Category Archives: Irish Countryside

Getting On With It: Lessons in Making A Life

One of the things that simultaneously aggravates and inspires me is the Irish notion of, “It’ll be grand”, of just getting on with it, and making do. It seems so casual and whimsical, but “getting on with it” has made … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Expat Living, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Pubs | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Out in the Country: Big Lessons From a Small Place

As a self-confessed city person, I admit that I tend to think of most countries as big cities with a few other places scattered in between. But Ireland has, as with so many things, helped me see the error of … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Expat Living, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Leading Edge: Quality Of Life In a Small Country

Please recognize in advance that everything in this post is my opinion, and any “wisdom” is based solely on my lived experience. No experts were consulted, no “facts” are involved, and your mileage will definitely vary. Well, now that the … Continue reading

Posted in Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Modern Life, Things to See in Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Stone Fences: Struggle, Sacrifice, and the Expat Life & Legacy

For the past week I’ve spent an hour or so every day digging in the garden, preparing a 4-foot by two-foot patch of ground for planting. Ever day, as I pull dozens and dozens of stones from the ground, I … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Things to See in Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Ruminations On Land: Thoughts On the Value Of The World

Walking the dog today, in the first real sunshine we’ve had in weeks, I once again found myself thinking about the country I’d moved to.  It wasn’t the people or the government that troubled me; my mind was on the … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Attractions, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish Economy, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Politics, Things to See in Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Local: Where Are You From

In a country as small as Ireland, where local parish control of life (so called “parish pump politics”) was, and is, still so important, the seat of knowledge, the gathering place (the pub), became known as, “The Local”.  But for … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Pubs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Seeing The Sights: Learning To Be a Tourist In Your Own Home

Like many who enjoy traveling to new places, when we moved to Dublin, I deliberately distanced myself, mentally, and often physically, from the millions of tourists who visit Ireland each year.  “I live here now. I’m no tourist.”  I realize … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Attractions, Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Things to See in Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Resolutions in a New Country

I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions.  I figure that if you really want to change a pattern of behavior there’s no need to fetishize a particular date? Just start changing.  To me picking a resolution start … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish Life & Society, Writers & Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Out In the Country

From friends, family, and casual acquaintances we hear: “I LOVE Ireland.  It’s so green. I’m definitely going someday.” Yes.  It is.  It really is as green as everyone imagines it to be.  And the cottages, stone fences, and the fields … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment