGBcxu2PuITh/s1600/Liam+Neeson.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#3 Liam Neeson-</strong>Liam Neeson was Qui-Gon Jinn when I saw him for the first time in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars</i>. Since then, he has appeared in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clash of the Titans</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Taken</i> and my love for him continues to grow.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CiGfYiCO_EkOv4IKdDWzVf_JYz2cIhQ3aM_vjoiYeTFQSYqJ9y8yfTWi0yXETmTXnvs8_wzAQrXP3oSjRzm24ROSjyn9hPmvqmCWCeRFR2ZKk5Q6lDFaC8G8S4NDi79fPGemLnBX009r/s1600/Aidan+Turner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CiGfYiCO_EkOv4IKdDWzVf_JYz2cIhQ3aM_vjoiYeTFQSYqJ9y8yfTWi0yXETmTXnvs8_wzAQrXP3oSjRzm24ROSjyn9hPmvqmCWCeRFR2ZKk5Q6lDFaC8G8S4NDi79fPGemLnBX009r/s1600/Aidan+Turner.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#2 Aidan Turner-</strong> Aidan Turner has played two characters that I love; Kili in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hobbit</i> and Mitchell in the UK version of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Being Human</i> TV series. When I learned that he was going to be in the upcoming <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mortal Instruments</i> movie, he cemented his place as number two in my heart.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexpGPDtDKwWuA3hNQl_VU7ttw4L8rnz7CvMqxPZQ4F7gWeirQGkpkOvLP4-ZEMJtPC5QFzQqjpfSSEvmSfb1-WXiXlW16wzQGS_zmoAESeIUmnqln7BWMlXA22FxfJenBDnaOAkrfHMT-/s1600/Johnathan+Rhys+Meyers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexpGPDtDKwWuA3hNQl_VU7ttw4L8rnz7CvMqxPZQ4F7gWeirQGkpkOvLP4-ZEMJtPC5QFzQqjpfSSEvmSfb1-WXiXlW16wzQGS_zmoAESeIUmnqln7BWMlXA22FxfJenBDnaOAkrfHMT-/s1600/Johnathan+Rhys+Meyers.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>#1 Jonathan Rhys Meyers-</strong> I first fell in love with him as Joe in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bend It Like Beckham </i>and my love has only grown through the years as I’ve seen him in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">August Rush</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Tudors</i> and his appearance in the upcoming <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mortal Instruments</i> movie has sealed the deal. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the best!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-90984939269209071642013-05-02T20:22:00.000-07:002013-05-02T20:22:42.146-07:00Phoenix Park
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Phoenix Park was established in 1669 A.D. and at 1752 acres
it is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces in any European capital
city. The President of Ireland’s residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, is found in
the park along with the residence of the U.S. Ambassador. There are several things
to see and do in the Park, including the Victorian People’s Flower Garden- a display
of Victorian horticulture, the Papal Cross- built when Pope John Paul II performed
an open-air mass in 1979, and Dublin Zoo- birthplace of Cairbre, the lion
mascot of MGM film studio and current home of over 650 animals from all around
the world. The park is also home to a wild herd of Fallow deer.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut7wCZ8oNV9tik5bcRM-uNRhoHn8ong5fiTqhfXDdlnTPGR5OoaXDw2wBAGcdCUchyphenhyphen-FQxYb9b_9YXxxhe2wAyyg_pDAog7ou0-e_ft0HixqpkOFpWtxLttUzBWR3d-7Hm-NxgsktUaj3/s1600/deer+and+cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut7wCZ8oNV9tik5bcRM-uNRhoHn8ong5fiTqhfXDdlnTPGR5OoaXDw2wBAGcdCUchyphenhyphen-FQxYb9b_9YXxxhe2wAyyg_pDAog7ou0-e_ft0HixqpkOFpWtxLttUzBWR3d-7Hm-NxgsktUaj3/s320/deer+and+cross.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fallow deer with the Papal Cross in the distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tGprAO9nzHMiPE4qk5KMYUivhzKPIi7egcwCvC3k_9Zghhj4sSnSI7qi3IVwWLRI9xaF1CGoAqlb-ItuvkrGt3UIHhxqTkZd5jitOv0XEUrmYwepQSwQLUnpQVi7kfDAcVYO06r2Fogf/s1600/MGM+lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tGprAO9nzHMiPE4qk5KMYUivhzKPIi7egcwCvC3k_9Zghhj4sSnSI7qi3IVwWLRI9xaF1CGoAqlb-ItuvkrGt3UIHhxqTkZd5jitOv0XEUrmYwepQSwQLUnpQVi7kfDAcVYO06r2Fogf/s1600/MGM+lion.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caribre as the MGM mascot</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Some video of the President's home.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-1143905547425894852013-05-02T16:48:00.002-07:002013-05-02T16:48:29.177-07:00St. Patrick's Cathedral<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My first thought when I saw St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin was <em>whoa. </em>The sheer size of the cathedral was impressive and the ornateness of the décor was stunning.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nZJ9uTHp3gX2kw1fOh2ioNvgd4xAZFBDzoIhSZZD4Pds4ef6k7OVZR7r7MT46mxt_v3LQcJLfFcGekSeD-Bt8UoQGFGO0w0Upm_5m8j8bSb9IwxIkWjJhfWXPaROMWzv5ZyhvYe-n6Y5/s1600/imagesCAEWIMSX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nZJ9uTHp3gX2kw1fOh2ioNvgd4xAZFBDzoIhSZZD4Pds4ef6k7OVZR7r7MT46mxt_v3LQcJLfFcGekSeD-Bt8UoQGFGO0w0Upm_5m8j8bSb9IwxIkWjJhfWXPaROMWzv5ZyhvYe-n6Y5/s1600/imagesCAEWIMSX.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even more impressive was the history behind the cathedral.
