The traffic on this site has certainly dwindled since the tour has ended and we have resumed our normal lives. Thank you all for your kind words about this site - I have done my best, but also a far from perfect job, so thank you, too, for your patience.
I'm still in the process of getting back to my life in Waltham, including my several part time jobs and school, but I will continue to add to the websites as I am able to. I just added some photos to the other website:
http://njysirelandtour.myphotoalbum.com
I would be happy to add more that any students/parents would like to send, as well as any other comments/memories/etc. that would be appropriate. I am sure there are some fantastic photos that deserve to be posted online for all to appreciate - please send them to me!
Thanks, again, for reading along on our adventure.
Sunday, July 29
Wednesday, July 11
Jet Lag, Anyone?
I apologize for the silence - between getting readjusted to Eastern Time and "real life" I've been a bit behind everything lately. However, I have been making at least a little progress posting photos on at the other website: http://njysirelandtour.myphotoalbum.com
It is a labor of love, however, and it will be quite a while before everything is posted, so be sure to check back often. On that note - if there is anyone (student or parent) who may be interested in helping out by posting/organizing photos on the site, I would be happy for the help! Moreover, it means that more will get done faster, and make these great photos available and appreciated sooner.
But - here are a few more photos and a quick recap of our final day in Ireland!
Our last day was very similar to the rest of our days, in that it was jam-packed with places to go and things to see! We left Tralee early and headed toward the coast, crossing the Shannon river on a pretty cool ferry, stopping for lunch not far from the beach. It was only a short drive further that we were at one of the most photographed areas of Ireland - the Cliffs of Moher:
Perfect for photo ops:
After spending time at the cliffs, and with freshly wind-blown hair, we headed off to see the mysterious Poulnabrone Dolman:
Another bus ride before we got to the Falls Hotel, checked in, and got ready for our farewell dinner. Unfortunately, I didn't get photos from the dinner or the party - quite frankly, I was just as exhausted as the rest of the people on the trip, and took some time to enjoy myself. We did get to see some traditional Irish stepdancing while listening to some traditional music - and some of us even learned (or attempted to learn) some of the fancy footwork. We also got to hear the Irish version of "Take Me Home, Country Road"...
The 11:30 curfew arrived earlier than desired, but it was for the best - we had a 5:45 wake up call scheduled for Saturday morning. Unfortunately, not everyone got the call, and this blogger almost made the bus late to the airport for just this reason. whoops. But we all got there safely and on time, and only had one or two glitches getting through security and on to the plane. And - as all of you already know - we arrived back in the states safely and on time. The two hour bus ride from Philly was the longest bus ride of the whole adventure, and I doubt few people were so excited to see the symphony building (especially those who had parents waiting with pizza).
After 17 (or was it 18?) years staying put in New Jersey, the Youth Symphony completed an incredible international tour - and I know everyone is looking forward to the next adventure!
This blog will be maintained as long as there is information to share regarding the trip - including student memories/stories/prose/poetry/etc. Just email it my way and I'll make sure it is shared!
It is a labor of love, however, and it will be quite a while before everything is posted, so be sure to check back often. On that note - if there is anyone (student or parent) who may be interested in helping out by posting/organizing photos on the site, I would be happy for the help! Moreover, it means that more will get done faster, and make these great photos available and appreciated sooner.
But - here are a few more photos and a quick recap of our final day in Ireland!
Our last day was very similar to the rest of our days, in that it was jam-packed with places to go and things to see! We left Tralee early and headed toward the coast, crossing the Shannon river on a pretty cool ferry, stopping for lunch not far from the beach. It was only a short drive further that we were at one of the most photographed areas of Ireland - the Cliffs of Moher:
Perfect for photo ops:
After spending time at the cliffs, and with freshly wind-blown hair, we headed off to see the mysterious Poulnabrone Dolman:
Another bus ride before we got to the Falls Hotel, checked in, and got ready for our farewell dinner. Unfortunately, I didn't get photos from the dinner or the party - quite frankly, I was just as exhausted as the rest of the people on the trip, and took some time to enjoy myself. We did get to see some traditional Irish stepdancing while listening to some traditional music - and some of us even learned (or attempted to learn) some of the fancy footwork. We also got to hear the Irish version of "Take Me Home, Country Road"...
