In the linked YouTube video, US Fulbright student Amanda Bernhard explains how she discovered the Fulbright program, why she decided to pursue a grant to let her study the Irish language in Ireland, and what the Fulbright program has offered in addition to financial support.
Tag / fulbright student
The Elegant Archeology Museum of Ireland
The Archeology gallery of the National Museum of Ireland is a chock full of fascinating treasures. The building itself is also remarkable. I’ve enjoyed visiting this place with both Esther Sterchi and Amanda Bernhard (the famous Fulbright student). Of particular interest at this museum: numerous bog bodies, “prehistoric” relics, the Viking exhibition, and the unimaginably long wooden boat that was carved from a single tree trunk (see the panorama below).
I love the design of the Museum. I wish I could see it without the skylight blocked out, though.
strairwell
iron columns
grand central space
Uncovering History at the Cobblestone Pub
Last week’s impromptu visit by (Fulbright student) Amanda Bernhard and her husband Jonathan Kennedy was a most welcome excuse to visit the Cobblestone!
Jonathan Kennedy playing uilleann pipes with an Irish man he has played pipes with the United States.
A casteen player with Tom Mulligan. Tom’s doing his best to keep Irish traditions alive and thriving here in Dublin.
My friends arrived late in the evening Thursday after a day of Irish classes followed by a cross-country drive.
They took me out for dinner at L. Mulligan. Grocer then we popped back to my apartment to fetch their instruments and retraced our steps one block to Tom Mulligan’s Cobblestone pub.
The last two times Jonathan and Amanda went to the Cobblestone I wasn’t with them (they were staying at my apartment while I was away). They went on weekends and the musicians’ corner was already full. They didn’t play then, although they did introduce themselves to Tom.
Last Thursday, however, they found space to play alongside the Irish musicians. We had a great time and enjoyed meeting new people, seeing Tom, and catching up on recent events.
After talking with Tom, I finally understand how Fergus Whelan came to have close friends on both sides of the “Troubles.” He is/was both Protestant and Republican (though today he’s a peacemaker as per my earlier blog). Protestants are typically associated with the other side — usually sticking with the Queen, so to speak — while Fergus apparently supported the unification of Ireland and Irish rule for the entire island. See how much like the American Civil War it all was? As a Virginian, I too had family on both sides of a bitter conflict. And some tensions run high on that conflict even today….
Jonathan Kennedy playing uilleann pipes.
The musicians were winding down for the evening.
Amanda Burnhard got the chance to chat with Tom Mulligan at the end of the evening.
Counting Time
Amanda and Jonathan at Cobblestone, from an earlier blog post. (Copyright Dave Chance Photography, 2012.)
I’m sitting here counting time, waiting for my co-authors to send updates and Dave to finish editing some pictures so we can head off to see the nephews one last time before I fly out.
Meanwhile Jonathan and (Fulbright student) Amanda are visiting Dublin, and getting my apartment broken back in for living. Jonathan has just posted on Facebook the praises of the IKEA Poang chair (that I bought using Adverts.ie). I highly recommend buying it with the matching footstool.
Amanda and Jonathan are heading off to play at the Cobblestone pub tonight… I’d love to be there to hear them play! I’m living vicariously through the photos Dave took last time they played there.
Ireland by Chance 