Sláinte Mhaith to Ireland

As a last minute decision before I left America I arranged to do some freelance photography work all of Europe for a number of publications and companies. This gave me a purpose and, more importantly, a press pass. If anyone needs photography work done at any of the sites I’m visiting don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Ireland has been absolutely incredible.

5/29 – I landed in Dublin at 8:00 am in the morning with only a 32.5 pound bag and a small day backpack to last me my 50 days in Europe. After getting through customs I found my way to the bus that would take me from the Dublin airport to town center, so I could get to my hostel. At the bus stop I ran into two sisters, Kaylee and Dani, who were traveling Europe together and, by coincidence, were staying at the same hostel as me. After we checked into the hostel we went off to some of the tourist spots in Dublin (The Old Jameson Distillery & The Guinness Storehouse). At the Guinness Storehouse I ran into the Tamoney family from my hometown, which was a insane surprise.

After we got back to the hostel and parted ways. I was really feeling the jet lag so I just wanted a quick dinner, Irish stew, and then to head to bed. I ended up meeting two Canadians at dinner, Sean and Niko, who were traveling to Ireland for the Isle of Man TT. All of us had the pleasure of meeting a group of elderly ladies who were visiting their homeland of Ireland. Many Guinness’s later I finally made it to back to my hostel to sleep.

5/30 – The next day I hopped on the Paddywagon and toured The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. It dropped me off in Cork at a hostel around 7 at night with the promise of fetching me at noon the next day. I ended up meeting Samir, who was working at the hostel. When he got off work we went for drinks in the city.

5/31 – I spent the morning in Cork exploring: I rang the Shandon bells at the Church of St. Anne, I ate handmade sausages from the English Market, and I met Tony Linehan in Linehan’s Sweet Factory. He and his father make traditional boiled sweets and Tony marks the 4th generation of the family business. At noon I boarded the Paddywagon again and it took me to Blarney Castle. There I kissed the Blarney Stone, got the “gift of gab,” and we then made our way to Cobh. At Cobh I saw the Titanic experience and learned Cobh was the last town the Titanic visited before it sunk. After we made our way back to Dublin where I met up with two friends of mine, Trevor and Jason, and we went out in the Temple Bar District. At Temple bar we watched Dave Browne play guitar, the Guinness book of world record holder for longest nonstop guitar playing, totaled at 114 hours.

Today I officially got word that I’m going to be an accredited photographer for the Isle of Man TT 2013. I’m immediately making my way to the island the fastest way possible. This takes me by bus to London and then a flight from London to the island. So now I’m off the the Isle of Man!