The 11:30 curfew arrived earlier than desired, but it was for the best - we had a 5:45 wake up call scheduled for Saturday morning. Unfortunately, not everyone got the call, and this blogger almost made the bus late to the airport for just this reason. whoops. But we all got there safely and on time, and only had one or two glitches getting through security and on to the plane. And - as all of you already know - we arrived back in the states safely and on time. The two hour bus ride from Philly was the longest bus ride of the whole adventure, and I doubt few people were so excited to see the symphony building (especially those who had parents waiting with pizza).
After 17 (or was it 18?) years staying put in New Jersey, the Youth Symphony completed an incredible international tour - and I know everyone is looking forward to the next adventure!
This blog will be maintained as long as there is information to share regarding the trip - including student memories/stories/prose/poetry/etc. Just email it my way and I'll make sure it is shared!
Sunday, July 8
Pictures
Hello again, everyone.
I have started to upload pictures to the official photo site: http://njysirelandtour.myphotoalbum.com/ There are currently several to look at, but certainly many more to come.
Eric, one of our dear violinists, has already contributed to the collection with some pictures Ankush. I encourage anyone who is interested in sharing their photos to feel free to send them to me via email - I will post as many as I can.
Please also know, however, that as of tomorrow morning I must return to my other life as a graduate student at Brandeis University. Consequently, my time to post and edit photos is going to be rather limited. I promise to do my very best to make sure that photos/comments/etc. get posted in at least a somewhat timely manner.
I have started to upload pictures to the official photo site: http://njysirelandtour.myphotoalbum.com/ There are currently several to look at, but certainly many more to come.
Eric, one of our dear violinists, has already contributed to the collection with some pictures Ankush. I encourage anyone who is interested in sharing their photos to feel free to send them to me via email - I will post as many as I can.
Please also know, however, that as of tomorrow morning I must return to my other life as a graduate student at Brandeis University. Consequently, my time to post and edit photos is going to be rather limited. I promise to do my very best to make sure that photos/comments/etc. get posted in at least a somewhat timely manner.
Saturday, July 7
home again, home again
Hello faithful readers. The members of the New Jersey Youth Symphony have returned again to the states - all arriving safely and soundly (though many tired, hungry and just a bit cranky) after a 7 hour flight.
I'm sorry I wasn't able to update before we left the Green Isle, there wasn't wireless internet access at our last hotel. I do have much to update on our last day in Ireland, including more sightseeing and a farewell dinner. However, this blogger is a bit too jetlagged to do much of anything right now except get reacquainted with my bed.
I do, however, want to say hello to all the students who are just seeing the blog for the first time. I also want to invite you to email me you pictures/stories/memories that you want to contribute to the blog so that we can all share our experiences. You can find my email address in my profile.
There are more updates to come, as well as the status of the long-awaited photo page (where student photographs will also be posted) so stay tuned!
I'm sorry I wasn't able to update before we left the Green Isle, there wasn't wireless internet access at our last hotel. I do have much to update on our last day in Ireland, including more sightseeing and a farewell dinner. However, this blogger is a bit too jetlagged to do much of anything right now except get reacquainted with my bed.
I do, however, want to say hello to all the students who are just seeing the blog for the first time. I also want to invite you to email me you pictures/stories/memories that you want to contribute to the blog so that we can all share our experiences. You can find my email address in my profile.
There are more updates to come, as well as the status of the long-awaited photo page (where student photographs will also be posted) so stay tuned!
Thursday, July 5
Greetings from Tralee
We left Cork for good this morning, and bright and early. We traveled through Kenmare on our way to Molls Gap and then the Muckross House.
Unfortunately, today was not a great photo-day. There was lots of fog throughout the hills and lakes which impeded the view, but added an ambiance, too.
We arrived at the Muckross house just in time for our scheduled tour. The mansion, which has an amazing history, was restored and amazing to see. Queen Victoria stayed there for two nights and one day just before the death of her husband, and her suite of rooms are still intact. No pictures were allowed to be taken in the house itself, so as to not disturb the value and quality of the artwork, wallpaper, and other furniture. But I think the outside of the home is quite lovely too.
After the tour we got some lunch at the onsite restaurant and did a bit of shopping before exploring the grounds in Jaunting Cars. There’s no better way to take in the countryside on a windy, rainy, day that in a horse drawn buggy. The drivers were all lovely, though, and gave us some history, told stories, and some even sang songs for us.
The Jaunting Cars brought us to the Torc Waterfall. Some students felt strong and brave enough to do a 2 km hike around the falls while others chose to stay closer to the busses.
