just wondering

just wondering do many people actually read my blog? If you do could you please leave a comment to let me know you were here. I'm not asking for comments on all posts, just this once to see how many people come here and should I keep this blog up and running. Thanks to all who do read, I know my life isnt the most exciting and I havent been consistently blogging in a while :(

God bless!!

OOPS

Sorry I haven't posted here in quite a while. College, assignments and friends getting in the way hehe! College is going great! Lots of assignments to do and Christmas exams coming up in 2 weeks. A big difference between secondary school, besides the subjects, is all the time off! I can't believe how much time I have off (all ment for study of course), anyway, I'm not complaining. Friendships are great! Chicken and I are getting on better than ever. God blesses us with great friends. New friends in college - they are great too!! thank God for great friends and family :D

Yes this was a short post, but eh it's late and I need some sleep lol.

God bless

Olivia

p.s thanks to all who read this, I don't know if many do.

Friends

Today I was taught a very very very valuable lesson! And Thank you to my aussie friend (more like 2nd mother) for teaching it to me. Friends affect your life in so many ways, good and bad, they are there for you to spill out your problems to, to have fun with, to share lives with. A vital part of a good friendship is loyalty. I will say I am loyal to my friends in "real" life, but I am not the first person to stand up when they are being put down, I usually just let my friends sort it out but would I like it if my friends did that to me? I sure would not! I have learned that that is what friends do, it's what being a friend is all about.

And the same is to be said for online friends and is the main reason I am writing this post. I have become best of friends with a man who I met online- and don't worry it is a properly run, Catholic chat room and I do not give personal details, anyway one night this man was being put down andnot one of us in there stood up for him. He was deeply deeply hurt. I know if any of us was being put down he would have sorted them out, put them in their place..and what did we do for him? nothing! I admit I sat there and let it all pass over my head. But today my aussie friend showed me that friends are loyal, even if it is online there are still feelings involved, and even though I knew this man was hurt it never occurred to me that I should have said something, I should have tried to stop it! Well from now on I will not let anyone be put down when they did nothing wrong, it is not fair and it is not right to let it pass either!!

St.Padre Pio

Today is St.Padre Pio's feast day. He is my favorite saint, his life is so inspiring. It was odd today because I found a church that has mass before college, so I can get to college on time. I didn't even know it was St.Padre Pio's feast day until I looked up at the altar and saw a huge picture of him! I am so lucky I found this church, and on this day also! :)

Ramblings

Hello all,

I know I haven't wrote here in a while and I'll be honest its all down to pure laziness ;)

College has started and I'm liking it. I don't like getting up at 7am though, even on mornings when classes don't start until 10, but that is due to the bus time schedule. At least now I am getting to know the city (a place which felt like another country this time last year) and I like being able to navigate my way around and not calling my friend for directions!

My course is very interesting and I really like the language development and child development modules.

I really do miss Chicken though :( We "couldn't" go 2 days without seeing each other when we attended the same school, now we have to go 4 or 5 days, maybe even a week. wow just reading that again and I know it sounds silly, some people have to go months without seeing their loved ones so yes I am thankful that I (hopefully) see her every week. She is really enjoying her course and I am delighted she is! We met up yesterday for a few hours and we made every minute count!! The good thing though about not seeing each other all the time is that when we do meet we make the best of it and don't argue :)

I will admit I have been letting my faith slip a bit. I can't seem to get into the routine of praying again :( but I will try to work on this!

God bless

Olivia

College

I started college on Thursday. the first 2 days were orientation days. Monday I will start the course "for real". I like the course but I really hate not knowing anyone. I have tried to make friends and it's going OK but I'm so used to having Chicken there I guess it's just hard. well I'll see how Monday goes, hopefully good!!

Prayers

Hi all,

Can you please please pray for my friend chicken. She is going through a rough time at the moment and is taking her anger out on me. :( It's not fair I know but I'm asking God to help. All prayers will be appreciated.

God bless

Great News

woohoo I got into the college i wanted!! Finally all the waiting is over and it's official. I accepted my course on Monday and got all the paper work in the post this morning, now the trouble of filling it out. I am studying for a B.A in early childhood care and education ( I know a long name for a course). This will last for 4 years. here's the link if you want to take a peek http://www.mic.ul.ie/prospectivestudents/baecca.htm (click on the light blue points).

