The Whistling Painter: In the North

This past weekend a group of us went to Derry for the 2013 City of Culture. The trip was short, but very memorable. The times I've gone to the North have always made a strong impression on me. I can't wait to get back up there again next semester. It's a place that definitely warrants a longer visit.
This past weekend's trip, though, was crammed with as much of Derry as was possible to squeeze into the amount of time we had there. Lots of group bonding and very little sleeping was done. If I were to summarize my first Derry experience in four words, they would have to be:

art

politics

guinness

powers

I'm living in a country filled with people who can drink and take this talent seriously. It makes for some amusing stories (better shared in person).

Here are a few photos:

I was excited to revisit this Blaney grave while the rest of the group visited Yeats (I paid my respect to Yeats as well, don't worry).

Sligo

Ben Bulben

Interpretive dance on an ancient grave

We drove through Donegal, including the town where my last name supposedly originates. It was pretty unremarkable, but nice to see.

These pictures sum up our Donegal experience pretty well. I'll have to get back up and see it properly.

Our first experience in the City of Culture. Life drawing!

Some of the public's reactions to the exhibitions.

Love the honesty

Rita Duffy: Red Ham of Ulster

All of these were great

This one feels a little sensitive

Derry Peace Bridge. This photo was taken around 4:30 in the afternoon. Maybe even earlier.

We all went to Peadar O'Donnell's at my professor's recommendation to celebrate a birthday. It was a lively, musical, loud, exciting, and very late night.