After another short bus ride we found ourselves in Tralee at the Brandon Hotel. We checked into our fourth set of rooms and immediately had dinner. The greatest disappointment for the accommodations is that the pool has restricted hours – but I am told that several students intend on waking up especially early tomorrow to be there when the doors open at 7am.
Once we were finished with dinner we traveled literally across the street to watch a performance by Simasa Tire, the national folk theatre of Ireland. Tonight they told the story of Clann Lir through traditional song and dance. It was a beautiful show, but maybe a bit too quiet for many of the tired kids on the trip.
We leave Tralee first thing in the morning to head towards Ennistymon and complete our last full day here in Ireland. All of the kids, and adults, are expressing mixed feelings about the quickly approaching flight home. I am discovering that one of the favorite topics of conversation as of late is what American food is being missed the most.
I don’t know yet if we are going to be able to have access to the Internet while at Ennistymon. Hopefully you will hear from me tomorrow before we depart Ireland Saturday morning. Regardless – those interested should continue to check back in to the website after we have returned home, especially as I get the photos from Wendy Robinson posted online. She is going to get to me well over 2000 images to post for all to see and enjoy – all I ask is for your patience!
Unfortunately, today was not a great photo-day. There was lots of fog throughout the hills and lakes which impeded the view, but added an ambiance, too.
We arrived at the Muckross house just in time for our scheduled tour. The mansion, which has an amazing history, was restored and amazing to see. Queen Victoria stayed there for two nights and one day just before the death of her husband, and her suite of rooms are still intact. No pictures were allowed to be taken in the house itself, so as to not disturb the value and quality of the artwork, wallpaper, and other furniture. But I think the outside of the home is quite lovely too.
After the tour we got some lunch at the onsite restaurant and did a bit of shopping before exploring the grounds in Jaunting Cars. There’s no better way to take in the countryside on a windy, rainy, day that in a horse drawn buggy. The drivers were all lovely, though, and gave us some history, told stories, and some even sang songs for us.
The Jaunting Cars brought us to the Torc Waterfall. Some students felt strong and brave enough to do a 2 km hike around the falls while others chose to stay closer to the busses.
After another short bus ride we found ourselves in Tralee at the Brandon Hotel. We checked into our fourth set of rooms and immediately had dinner. The greatest disappointment for the accommodations is that the pool has restricted hours – but I am told that several students intend on waking up especially early tomorrow to be there when the doors open at 7am.
Once we were finished with dinner we traveled literally across the street to watch a performance by Simasa Tire, the national folk theatre of Ireland. Tonight they told the story of Clann Lir through traditional song and dance. It was a beautiful show, but maybe a bit too quiet for many of the tired kids on the trip.
We leave Tralee first thing in the morning to head towards Ennistymon and complete our last full day here in Ireland. All of the kids, and adults, are expressing mixed feelings about the quickly approaching flight home. I am discovering that one of the favorite topics of conversation as of late is what American food is being missed the most.
I don’t know yet if we are going to be able to have access to the Internet while at Ennistymon. Hopefully you will hear from me tomorrow before we depart Ireland Saturday morning. Regardless – those interested should continue to check back in to the website after we have returned home, especially as I get the photos from Wendy Robinson posted online. She is going to get to me well over 2000 images to post for all to see and enjoy – all I ask is for your patience!
Wednesday, July 4
Final Concert Day!
Happy 4th of July! I hope all is well in the U.S. We didn’t get to see any sort of fireworks today, which is for the best, to be sure. We did have a busy day, though.
After a 7:30 wake up call we ate breakfast at 8:30 and climbed on the bussed at 9:30 head towards Kinsale. We arrived around 10:30 and unloaded the instruments at St. Multose Church before getting some free time to spend in town.
Kinsale sits right at the edge of the Atlantic and has a beautiful tidal river and bay full of sailboats, as well as gorgeous green hills and the quaintest houses and roads I’ve ever seen. The narrow streets were very interesting to travel down with our tour busses, but our excellent bus drivers managed to avoid any collisions.
There were a bunch of shops to be nosey in and we were given lots of time to also get lunch before a 2:00 rehearsal. St. Multose was built in the 12th century and is the oldest working parish in all of Ireland. The stained glass windows were gorgeous:
After rehearsal we went to Maureen Lewis’ house for dinner. Mrs. Lewis, former NJYS Board President, acted as tour liaison in Ireland and was the first person to think about a tour for the symphony. She welcomed us all to her home for a picnic dinner before the final concert, and we couldn’t resist. I mean – just look at the view from her backyard!