College is exciting but I am more sad about missing seeing all my friends in school. I suppose I'm lucky as the friends I am close to are all staying in the County but I won't see them everyday as I used to in school. I will miss especially seeing my best friend Chicken every day. I have a feeling she won't make an effort to see me as much in college but I'll wait and see what happens! Hopefully I will enjoy my course and make the best of it, all with God's help :)

im back

I really haven't wrote here in so long and I'm sorry :( But I have great news, I got the results I was hoping to get in my exams! I will know Monday or Tuesday if I have received a place in the college I am hoping to go to I can't wait. Thank you God for helping me!

I am also back from a brilliant holiday in Spain. It was very different to other holidays we have been on. I t was in a really traditional resort in Spain, a resort not commercialised or taken over by English and Irish tourists. The one downside though was the people, waiters etc. had little or no English! But we got by :)

I will put up pictures soon although I didn't take too many :(

God bless

Gospels

yesterday I finished the Gospel of Matthew, now I have started Mark. So far I am finding Mark's gospel far more easier than Matthews :) I love reading the Bible, I haven't read it much throughout my exams or after but now I am back "in the mood" for reading it :):)

God bless

olivia

Me

I know I haven't wrote here in a while and it's not because I don't have time-believe me I do!- I just don't really know what to write about anymore. I've kinda gotten lazy about writing about Religion (which is only a phase- don't worry) and people aren't really interested in hearing that all day I stay on the computer, watch TV, try to get a bit of exercise or meet up with friends.

One thing I will write about, and what I feel like writing about is confidence. Recently, meaning over the last 3 or 4 years, my confidence levels have dropped Way down. I was letting people walk all over me and never standing up for myself. I started to believe what people said and the word "can't" was used instead of I can. But recently I have been thinking a lot, why should I let people walk all over me? why should I tell myself and let others tell me I can't do something or that I will never be good at something? I shouldn't - it's not fair and it really doesn't help me in any way.

So this week I have started telling myself I can do whatever I want, I can achieve all my goals- why can't I? :) I won't let others put me down and obviously I have to do this for others too not calling them names or making them feel bad either.

As the saying goes "if you can't love yourself how can you love others". So here it goes I love myself LOL!

Holidays

I haven't wrote here in a while (sorry). I can't say I have been too busy because I spend most of my day either on the computer or at my friends house. Something really really confusing and weird is happening in my town at the moment (I will do a separate post on it) but all I'll say is to believe or not to believe? That is the question!

It's only 4 weeks until I get my results of the leaving cert!! I'm counting already! But I can't wait to see how I did.

I really can't think about anything else to write, my days have been "filled" with going on the computer, watching TV, cleaning or at my friends house...nothing that exciting.

Summer

I can finially relax and enjoy the summer! Being honest this isn't the best summer so far as I can't go to Chickens house and she can't come to mine :(. But we might be going away for the weekend woohoo!! 2 concerts one on friday and one on saturday. IF and only IF we are going (it's not definate) I hope the weather stays this warm!!! It will be a great weekend :):)

Recently I've just been at home, I still have my room to clean :(. I'm really not motivated to clean it. There are books and exam papers from my exams still lying around. I don't know whether I should keep them or not?!?

Anyway I'm enjoying this sun while it lasts!
God bless

Limerick crest

This is the crest of Limerick, the place where I live. I really love this county and of course the city. Everything on this crest has a meaning.

The castle on the left is King Johns castle. It was used to keep invaders out of Ireland during the viking invasions in 922. You can get more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_John)

The stone in the centre is the treaty stone. This is where the treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. I don't really know much else but you can reads about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Limerick

The hurleys and football are a symbol of Limericks participation in sport. Hurling and gaelic football are traditional irish games. Hurling is played with a stick called a hurley and a small ball called a sliotar. 2teams play and can score goals and points by hitting the ball between the posts of the goals (which is a point) and if they get it in the goals it's a goal. The same thing applies in gaelic football but instead of using a hurley and sliotar you use a football. It is different to soccer as you can catch the ball in your hands and carry it.

Here is a picture of Irelands biggest GAA stadium, Croke Park, in Dublin

http://www.gaa.ie/

The river in the middle is the river Shannon. This river is the longest river in Ireland and it enters the Atlantic ocean at Limerick harbour.

The fields and town on the right represent the green fields around Limerick and it's towns.

God bless

Ireland

I'm thinking about doing posts on various topics about Ireland. I am thinking of doing ones on traditional aspects such as Irish dance, music and folklore. I may do ones about various cultures in Ireland and may put up a post or two about the Irish language ;). I think this would be good as so many people who visit here, say to me that they have Irish family background so I thought lets teach them about this wonderful country!! :)

SUMMER!!!

