My busiest day ever in Ireland started late afternoon on Wednesday, June 18th. The next day, June 19th, included a guest storyteller in class, a trip to Portumna to tell stories, Sandy and Dwight Oglesby arriving in Athlone, and the evening concert of the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival.
I picked up storyteller and scholar, Miceál Ross, at the train station in Athlone at 6:30 p.m. Here’s what happened after that over the next 28 hours:
ü 6:45 p.m. – Drove Miceál back to the apartment, made him an omelet and visited with him and my flat mates Mary and Elizabeth. He was able to explain the Lisbon treaty that the Irish had voted down. He had spent a lot of time campaigning for it and was livid that it hadn’t passed.
ü 10:00 p.m. – Before I went to bed I remembered that Sandy and Dwight would be arriving the next day at the Croi Oige Student accommodation. I had forgotten to get towels ready for them, so I ran a load over to the laundry.
ü 10:15 p.m. – Went on to Google. Maps and got detailed directions to Portumna, emailed myself the link so that I could print them in the lab the next morning.
ü 11:00 p.m. – Thought through what stories I would tell the next day at the Portumna library.
ü 11:30 p.m. – Tossed and turned in bed until about 5:30.
ü 5:30 a.m. – Got up, showered, ate, dressed, and ran over to the laundry to put the towels in the dryer.
ü 8:00 a.m. – Made sure Miceál was up.
ü 8:15 a.m. – Went back to the classroom and printed off the map and directions to Portumna.
ü 8:30 a.m. – Started class and gave the students who were telling that evening in the concert a chance to rehearse.
ü 9:30 a.m. – Ran back to the apartment to bring Miceál back to class. We had an exciting session with him over the next hour and a half. That's him regaling us at the beginning of the post.
ü 11:00 a.m. – Grabbed the towels out of the laundry and folded them when class was over.
ü 11:30 a.m. – Drove Miceál to the train station.
ü 11:45 a.m. – Carefully placed my map, directions, and cell phone in the seat next to me.
ü 11: 50 a.m. – Drove directly to Portumna with nary a false turn. A beautiful drive through the Irish countryside. I took a conscious moment to remind myself how glad I was to be in Ireland.
ü 1:00 p.m. – Met the librarians, had delicious sandwiches and tea and then a really satisfying session with the children and teachers from the local school.
ü 2:30 p.m. – Drove home.
ü 3:30 p.m. – Dropped my cell phone in the toilet and flushed before I realized it was in the bowl.
ü 3:31 p.m. – Cursed. Cursed again. Took phone apart to try to dry.
ü 4:15 p.m. – Drove to the bus station to wait for Sandy and Dwight around the time I thought they were supposed to arrive, since now my phone would not be receiving a call from them.
ü 4:30 p.m. – Found them, explained why I hadn’t answered the phone, and drove back to the apartments. Found Gavin. Found their apartment. Took them their towels and a few other amenities. Told them where the Londis was and that we would be leaving for the concert at 5:30.
ü 5:00 p.m. – Grabbed a quick bite, threw on a different set of clothes, attempted to style hair.
ü 5:30 p.m. – Drove Sandy and Dwight to the Aidan Heavey Library in Athlone.
ü 5:45 p.m. – Met Mae McLynn and the other librarians, moved some chairs, welcomed Danielle and our featured teller Jack Lynch from Dublin.
ü 6:30 p.m. – Welcomed the audience, composed of almost all of our Study Abroad Ireland Students, the librarians, our arts officer from the Westmeath County Council, and several other local people. Three of my students from the Irish Storytelling Tradition told stories: Jake McKindles and Amber Watson (pictured), and Lindsey Stokes. They all did extremely well. Jack Lynch was, of course, the star of the show. In between emceeing, I posed for the photographer from the Westmeath Independent with Mae and Danielle.
ü 8:00 p.m. – Concluded the concert, gabbed with lots of people, and said our good-byes.
ü 8:30 p.m. – Drove to The Shack for a celebratory pint with Jack, Danielle, Sandy and Dwight, my colleagues and several students.
ü 9:30 p.m. – Said more good-byes and drove home.
ü 10:00 p.m. – Fell in bed!
ü 10:30 p.m. – zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.