Tipp, Tipp, Tipperary

Hey y'all!

I have to start with a quick story of something that just happened.

I'm sitting on my bed on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon.  Enjoying the breeze coming through my open window, finally logging in to blogger to update everyone.  When all the sudden, a drop of water falls on my laptop screen and then I feel it on my face.  I look out the window, the sun is still shining, but, of course, it's raining.  A few minutes later, the breeze has turned into wind, the sky gets darker, and the rain keeps coming down.  Another typical day in Ireland.

Anyways, back to your regularly scheduled program.

Last Friday I went home with one of my roommates, Clodaugh, to County Tipperary.  Tipp isn't really known for its tourist attractions, but their hurling team was All Ireland champs. It's set in a valley, and stepping into Clo's backyard, you're surrounded by beautiful rolling hills. 

Her parents were  so great to have me.  We had a home cooked meal and I tried to explain where Indiana is.  I was also asked why American TV has so many ad breaks (I had no good answer).  I learned a bit about the Gardai, the Irish police force.  Clo's dad is a Garda and teaches at the national garda college, which is in Templemore. 

Clodaugh was teaching swim lessons that night, so I stayed home and took the dog, Fetch, for a walk with her mom.  That night we watched the late late show, an Irish institution. The next day I had lunch with Clodaugh at the restaurant she  works at, and took some pictures of the town, Templemore. In the park where we walked Fetch there's a really old church, which is  where the name Templemore comes from. 

 

Clodaugh's friend Roisin and I had made plans for her to show me Thurles, a bigger town next to Templemore. Thurles's claim to fame is all about GAA.  The Gaelic Athletic Association was born at a meeting in a local hotel, and there is 55,000 seat stadium in the town.  I got a Tipperary scarf at the GAA shop to mark the trip.

We got the train back to Dublin Saturday night.  This wasn't the most exciting trip, but I met some really great folks, and got a glimpse of "real" Irish life.  The differences are subtle.  The relationship between Clodaugh and her parents is different than mine or anyone I know back home.  The downtowns of tiny Templemore and Thurles were bustling on a rainy Saturday afternoon.  In small town Indiana you'd have to go out to the Wal Mart to see anyone after the breakfast rush at the one local diner was over.  My Irish friends always tease me about how I'm fascinated by the smallest things.  This is why I'm here for a whole 4 months.  I want to see ruins of a church or cute book shop or discuss the fact that Indiana living rooms don't have doors.