WOOHOO!! my exams are finally finished. They finished last Thursday and weren't as bad as I expected. Now is the hard part, waiting 2 months for the results! Now that the exams are over all I want to know is how I did.

I went to my aunts wedding on Saturday. It was a great. It was plain and simple but nice :)

Here is a picture of the cross that was in the abbey where the wedding was held.

Then the next day (Sunday) we went to my aunts house and stayed there for the night. It was great having the whole family together. It was also great seeing my cousins who we only get to see once or twice a year!

Yesterday I got a beautiful picture of Our Lady of perpetual help. It's oval, a medium sized one with shells around the rim (and a bargain for only 1euro). I don't know where I will put it but probably in my room somewhere :)

I will keep you informed of my weeks exploring and learning more about my wonderful religion, now that I have lots of free time to do it!!

God bless

Prayer to St.Brigid

Brigid

You were a woman of peace.

You brought harmony where there was conflict.

You brought light to the darkness.

You brought hope to the downcast.

May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.

Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.

Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.

Strengthen what is weak within us.Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.

May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.

Amen

information on St.Brigid (of Ireland) anyone?

Hi,

I am looking for information on St.Brigid, her life miracles, her intercession and things like that. I can only find the same information about her life but I can't find any articles about her intercession or pictures of her or prayers to her so if anyone knows sites or books which could help I would be very grateful!!!

Thanks
God bless

More exams....

It's great only 3 exams left! Irish Paper II, french and biology :) Irish paper I went great this morning and the essay which I had prepared about the recession came up. Tomorrow's Irish paper is a hard one but since I have about 40% done I cant fail ;)

Chicken and I have been having little problems and I have been praying for God to help me with my anger. I get angry really fast and just can't help what I say, and then I regret it later. Does anyone else have problems like this? What do you do?

God bless

Exams

The leaving certificate started on Wednesday (the 3rd of June). My first exam was English and then Home economics. I thought both went well and I have been cramming my last few hours of study each evening! There was a mix up in a school in Louth so English paper 2 was given to then instead of paper 1. Since they had seen the papers a new exam had to be drawn up and rescheduled for Saturday!!!! The whole country was in a tear but it turned out the exam was really easy :)

My dreaded Irish paper 1 and 2 is next week. Please pray I will do well in it :) I also have maths paper 2, french and biology. I'm a little worried about the Biology exam but hopefully I will do well. I can't wait until all these exms are over and then the summer will really start!

We have been getting fabulous weather here in Ireland for the past 2 weeks (yeah I know while the exams are on) and I even got sunburned. The weather is changing now though and it is supposed to rain all next week :( but I am praying that the summer will be a nice one!

OK I best get back to studying. I will post more Catholic based posts when I have time to research and learn after the exams :)
God bless

happy birthday

Today is my brothers birthday!! I can remember it so clear, 7 years ago at 9:02pm you were born! And after being stuck with 2 sisters I wanted a brother. I guess God heard me! :)

Have a great party tomorrow! love you so much!!

Graduation!!!

We had our graduation on Friday, the 22nd of May (My Dads birthday!!!). It was a brilliant night! The day started off with me lazing around the house Ha! I went to the hairdressers at 2 and got curls in my hair, then make up at half 4. Then as usual a rush to get to the restaurant before 6pm! We made it on time anyway and Mam, Dad and I had a lovely meal.

The graduation ceremony started at around quarter past 7 (nothing starts on time here) and it started with giving out of fáinne's (irish for rings) these are little gold, silver or bronze rings given to you according to your level of spoken irish. In april we had to have a conversation with an examiner and that measured one's level. It took a while for the examiner to present all the pins (he talked really slow!) but it was lovely.

Then various musicians from out year played music or sung for us. Then awards were given out for various categories, not the usual awards we had fun ones such as "most colourful hair" and "best couple" it was fun!

Chicken and I surprised all our friends and teachers, as we are usually seen in jeans and hoodies or tracksuits or going training. Everyone was amazed at how dressed up we were. I must say we looked smashing!

Then came the fun part... going out! All our class went to a local pub where there was a big hall and a DJ. we all danced the night away. After that I stayed at Chickens house, we didn't get home till 2am (oops ha!). It was really a great night out, can't wait to go out again.

Saturday was spent cleaning, trying to study, on the computer, listening to music...oh and trying to make myself better- i caught a cold.

Sunday- I didn't get to mass :( but I had the whole day with the house to myself. I TRIED to study but I couldn't really concentrate. Chicken and I spent about 5 hours straight on the phone- what an achievement! (the phone calls are free for an hour so we just hang up when the hour comes and ring back- if they weren't free my parents would go mad).

