We arrived yesterday morning after an undramatic, uneventful set of flights. After we got to Athlone and got more or less settled, we all walked down to The Shack Old World Inn, home of the Hog’s Rose Brewery, commonly known as The Shack. Study Abroad Ireland's director, Barry Vaughan (standing in the white shirt), bought a round for everyone which got our visit off to a good start. This is 14 of our 17 participants. They seem like a great group and I think we are going to have fun with them.
The Shack is a beautiful pub, built over an old holy well that nobody can locate any more. It has several rooms, including a glass-walled garden room. It was very quiet when we were there, but it was pretty early – only about 6:00 p.m. I’ve been there on Sunday afternoons when it was packed with lots of people at the bar, sports enthusiasts around the big screen, and families with children in the garden room and spilling out into the darker room next to it.
We were hoping to talk to Mandy, the owner, about possibly holding some of the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival events there. She wasn’t around, though. Barry suggested we talk to her son, who was, but then I figured I’d better talk to Danielle about it first. Danielle Allison is the local storyteller who has spearheaded the funding and organizing of the 3Rs festival. She is also one of the best friends I have in Ireland. I can’t wait to see her.
