Welcome to the Caddyshack!

       

 



    First off, if you have not seen this amazing and outrageous movie, please rent it right now. If you have seen Caddyshack, it is now my life. Last week I moved into a permanent staff apartment on the grounds of the manor with three caddys. The boys are as hilarious and ridiculous as the caddies in the movie and I wouldn't have it any other way. Although they go to the pub far too often and play golf way too many times during the week, living with the boys has been a blast. The permanement bags under my eyes are a small price to pay for the late night fun in the village pubs. It is not hard to see the dread in the bartender's eyes when we walk in the front door. Sorry, dude, you're in for a long night.

   Despite coming home when the sun is up, the lads manage to throw on their golf gear and head to work bright and early. I have no idea how they do it. I keep expecting to find them asleep in a hedge off the 17th fairway. Exhaustion and hangovers aside, living with the boys has been hilarious and is sure to provide endless and entertaining blog posts.

Plus, living with the caddies has golfing perks, here are some pictures from our endless nights on the course.

       

                                      Meet the boys! Rob, David, and Cilian on the course

       

           They weren't too happy with my endless pictures distracting their professional golf game

      

       

                                        

      

        

                     

                    The course isn't too shabby, I think I can put up with it for a few months

   And this is what happens when Cilian is out far too late and has to open the pro shop bright and early ...

                              

                                          now that's more like the lads I know...

    In case you were worried that I had stopped working all together, below are some pictures from the Adare Garden Festival last Sunday. Last weekend, I helped our General Manager run an Adare Manor Stand at the village's festival. Most of the day was spent advertising for the hotel and selling tickets to the upcoming Garden Tea Party and Fourth of July Celebration. These events are fast approaching so it is sure to be a hectic week in Adare. Plus, I was asked to drive the snack cart on the golf course next weekend...ha! should be ridiculous. More to come from the Manor...

                                    

                                   

                                         Before the rain washed away our display.....

               

        

                                                   My lovely co-workers selling tickets

        

                                               The bustling tea stand at the festival

   

UNH Wildcats in Galway!

 

           

     This past weekend, I ventured up to Galway to visit two of my girlfriends from UNH. Since graduation, Laura and Celina have been backpacking through Ireland and experiencing all that they can in various cities along the way. It was so nice to see them and I enjoyed showing them around Galway. We spent most of the weekend shopping and pub hopping and I think the girls loved Galway City as much as I do.

   On Sunday, we ventured to the Aran Islands. I had never been to the Islands either, so it was a new experience for all of us. The Aran Islands are comprised of three separate islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer. Inishmore, the largest and most popular island to visit, is the island we ventured to.  I have always wanted to go to the Aran Islands and they did not disappoint. We boarded the ferry in Doolin, and forty-five minutes later, we were on the gorgeous beaches of the Aran Islands and could not have asked for better weather. I have been trying to explain to Laura and Celina that the beaming sun and seventy-five degree heat they have experienced for two weeks is far from the norm!

   Upon arriving, Laura, Celina, and I rented bikes and biked to Dun Aengus, a prehistoric fort on the far side of the island that is situated on a sheer, 100 meter cliff. Daring tourists, like ourselves, crawl on their stomach to peer over the incredibly steep drop. Although the experience was slightly terrifying, it was amazing and  I am so happy I took part in it. After touring the fort, we biked back along the coast and had lunch in the village. It was a great weekend and I am so happy I was able to spend time with the girls in one of my favorite cities.


Below are some pictures from our adventures:

       

                                                   Laura and I outside the Galway Cathedral 

                                       

                                                             Celina and I outside the cathedral 

       

                                                  Saturday night craic outside The Kings Head

    

       

                                 Laura and Celina and their two new friends from their hotel in The Quays

                                      

                                

 
 

      

                                                               Biking around the Islands 

        

                                                     Kilmurvey Beach on Inishmore

                                                 Laura and Celina and our sweet bikes with baskets

        

                                      

                                                        

                                   

                                                                          Dun Aengus

                         

                                                              Celina and I living on the edge 

                                                Laura and I peering over the edge of Dun Aengus

                                                               The girls at Dun Aengus

For now, it is back to work in Adare and it should be another busy week. Stay tuned!

The First of Many Eventful Weeks

                       

                           

   

    With one week of work under my belt, I already love it here. All of the staff have been so friendly, helpful, and extremely welcoming. For the past week, I have slowly been learning my way around the manor and trying desperately to remember everyone's name, a skill that I have never been great at. The Manor is one giant maze of ornate hallways that all look elegantly identical, but i am beginning to master it.

     Throughout the past week, I have been researching and planning various party ideas for the Manor's upcoming Garden Party and 4th of July Barbeque. Coincidence that they're letting the only American staff member oversee the 4th of July Barbeque? I think not. However, the fourth of July Barbeque and other upcoming events seem like they are going to be really enjoyable and I cannot wait to see how they turn out.