The final concert, which was very enthusiastically attended by the people of Kinsale, as well as Dr. Spratt from the Irish Youth Choir and some of the choir members. The concert, which was mostly chamber music with a two full orchestra pieces to end the night, was a great success! The only minor snag in the evening was the forgetting of one violist who forgot his dress shoes and had to borrow a chaperone's black socks for the concert:
We were very well received and appreciated, and the concert acted as a benefit for a local child-care center. The students wore red, white, and blue in honor of the holiday, and played “Stars and Stripes” as the final piece of the evening. I don’t suppose St. Multose has had Sousa played within its walls in the past few centuries, but it carries the sound quite well!
Here are the students waiting for the concert to start:
Everyone seemed to have a good time, and we made it back to the hotel by 11:00ish. Curfew was midnight, with all the kids in their rooms with (hopefully) lights out for a 6:30 wake up call tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
After a 7:30 wake up call we ate breakfast at 8:30 and climbed on the bussed at 9:30 head towards Kinsale. We arrived around 10:30 and unloaded the instruments at St. Multose Church before getting some free time to spend in town.
Kinsale sits right at the edge of the Atlantic and has a beautiful tidal river and bay full of sailboats, as well as gorgeous green hills and the quaintest houses and roads I’ve ever seen. The narrow streets were very interesting to travel down with our tour busses, but our excellent bus drivers managed to avoid any collisions.
There were a bunch of shops to be nosey in and we were given lots of time to also get lunch before a 2:00 rehearsal. St. Multose was built in the 12th century and is the oldest working parish in all of Ireland. The stained glass windows were gorgeous:
After rehearsal we went to Maureen Lewis’ house for dinner. Mrs. Lewis, former NJYS Board President, acted as tour liaison in Ireland and was the first person to think about a tour for the symphony. She welcomed us all to her home for a picnic dinner before the final concert, and we couldn’t resist. I mean – just look at the view from her backyard!
The final concert, which was very enthusiastically attended by the people of Kinsale, as well as Dr. Spratt from the Irish Youth Choir and some of the choir members. The concert, which was mostly chamber music with a two full orchestra pieces to end the night, was a great success! The only minor snag in the evening was the forgetting of one violist who forgot his dress shoes and had to borrow a chaperone's black socks for the concert:
We were very well received and appreciated, and the concert acted as a benefit for a local child-care center. The students wore red, white, and blue in honor of the holiday, and played “Stars and Stripes” as the final piece of the evening. I don’t suppose St. Multose has had Sousa played within its walls in the past few centuries, but it carries the sound quite well!
Here are the students waiting for the concert to start:
Everyone seemed to have a good time, and we made it back to the hotel by 11:00ish. Curfew was midnight, with all the kids in their rooms with (hopefully) lights out for a 6:30 wake up call tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
Tuesday, July 3
Still catching up
So much happens in any one day that it is hard to capture all of it and then post it online - especially when it's happening to almost 100 different people at a time, and our days are very long and internet-free. By the time we return to our rooms and I can sit and type, my brain has often stopped processing for the evening - which by that time is sometimes already early morning.
As I am reminded of things I will fill you in, even if it is very much after the fact.
One of these items is how well the orchestra was received at all of the concerts. Since I was performing with the ensemble I didn't get to hear many comments after the performance, especially with having to look after my instrument and assist in the packing of the percussion instruments. However, we were told that the audiences were shocked to learn that the students were only in highschool - they wanted to know what college ensemble we were.
Jan Munch, our trusty travel nurse, also heard some great comments she wanted to share:
After the Friday concert in Limerick she was approached by a gentleman who said, "You should be immensely proud of these wonderfully talented young people - they are a treasure."
After the Saturday concert at the Cork City Hall an audience member told one of our musicians that, "You have restored my faith in America."
Let's hope we keep the good work up!
As I am reminded of things I will fill you in, even if it is very much after the fact.
One of these items is how well the orchestra was received at all of the concerts. Since I was performing with the ensemble I didn't get to hear many comments after the performance, especially with having to look after my instrument and assist in the packing of the percussion instruments. However, we were told that the audiences were shocked to learn that the students were only in highschool - they wanted to know what college ensemble we were.
