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>Reality Sets In
•August 20, 2009 • Leave a Comment>I had mountains of mail awaiting me. Between the post office, the grocery store, phone messages, checking in with the family, and numerous bills to be paid, I felt as if I was rudely thrust back into the world. I’m trying to keep the feeling that was so prevalent during my time in Ireland–a reverence for the natural world, music, conversation, and culture. Writing was my reason for being in Ireland and what I learned about the culture of the country, flora, people and art is more than I can begin to put into words.
I had promised postings of various pictures but slow and unpredictable internet coverage made that impossible. I will try to post some of my many experiences–in photos.
>The Last Days of an Amazing Journey in Self-Discovery and Poetry
•August 19, 2009 • Leave a Comment>I am so sad to leave this place. Not only have I met creative, gracious, and unique people–some of whom have become true friends, I have had more time to listen to my own writing voice. I’ve written steadily and in my writing, I have discovered my relationship with the land and the people of Ireland. The music festival brought me to another place with art. On one of my last days, I went to the island of Inishmore–one of the Aran Islands–and saw yet another part of Irish culture.
What is different? The food (okay, I miss big salads and blueberries), the incredible hospitality, the Guinness (yes, it really IS different there), the huge role that music plays in the lives of most people, the pace (much slower), the driving (sheep in the road and very narrow roads AND they drive on the left), the incredible green everywhere, the weather (much colder), the conservation of energy that is commonplace, turf fires even in August, scones, salmon, showers that took me a while to understand, thatched houses, wide open space, and a feeling of safety in the small towns. I felt as if I really experienced Ireland in a different way this time and I could never go back as a tourist again. Living with people, going to events in the town, listening to music in a pub–all of these things made me begin to feel the country as well as see it.
This opportunity was transformative for me. I wrote with passion, interacted with people in a new place, had other writers share and give feedback, and experienced both the stunning beauty and culture of an extraordinary country. It may take many months to fully assimilate all that I have learned.
>Kilcar Echo Glen
•August 14, 2009 • Leave a Comment>Last night I attended Echo Glen–music played across a glen. It began with bagpipers playing. When they stopped, bagpipers across a glen played an answer. It then moved on to fiddlers which were harder to hear across the glen with the sheep, wind and occasional cars. It was a cool, clear night but the midges (like mosquitoes) were out in full force and I have the bumps to prove it! When we returned (via a bus) to town, we stopped at a pub and found musicians gathering to play. We also met a Dutch family traveling by caravan and visited with them for about an hour before walking the 1/2 mile back to our little rented homes.
I am trying to get some writing done today–it’s a rainy day and there’s a turf fire going in the fireplace. It’s a perfect day for reading and writing. Yesterday we hiked to the beach–about 4 miles each way. It was spectacular. Tonight there is another music and dance event and we will likely attend. It will be hard to leave Kilcar on Sunday. We are heading for Galway and the Aran Islands. Kira and Jenny will stay in Galway so we will part ways at that point.
I am nearing the end of my month in Ireland. I have written a lot of poetry, two short stories and I have spent valuable time with writers–Geraldine Mills and Ted and Annie Deppe. I could not imagine a better place to be for writing and renewal!
Literary Imaginings by Lisa C. Taylor 