   So far, the Manor has been such an amazing atmosphere to work in. There is always something exciting happening. Golf tournaments, film crews, 1920's themed photoshoots, and prosecco toasts in the formal gardens are just a few of the events that have happened in the past week!  I am learning a lot, trying to experience everything Adare has to offer, and cannot wait to see what the next few weeks will bring, so stay tuned!

Below are some picture from my first week:

                                   

                               Sorry for the selfie, it was my first day in my fancy suits!

                          

                        

      

                  Organizing antique china for the Garden Party (and I only chipped one saucer)

                              

                                               A Section of the Main Lobby

                                                        Our little office!

                                                     Adare Village 

                                  The 18th Green at 10pm, yes it's that light out 

   

Arrival at Adare Manor

   

      

 

    Hello lovely readers, I have landed in Ireland, once again. The man at immigration couldn't seem to figure out why someone would need so many Irish stamps in their passport but, oh well, he got over it. I can't believe I am here, again. The time has absolutely flown! Only two weeks ago this happened:

 

   

     Ahhh! Wait what?!  I was still recovering from the shock of graduation when, ten days later, I was on one of these:

                               

      Upon landing in Ireland I spent two days at the Shaughnessy's to recover from the jet lag and organize myself for the journey south to Adare Manor. The Shaughnessy family must be so sick of me at this point but the farm air, the home cooked meals, and the occasional craic on their trampoline with Claire set met straight. 

 

 

 

       

 

         The trampoline hasn't changed since we were young and neither has our maturity levels

     After two days on the Shaughnessy farm, Saturday arrived and so did the nerves surrounding my scheduled arrival to Adare Manor. However, upon arrival, the nerves instantly disappeared. After meeting Sarah, my main contact throughout application process, I knew that I would love it here. She is so genuine, peppy and constantly making sure that I am taken care of. Sarah immediately showed me to my new apartment before giving me a tour of the manor and the grounds. 

Ta Da! 

                   

 

    Isn't she great?! A bit damp, but nothing a few Yankee Candles and Febreze cant fix! 

   Ok, moving on...

 

                    

    

 

   This is my actual apartment. It is one of the many Golf Townhouses located right along side the golf course. The apartment is a two second walk from the manor, itself, and it is absolutely huge! It could easily fit six or eight people instead of little old me, but I am not complaining! 

    The apartment is two levels; a living room, kitchen, mud room with a washer and dryer, and two bedrooms and bathrooms on the upper level. Again, massive. Sarah informed me that I might be moved around a couple of times during my stay, depending on if the space is needed for hotel guests. Understandable, seeing that it is way too big for one person.  For now, though, it's home. 

                   

 

       A view of the townhouses from the gate.  My apartment is the third on the left

                      

  The entrance to the town houses, home sweet home!

 

   

The kitchen area

Sorry, the sunlight made the pictures a little fuzzy, but it is sun in Ireland so I will take it!

                   

  The Mud Room

                   Check out my sweet new pink ride on the right

 

     

                      Living room with attached outdoor patio 

 

                  

                                                                 The Front Hall

   

      

                              One of the two bedrooms 

       

   

   I landed in Adare on Saturday and I was told to take the the weekend to explore the village and the grounds and report to work on Monday. Fine by me! I needed to get my bearings and learn my way around town. After unpacking I walked the grounds and discovered how enormous they were. You could walk for days! Every corner of the grounds is gorgeous and unique, containing castle ruins, rivers, woodland paths, ponds, or hidden cottages. 

                     

 

                         

                      

        

 

    The Adare Golf Course is expansive and covers most of the grounds. Even if you are walking through any of the wooded areas you can still see golfers through the trees. Every five years Adare hosts the JP McManus golf tournament and closes the entire hotel to huge celebrities like Catherine Zeta Jones, Nicole Kidman, Tiger Woods, Robert De Niro, etc. I have been told it is an amazing weekend of events. The next tournament is in 2015 and I may just have to return. 

    The manor, itself, is incredible. It is ornate, grand, and feels like you have stepped back in time. I have only taken a few pictures of the outside of the manor but there will be indoor pictures to come once I start work, tomorrow. 

 

                                      

       

 

                          

    According to Sarah, the first major event I will be working to plan is a Garden Party at the end of June which will include historical gowns, suits, and antique china to match the appropriate 19th century time period. Ha! Sounds like a piece of cake, right?! With my luck I will break all of the antique china that they have most likely removed from a secret vault for the occasion. 

Below, is a snap shot about the event from the Manor's website:

           

   

      The garden party is an attempt to recreate a painting of a garden party at Adare Manor by John Sutton, which can been seen in the background of the website. Ironically, a copy of the painting hangs in the living room of my apartment, a constant reminder of the work ahead. Although the work sounds like it will be busy, I am really excited to begin tomorrow. In the morning, I will don the full black, formal attire, heels and pearls and all! It should be highly entertaining so stay tuned. 

More to come from the Manor!