Tá mé i mo shuí i dteach tabhairne McSwiggans i nGaillimh anois! Tá Tasha anseo freisin. D’ith muid ar gcuid lón agus anois tá pionta agam. Tá mé an-sásta.

I cannot even begin to describe how I feel at the moment.

Last night was amazing. We all went to the Ostan Cheathrú Rua for our closing banquet. The food was awesome and the entertainment even better. So many people got up and performed, including yours truly. Angela, Becky, and myself sang “Down in the River to Pray” in THREE PART HARMONY. Yup. And then later on, Tasha and I pulled together a Milling Frolic and shared a bit of Cape Breton tradition with everyone. What a time.

When the banquet was over, we all went to the beach and made a fire. We sat, sang, drank, and had a time. My housemates and I left around 2 am and got home shortly thereafter. We did not sleep much, as the bus was coming to get us at 10:15 and we needed to be up early to eat, shower, and make sure everything was in order. Even so, we all managed to pull it off and everyone made it out the door on time.

The rest of the day spent getting other things in order. Mom and Dad – I have made it to the Hostel okay and it’s actually very nice. No worries! Also, I have booked myself a hotel room for tomorrow night so no need to worry about me staying alone in the airport :) Tasha and I had lunch and spent the rest of the day booking bus tickets and having a look around. We met up with some people from the course for dinner at Homplate. Unfortunately, some of them had to get their dinner to go because they had to catch a bus. A sad goodbye indeed – I miss all of you.

We then met up with another friend and sat on the pier for a while, having a drink and talking. The three of us then strolled on down to Shop Street and met up with a bunch of others in a pub,where we sat for a few hours. Angela, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your friendship. It won’t be long and we’ll get together! I’ll be sure to fine tune my guitar skills…that was a pun…a bad one.

Now, as I sit in the Hostel on my top bunk, I cannot rid my mind of the faces of the people who have changed my life, nor do I want to. Tears well up in  my eyes for the memories that I have of a wonderful summer spent in An Cheathrú Rua with truly amazing, unique, and wonderful people. Every single one of you. I miss you. But after all, it’s only Slán Go Fóill.

If you ever go across the sea to Ireland
Then may at the closing of your day
You will sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay.

Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream
The women in the meadows making hay
And to sit beside a turf fire in the cabin
And watch the barefoot gossoons at their play.

For the breezes blowing o’er the seas from Ireland
Are perfumed by the heather as they blow
And the women in the uplands diggin’ praties
Speak a language that the strangers do not know.

For the strangers came and tried to teach us their ways
They scorned us just for bein’ what we are
But they might as well go chasin’ after moonbeams
Or light a penny candle from a star.

And if there is going to be a life hereafter
And somehow I am sure there’s going to be
I will ask my God to let me make my heaven
In that dear land across the Irish sea.