Jan Munch, our trusty travel nurse, also heard some great comments she wanted to share:
After the Friday concert in Limerick she was approached by a gentleman who said, "You should be immensely proud of these wonderfully talented young people - they are a treasure."
After the Saturday concert at the Cork City Hall an audience member told one of our musicians that, "You have restored my faith in America."
Let's hope we keep the good work up!
more cemetaries and castles!
This morning (Tuesday) was another early wake-up call and travel by bus back to Cork. However, before we arrived at our destination we made a few stops along the way. The first was the Rock of Cashel.
It was a royal site, as well as a sacred one - St. Patrick used to hang out here back in the day, and it is supposedly where he converted the King of Munster in the 5th century. We battled heavy wind and rain for a few minutes, and then it broke and we stood in beautiful sunshine, once again.
After exploring for a good while, we ate lunch on site at the visitors center, and got to spend some time with the neighborhood dog:
Then back on the road to find Castle Cahir. It is one of the best preserved castles in all of Ireland, and we were able to climb through courtyards, staircases and rooms. We also learned how clever the creators were in making built-in defenses, even if they were of a truly icky nature.
We were soon on the road again and back to Cork, our "home base" for the trip. After checking into new hotel rooms we ate some dinner and headed off to see a Hurling match. Hurling is an ancient Celtic sport, and one of the four official sports of Ireland. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling) It's kind of like lacrosse meets field hockey. It was only a local game played on a field without any seating, but we had a good time and even learned a bit about the game - even if we left still fuzzy on the actual rules and regulations.
These photos were taken between 8:30-9:00 pm. I wasn't kidding when I said it was still light out around 10! The group photo isn't complete - there were space restrictions that prevented a full shot. But, with all the cameras clicking I'm sure there's a better, if not complete one, floating around somewhere.
We arrived back at the hotel around 10:15 and the kids had some free time before heading to bed. We have another early start in the morning, and a concert to perform! We hope everyone has a very happy 4th in the states - and enjoy the fireworks for us!
It was a royal site, as well as a sacred one - St. Patrick used to hang out here back in the day, and it is supposedly where he converted the King of Munster in the 5th century. We battled heavy wind and rain for a few minutes, and then it broke and we stood in beautiful sunshine, once again.
After exploring for a good while, we ate lunch on site at the visitors center, and got to spend some time with the neighborhood dog:
Then back on the road to find Castle Cahir. It is one of the best preserved castles in all of Ireland, and we were able to climb through courtyards, staircases and rooms. We also learned how clever the creators were in making built-in defenses, even if they were of a truly icky nature.
We were soon on the road again and back to Cork, our "home base" for the trip. After checking into new hotel rooms we ate some dinner and headed off to see a Hurling match. Hurling is an ancient Celtic sport, and one of the four official sports of Ireland. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling) It's kind of like lacrosse meets field hockey. It was only a local game played on a field without any seating, but we had a good time and even learned a bit about the game - even if we left still fuzzy on the actual rules and regulations.
These photos were taken between 8:30-9:00 pm. I wasn't kidding when I said it was still light out around 10! The group photo isn't complete - there were space restrictions that prevented a full shot. But, with all the cameras clicking I'm sure there's a better, if not complete one, floating around somewhere.
We arrived back at the hotel around 10:15 and the kids had some free time before heading to bed. We have another early start in the morning, and a concert to perform! We hope everyone has a very happy 4th in the states - and enjoy the fireworks for us!
Our Day in Dublin
We only got one real day in Dublin proper. Our bus drivers were extremely concerned for our well-being and gave us lots of advice as to how to carry ourselves and to watch out for ourselves, and each other, as we explored the city. We didn't get to see much, though.
Everyone got to participate in a walking tour of downtown Dublin. We started off in Trinity College, went to the old Parliament building, City Hall, and explored the Temple Bar area, which is known particularly as the cultural center of Dublin - full of museums, theatres, and other performance spaces.
After the tour we were able to explore on our own for a bit (in small groups) and some got to see the Book of Knells up close and in person. Others did some shopping. Most got something good for lunch, and then we were back to the busses and out of the city and into more of the beautiful surrounding land.
We saw the beautiful Glendolough monastery. Founded by St. Kevin, the remaining structures and cemetary are in some of the most beautiful land we have seen so far. Many films have been made there, including scenes from Braveheart.
I don’t think I have mentioned it before, but we have experienced a beautiful mix of sun and rain. The weather will change in literally 5 minutes. While many of the kids can’t stand the unpredictable weather changes, I am in love with them. Of course, the same kids who don’t like the sun and rain mix are generally also the ones who are caught wearing flip flops in puddles. Oh well.
On the drive back from Glendolough we passed more beautiful scenery of the Irish countryside, and I pretended to be a photographer, if only for a second:
But all of the kids were excited about photo-opts, even though the wind on top of the hill was terrific.
We got back to our hotel shortly after that and had dinner before rehearsal. As the chamber ensembles prepared for their July 4th concert, the other students were given some free time in the empty hotel disco.
Then, off to bed fairly early for another early wake up call in the morning and travel back to Cork!
Everyone got to participate in a walking tour of downtown Dublin. We started off in Trinity College, went to the old Parliament building, City Hall, and explored the Temple Bar area, which is known particularly as the cultural center of Dublin - full of museums, theatres, and other performance spaces.
After the tour we were able to explore on our own for a bit (in small groups) and some got to see the Book of Knells up close and in person. Others did some shopping. Most got something good for lunch, and then we were back to the busses and out of the city and into more of the beautiful surrounding land.
We saw the beautiful Glendolough monastery. Founded by St. Kevin, the remaining structures and cemetary are in some of the most beautiful land we have seen so far. Many films have been made there, including scenes from Braveheart.
I don’t think I have mentioned it before, but we have experienced a beautiful mix of sun and rain. The weather will change in literally 5 minutes. While many of the kids can’t stand the unpredictable weather changes, I am in love with them. Of course, the same kids who don’t like the sun and rain mix are generally also the ones who are caught wearing flip flops in puddles. Oh well.
On the drive back from Glendolough we passed more beautiful scenery of the Irish countryside, and I pretended to be a photographer, if only for a second:
But all of the kids were excited about photo-opts, even though the wind on top of the hill was terrific.
We got back to our hotel shortly after that and had dinner before rehearsal. As the chamber ensembles prepared for their July 4th concert, the other students were given some free time in the empty hotel disco.
Then, off to bed fairly early for another early wake up call in the morning and travel back to Cork!
Monday, July 2
a bit more news...
I was asked how the bassists are doing with their rented instruments. To put it frankly, the comments I heard were not entirely positive - but it is always difficult to switch from a familiar instrument to an unfamiliar one. (Just ask pianists!) However, they "made do" brilliantly and played quite well, especially considering they really didn't have much time to get adjusted to the new instruments.
I have learned that, unfortunately, this site can only support so many photo uploads at a time. So if you can't find something that you sure was there just a little while ago, it truly may not be there. But, no worries - just because it is gone from this immediate site does not mean that it is gone forever. I am still working on uploading photos to a public, picture-specific site for all to enjoy well after the tour has ended.
We did a walking tour of Dublin today as well as visited some of the surrounding areas. (Pictures and more stories to come once we arrive back in Cork tomorrow.)
There have been some sick tummys, which is fairly understandable, especially considering the altered diet (we have been served boiled potatoes every night at dinner, generally with a heavy meat-dish, with exceptions made for vegetarians) and the particuarly windy, bumpy roads which we travel on busses. Jersey circles are nothing compared to the roundabouts that seem to appear every three kilometers! However, all are well and are also well-behaved. They are currently off to a short rehearsal for the July 4th chamber music concert.
Unfortunately I must sign off here for the night - but will absolutely have internet access to update tomorrow.
I have learned that, unfortunately, this site can only support so many photo uploads at a time. So if you can't find something that you sure was there just a little while ago, it truly may not be there. But, no worries - just because it is gone from this immediate site does not mean that it is gone forever. I am still working on uploading photos to a public, picture-specific site for all to enjoy well after the tour has ended.
We did a walking tour of Dublin today as well as visited some of the surrounding areas. (Pictures and more stories to come once we arrive back in Cork tomorrow.)
There have been some sick tummys, which is fairly understandable, especially considering the altered diet (we have been served boiled potatoes every night at dinner, generally with a heavy meat-dish, with exceptions made for vegetarians) and the particuarly windy, bumpy roads which we travel on busses. Jersey circles are nothing compared to the roundabouts that seem to appear every three kilometers! However, all are well and are also well-behaved. They are currently off to a short rehearsal for the July 4th chamber music concert.
Unfortunately I must sign off here for the night - but will absolutely have internet access to update tomorrow.
Concert Day No. 3
We woke very early on Sunday - getting calls at 6am for 7:00 breakfast and 8:00 departure to Dublin. We all had to pack our small bags with the essentials for two days in Dublin and then placed our other items in storage at the hotel, where we will return on Tuesday.
Sadly, I don't have many pictures for Sunday. The bus ride was 4 hours, and though we passed through more lovely countryside, I will admit that I, like most of the bus, took the opportunity to sleep on the bus. We arrived in Dublin ahead of schedule (hurrah!) and rushed in to change and set the stage for a 2:00 rehearsal before a 3:15 concert.
The hall itself is quite amazing, but i managed to leave my camera on the bus, and haven't yet gotten to look at any of the photos the students or adults have taken. The orchestra played very well, again - but I personally felt not 100%, and can imagine the students did as well because of all of the travel and quick pace of the past few days. And while the crowd was likely the smallest yet, they were no less appreciative, and called the conductors out for 4 or 5 bows.
We quickly packed up the stage and got back on the busses to head to the new hotel - The Red Cow Inn. After checking into our rooms and for some a quick shower, we had a dinner celebration with the students of the Irish Youth Choir. Granted, "Youth" is a relative term, and these students are between the ages of 17-29. Everyone I spoke to was really lovely and interested to know more about the organization, as well as our impressions of Ireland, just as we were curious as to what they thought of America.
After the semi-formal dinner, the choir invited us to stay for their yearly party. This included a good natured roast of their conductor, Geoff Spratt, an open piano and mic - with the invitation of all who were interested to come and share their music with the rest. I was so glad to see so many students eager to participate.
Sarah sang "Fly Me To the Moon"
Anthony and Kevin joined some of the Irish men to sing in a barbershop quartet, ("Coney Island")
Meredith and Beth even fiddled on their violas!
It was a very good time had by all, and the Irish Choir were just as disappointed as the students when their 11:30 curfew arrived. But, I'm sure many were glad to finally go to bed after another intense day of travel and music making.
Sadly, I don't have many pictures for Sunday. The bus ride was 4 hours, and though we passed through more lovely countryside, I will admit that I, like most of the bus, took the opportunity to sleep on the bus. We arrived in Dublin ahead of schedule (hurrah!) and rushed in to change and set the stage for a 2:00 rehearsal before a 3:15 concert.
The hall itself is quite amazing, but i managed to leave my camera on the bus, and haven't yet gotten to look at any of the photos the students or adults have taken. The orchestra played very well, again - but I personally felt not 100%, and can imagine the students did as well because of all of the travel and quick pace of the past few days. And while the crowd was likely the smallest yet, they were no less appreciative, and called the conductors out for 4 or 5 bows.
We quickly packed up the stage and got back on the busses to head to the new hotel - The Red Cow Inn. After checking into our rooms and for some a quick shower, we had a dinner celebration with the students of the Irish Youth Choir. Granted, "Youth" is a relative term, and these students are between the ages of 17-29. Everyone I spoke to was really lovely and interested to know more about the organization, as well as our impressions of Ireland, just as we were curious as to what they thought of America.
After the semi-formal dinner, the choir invited us to stay for their yearly party. This included a good natured roast of their conductor, Geoff Spratt, an open piano and mic - with the invitation of all who were interested to come and share their music with the rest. I was so glad to see so many students eager to participate.
Sarah sang "Fly Me To the Moon"
Anthony and Kevin joined some of the Irish men to sing in a barbershop quartet, ("Coney Island")
Meredith and Beth even fiddled on their violas!
It was a very good time had by all, and the Irish Choir were just as disappointed as the students when their 11:30 curfew arrived. But, I'm sure many were glad to finally go to bed after another intense day of travel and music making.
Concert Day No. 2
Friday was a very busy day, full of travel and the anticipation of our first concert. Saturday was not as hectic, but was very full.
We started off at Blarney Castle - where you saw many pictures that were posted by Eric earlier. Many were truly brave and climbed to the top of the castle, through the smallest, and most spiral staircase I have ever seen.
When we finally made it to the top, we waited online to see, if not kiss, the infamous stone.
This is a photo of what the stone looks like from below:
I have to admit that yes, I did kiss the stone even after warnings of germy-ness. But now I have received the gift of eloquent speach.
