An Eventful August!

                    

Good morning blog readers! 

    I am so sorry I have neglected you! I have been writing a blog for the Manor so my personal blog tends to fall by the wayside. Things have been very busy around here so we have lots to catch up on! 

   First off, three weeks ago, Eoin, Rob, and I traveled to Dublin for the big hurling semi-final in Croke Park. It was a great chance to show Rob (a first timer to Ireland) the city of Dublin and all it has to offer. We made sure to show him the main attractions such as Trinity College, St. Stephen's Green, the Guinness Storehouse, etc. 

  The match in Croke Park was a great experience for all of us. The buzz inside the stadium was electric and it was a great chance for Rob and I to witness Irish sport in full swing. Despite Limerick's devastating loss to Clare and, thus, Eoin's depression on the car ride home, it was a great day in Dublin! 

                       

                        

                                             Rob and I with the always lovely Molly Malone

                       

                                                      Eoin and Rob on Grafton Street, Dublin

                       

                                                                                Croke Park!

               

                      

                                                                Sorry, Rob, I had to...

   Second item on the list: Rob has, sadly, headed home to Canada. He will definitely be missed. I couldn't help but give him a little blog shout-out for being such a great roommate and wild source of entertainment for all of us these past few months. 

                 

                                          Rob and Cillian during his last night in Ireland

                 

    Next on the list: Brian's Debs!  Last week, Brian, Jen's brother, departed for his Debs, the Irish version of Prom. And, of course, we were all there to send him off properly, harass him with photos, adjust his bow tie, etc. After his departure, we managed to have a party of our own at the O'Riordan household despite the jealousy that our Prom and Debs days are long over.

                                                          Nicola, Brian, and Jen pre-Debs!

                   

                                     Dave and Eoin with some Debs words of wisdom for Brian

                    

                                                                 The gorgeous couple

    

                     

                       

                                                                        Jen and Ollie!

     Last, but certainly not least, the tornado of fun that is Sheila Connolly has landed in Galway. Marty and I collected her from Shannon airport last week and Galway hasn't been right since. This weekend is her highly anticipated birthday weekend in Galway and Westport so stay tuned! Hopefully the county is resting up!