So Long, Farewell

Well, this is our very last post of the semester! It feels so bizarre that three-and-a-half months have passed so quickly. So, think about this post as a sort of "About the Authors" page.

Katy Fleming was born and raised in Laguna Beach, California and is currently a sophomore at Westmont College where she is studying Sociology. She loves dancing, indy-folk and country music, and singing along to Disney movies. She is also a huge Lord of the Rings nerd: the trilogy is both her favorite book series and movie series.

Ethan is a sophomore at Taylor University. He is studying Social Studies Education. He wants to make a difference in students' lives and perhaps one day be a professor. He has grown up wanting to be the next Indiana Jones. He almost always has a song in his head and a hop in his step. He enjoys traveling. And he will do next to anything in order to take the perfect photo. 

Bridget is a sophomore at Taylor University and is a psychology major. Her plan is to go into the counseling field. Bridget loves shopping, traveling, and being with her friends.

Emma is a sophomore at Wheaton College. She is studying Anthropology and French. She hopes to travel the world and learn about many different cultures. She has loved visiting the Irish Sea and looking for sea glass this semester (as shown in the picture). She also loves music, going to shows, and her vinyl collection is her prize possession. 

Erica is a Junior Exercise Science major at Taylor University. When she gets out of Taylor in a year, she has thought about pursuing physical therapy as a career. She absolutely loves any sort of outdoor activity, including hiking, horseback riding and sports, especially soccer, which she is willing to play pretty much anytime and anywhere. She also loves traveling and being immersed in a new culture. Two of the places she most wants to visit are South Africa and Israel. She says, "This is my first time in Europe and it has been amazing." 

Kelly is a junior Psychology/Professional Writing double major at Taylor; she also has a French minor. She inherited her wanderlust from her father and grandfather. She loves traveling and seeing the beautiful world God has created. She is passionate about writing and working with children. She wants to go into pediatric counseling and possibly write novels. She loves sunshine, the sea, and chocolate among a number of other things. 

Augnanure Castle

            Aughnanure Castle was built in the 16th century by the O’Flahertys, one of Connacht’s most notable families. Their family motto was “fortune favours the strong.” The famous pirate queen Grace O’Malley married a member of the O’Flaherty family, thereby uniting the two families. The name of the castle, Aughnanure, translates to the “field of the yews.” At one point in history, the castle was used as a blockade during the Cromwellian invasion. Just above the entrance to the castle, there is a murder hole, which was used to drop stones on invaders in order to keep them out. Some people stood next to the murder hole and shouted at the people passing below, which Kelly found amusing. There was also a trap door that was used to capture uninvited guests and send them down to the river. 

 

(The weather was horrible, but the castle was still beautiful.)

            When visiting the castle, we saw a well-preserved example of an Irish tower house, the remains of a banqueting hall, and a watchtower. Ethan enjoyed climbing on one of the courtyard battlements. Katy thought the river beside Augnanure was beautiful. This was a great way to end our trip because we got to see a piece of history and how Ireland has evolved since then. 

 

(The river next to Augnanure)