Ireland

I'm starting to discover more and more how much nature draws us closer to Christ. Being in Ireland and experiencing such great beauty was quite overwhelming at times because I could feel Christ's presence with me in a way I had never experienced before. He allowed me to feel such freedom and joy as I looked at the Cliffs of Mohr and rode my bike along the coast of the Aaron Islands. It seemed like no matter where I went I could see Him and feel that He was with me. It was certainly a joy-filled week and one that I will always remember.

I spend my first 3 days in Ireland at a retreat that Direction for our Times put on for Franciscan Student. It was a wonderful 3 days and DFOT was very welcome to made us feel right at home. As part of the retreat we got to visit Clammacnoise and Our Lady of Knock. Those were both beautiful experiences and I loved encountering the Irish people that I met there.

After leaving the retreat a few friends and I headed to Galway for the next 2 days. Galway is a very cool city with a great nightlife. We found an 800 year old pub called Kingshead which had live music every night. We had a ton of fun hanging out there and always ran into other Franciscan students while we were there. While we were in Galway we went on a 2 day bus tour of the western part of Ireland which was absolutely incredible. The landscape there is indescribable.

We spend the next 2 days in a small town called Doolin. This was by far my favorite place that we visited. There was much less of a nightlife scene and it just an incredibly charming place. While we were there we visited the Cliffs of Mohr and the Aaron Islands. Going to the Cliffs was breathtaking. I stood for a few minutes and quietly looked at the cliffs and felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over me. As I stood transfixed at what I was looking at, I also stood in awe before the Lord. I also felt an incredible freedom. It seems that I, being so small would feel completely empowered by these huge cliffs. However, it was the exact opposite. My spirit soared as I marveled at God's incredible creation.

 

Visiting the Aaron Islands was another wonderful experience. We ended up going on quite a rainy and windy day so the ferry ride over there was much more exciting than we had anticipated. Although the weather wasn't the best, we had so much fun. We rented bikes when we got there and rode up and down the coast which was another breathtaking experience. That night we went to a great local pub in Doolin where I ate some of the most delicious food I've ever had. The pub also had an amazing traditional irish band playing which was a very cool experience. 

It's safe to say that I love Ireland and would absolutely love to go back someday! However, I am very happy to be here at my home in Gaming, Austria and am looking forward to all the adventures that lie ahead of me. 

Pax Christi,

-Meg