It was at this site that St. Patrick is believed to have baptized Christians
around the year 450 AD, the first account of there being a building here dates
to 890 AD, and the current cathedral was built between the years 1220-1260 AD.
This site has been occupied for over 1000 years! It’s mind-blowing to me that
this kind of architecture was being built before the Americas were even
discovered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where I’m from, it’s
difficult to find a building that dates back to the 1700s. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f35u4JEVvEQ78_RflR2IUOuF7PvYK7jXECTrMEJZq4fbhvAokWFgJFeAS6dMgLyjhfMCJUgDgQW48XfVWeeeQWTYB9rYZUnE41hgNX_pm2Vykx7Ni5hCQOUSV4z3o76LQzFHNVibR7Ol/s1600/st.+pat+interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f35u4JEVvEQ78_RflR2IUOuF7PvYK7jXECTrMEJZq4fbhvAokWFgJFeAS6dMgLyjhfMCJUgDgQW48XfVWeeeQWTYB9rYZUnE41hgNX_pm2Vykx7Ni5hCQOUSV4z3o76LQzFHNVibR7Ol/s1600/st.+pat+interior.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">After wandering around inside the cathedral, admiring
everything, my friend and I headed out to the park next door to the cathedral.
In it we saw a stone stating that the well St. Patrick used for baptism was
located nearby. We spent the next few minutes looking for it, but were called
back to the tour bus before we could find it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-86447852756451882232013-05-02T00:15:00.000-07:002013-05-02T00:15:30.841-07:00My Time in Dublin
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a college student, Spring Break is a highly anticipated
event every year; a week of no classes, a week to catch up on sleep, a week to relax
and unwind. This year during my Spring Break I traveled to the UK with a school
group. We spent time in Scotland, England, and Ireland, and while I could go on
and on about all three countries, this blog deals with Ireland, so I will focus
my attention on our two days in Dublin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrived in Dublin on Sunday, March 17<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> which,
if you remember, was St. Patrick’s Day. The city was packed with people all
wearing green and everyone was celebrating. The following clip is some video I
got of the crazy atmosphere. (I apologize for the poor quality; I am an amateur
when it comes to videography. Also, the clip is so short because my camera died, again, apologies.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyR1ogmEHy6uyT5B4GvDpd3snqY4LbL0lSEQf9cR1V_MQUxQG6LIPQBo5Hag7wsuAcZgsNEPlk4yPAqPLgpYg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our first day in Dublin was spent roaming the streets and taking
in the sights. As someone who had never been out of the United States, I was awed
and slightly overwhelmed by all the different sights. On our second, and last, day in the country, we enjoyed a guided bus tour of the city, with stops at St.
Patrick’s Cathedral and Phoenix Park. I will talk more about them in another blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My time in Ireland was too short. Next time I go, and there
will be a next time, I plan on seeing more of the amazing country. </span></div>
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<em>May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow,<br />and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.</em><br /><i>~Lea </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683096674200353070.post-25007369133496432992013-04-11T13:29:00.001-07:002013-04-11T13:29:51.465-07:00An Introduction <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My love for all things Irish started at the age of 13 when I picked up my first Nora Roberts book titled, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Jewels of the Sun</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">. It was, being a Nora Roberts book, a romance set in the Irish countryside. I have never forgotten the way she described the beautiful, lush countryside and from that point on my fate was sealed: I was obsessed with Ireland.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZft_B6ouTx8e7umjAsv7KwPthdQNhiMBzP1IZleKINt6CM1y6qWTChIsAwm5343Xf79_5qp7OLjBF8RhrqhAi0m9b1LvO31sXygIuLZHps0XAOR_lXpIeN41eV4Bqn8SfjkrDLVZYTiF7/s1600/the_green_hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZft_B6ouTx8e7umjAsv7KwPthdQNhiMBzP1IZleKINt6CM1y6qWTChIsAwm5343Xf79_5qp7OLjBF8RhrqhAi0m9b1LvO31sXygIuLZHps0XAOR_lXpIeN41eV4Bqn8SfjkrDLVZYTiF7/s400/the_green_hills.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the image I had in my head after reading <i>Jewels of the Sun</i>.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My obsession only grew stronger as I found Irish singing groups. I first stumbled upon the all-female group Celtic Women<i> </i>which led me to Celtic Thunder, their male equivalent. I have all of Celtic Thunder's CD's and have seen them in concert several times. I admit that I have a small crush on the youngest member, Damian McGinty who is only a few months my senior.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV09wyP9d9nAhYRUBksLb56zrxuQ53x35E8SQw5eX9tVbEApdMa2k4vCyvjBRpoe0AQy-ACHGFBPOqsZwQT6jpLUWQx_QUYTpeZMXIGdlqTl2LF_LXzWKRPvVRCNhyphenhyphenKO8X9RfFr9ommmsL/s1600/tscd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV09wyP9d9nAhYRUBksLb56zrxuQ53x35E8SQw5eX9tVbEApdMa2k4vCyvjBRpoe0AQy-ACHGFBPOqsZwQT6jpLUWQx_QUYTpeZMXIGdlqTl2LF_LXzWKRPvVRCNhyphenhyphenKO8X9RfFr9ommmsL/s1600/tscd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cover of Celtic Thunder's self-titled debut CD.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FExIWex_vc" target="_blank">Celtic Thunder singing "Heartland" </a><br />
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I can't remember where I first heard this blessing, but it seems appropriate:<br />
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<i>May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, </i><br />
<i>and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.</i><br />
<i>~Lea </i><br />
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Next time: My recent trip to Ireland. (I promise the blog will be longer)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10632664438604576319noreply@blogger.com0