The grounds of the castle were absolutely gorgeous, and I'm sure Wendy will have lots of photos to share with everyone. After we were done exploring, we went shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills. We were excited to see an advertisement for our concert tour:
Many spent money on tax-free items, including the infamous wool sweaters. After having lunch (at restaurants around the Woolen Mills) we got back on the bus and headed back to the hotel to grab our things and head to the Cork City Hall for rehearsal before our second concert.
Rehearsal went well, and we went back to the hotel to change and grab our instruments before heading over to the concert.
The orchestra played beautifully a second night in a row - even better than Friday night, even though the audience was not quite as full. After the concert we headed back to the hotel to pack and get to be early so that we could sleep as much as possible before a 6am wake up call!
We started off at Blarney Castle - where you saw many pictures that were posted by Eric earlier. Many were truly brave and climbed to the top of the castle, through the smallest, and most spiral staircase I have ever seen.
When we finally made it to the top, we waited online to see, if not kiss, the infamous stone.
This is a photo of what the stone looks like from below:
I have to admit that yes, I did kiss the stone even after warnings of germy-ness. But now I have received the gift of eloquent speach.
The grounds of the castle were absolutely gorgeous, and I'm sure Wendy will have lots of photos to share with everyone. After we were done exploring, we went shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills. We were excited to see an advertisement for our concert tour:
Many spent money on tax-free items, including the infamous wool sweaters. After having lunch (at restaurants around the Woolen Mills) we got back on the bus and headed back to the hotel to grab our things and head to the Cork City Hall for rehearsal before our second concert.
Rehearsal went well, and we went back to the hotel to change and grab our instruments before heading over to the concert.
The orchestra played beautifully a second night in a row - even better than Friday night, even though the audience was not quite as full. After the concert we headed back to the hotel to pack and get to be early so that we could sleep as much as possible before a 6am wake up call!
Sorry!
Hi, all.
After arriving at our new hotel in Dublin post-concert, we discovered that Internet access was not as accessible as it was at our hotel in Cork. That, doubled with another full day, has prevented me from writing sooner. But we are back online now, and I will be sure to update the past two days tonight.
I can imagine there has been some concern about the recent excitement that the UK has experienced lately. We (the chaperones and myself) want to assure everyone that we are all well and truly feel safe here. The Irish people have been nothing but hospitable to us and we have no concerns about our stay, or our return journey - so we think that you shouldn't worry, either!
Dinner is going to be served in 15 minutes, but I promise that I will back to let you know how our second two concerts went, as well as our day in Dublin!
After arriving at our new hotel in Dublin post-concert, we discovered that Internet access was not as accessible as it was at our hotel in Cork. That, doubled with another full day, has prevented me from writing sooner. But we are back online now, and I will be sure to update the past two days tonight.
I can imagine there has been some concern about the recent excitement that the UK has experienced lately. We (the chaperones and myself) want to assure everyone that we are all well and truly feel safe here. The Irish people have been nothing but hospitable to us and we have no concerns about our stay, or our return journey - so we think that you shouldn't worry, either!
Dinner is going to be served in 15 minutes, but I promise that I will back to let you know how our second two concerts went, as well as our day in Dublin!
Sunday, July 1
Quick Update!
Hello all. Sorry I've been out of touch as of late. Saturday was another very full day, and we had an especially early start this morning.
I am currently writing from the women's dressing room of the National Concert Hall in Dublin about 20 minutes before we go onstage for our final performance with the Irish Youth Choir. There will be many more updates once the concert and dinner with the choir members is completed this evening. There are dozens and dozens of photos to share, but no good way to do that right now - so just hang on a bit and you'll see some soon.
Eric, a chaperone with us, took some time yesterday during rehearsal to post a bunch of photos - so be sure to thank him for that. We're doing our best to make sure every student gets a photo online soon, because we know how parents worry. But like I said - more to come! Must run now - but wish us luck!
I am currently writing from the women's dressing room of the National Concert Hall in Dublin about 20 minutes before we go onstage for our final performance with the Irish Youth Choir. There will be many more updates once the concert and dinner with the choir members is completed this evening. There are dozens and dozens of photos to share, but no good way to do that right now - so just hang on a bit and you'll see some soon.
Eric, a chaperone with us, took some time yesterday during rehearsal to post a bunch of photos - so be sure to thank him for that. We're doing our best to make sure every student gets a photo online soon, because we know how parents worry. But like I said - more to come! Must run now - but wish us luck!
Saturday, June 30
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