Today, Monday- I finally got some decent study done in biology and maths :) only a week and a half until the exams but on the flip side only 3 weeks until they are over and I cannot wait until that day.

Thank you God for everything you have given me.

A Graduates Prayer

Father I have knowledge
So you will show me now
How to use it wisely
And find find a way somehow.
To make the world I live in
A little better place
And make life with its problems
A bit easier to face.
Grant me faith and courage
And put purpose in my days
And show me how to serve thee
In the most effective ways.
So all my education
My knowledge and my skill
May find their true fulfillment
As I learn to do thy will.
And may I ever be aware
In everything I do
That knowledge comes from learning
And wisdom comes from you.
Amen

Irish Potato Famine Part 3: Governments Response

Part 3: Governments Response 

Since Ireland was under English rule, Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel purchased £100,000 worth of indian corn secretly from America. Due to weather conditions the first shipment of indian corn did not arrive in Ireland until February 1846.

The corn was sold for a penny a pound. This corn, when it arrived was inedible and had to be ground twice before consumption and had to be cooked for a very, very long time. If not people would have suffered with  severe bowel problems.

Sir Robert Peel then introduced Corn laws or tariffs to keep the cost of grain relatively high. The situation worsened in 1946 and the repeal of the Corn laws did little to help the staving Irish. It spilt the Conservative party (a British Political party) and lead to the fall of Peels ministry.

 Peels successor Lord John Russell provided inadequate help to the Irish. He started public works, which didn't help in any way. He had starving men digging holes and breaking up roads which done no service.

I cannot find information on how else the government helped but I read that charities helped and many, many people emigrated - I will post this soon

Nearing the end of school!

This week went OK. I didn't get as much study done as I planned :(. But I did have a great day on Friday with Chicken. We went looking for shoes for her, for the graduation but we couldn't find any she liked!! We walked around the shops and then met up with her Mother and friends and went for something to eat. It was a fun day :)

Only 3 official days left in school. I am starting to panic over how little study I have done, but if worst comes to worst, if I don't get into ANY college I can always wait until I am 23 and apply as a mature student, so there is always a second option. It will be so weird not seeing everyone everyday, not having the "guarantee" of seeing all my friends and all the students in the school. Once the leaving certificate is over, thats it, we won't be all together again :(. It is kind of funny though because Chicken and I say "it will be odd not seeing everyone everyday" but we never say "it will be odd not seeing each other". I think this is down to the fact that we are such good friends we just know we will see each other most days of the week. I thank God for giving me such an amazing friend! I am kind of nervous though about leaving. I am not the type of person who likes the uncertainty of the future.

The graduation mass is on Monday and the Graduation (in the school) is on Friday. I am in the Choir for both (even though I don't sing I mime ;)). It is fun "singing" with everyone! I can't wait to go out on Friday after the graduation, it should be fun. I haven't gone out before (yes I know you are probably thinking I'm weird) without my family, haven't gone out on a night that isn't organized by the Red Cross or the Camogie club so this should be an interesting experience. I will be sure to write about it.

YAY!! I will get to Mass tomorrow! I am reading. The times I read, these are the only times I am guaranteed to go to Mass, apart from Christmas and Easter. I will never "deprive" my family of regular, and especially Sunday Mass.

I will keep you updated on the Graduation and my final days in school :)

Inspiration

I am blessed to meet the people I  do. Back in January 2009 I was looking for people to talk to about Catholicism and related topics. God blessed me to find 2 great chat rooms all based on Catholicism and thats really where my journey began. All the people there have been a real inspiration to me.

I remember it was the day before my birthday I was talking to a certain New Yorker and He gave me courage to start asking to go to mass (yes I know I shouldn't have to), and low and behold the day of my birthday (which was a Sunday) I got to go to mass, where, for the first time, I was interested in the mass, the Gospels and didn't fall into a daydream.

I also happened to be fortunate to meet "R", who, as I think, is my online priest (He is not, may I add). Any question I have He can answer it, and if its not in his head He will look up books etc. until He finds the answer. He also recommended The Bible and prayer book I bought (I will write on these layer). 

There are also numerous others, each with their own individual story, all an inspiration  and all make us proud to be Catholic.

But there is one woman, Anne (and I'm not being mean to the others :)) who has inspired me the most, made me happy when I was a real mess, helped me when I was sad, laughed with me when I was laughing and provided advise and information any time I wanted. When I felt useless she told me stories of hope and made me feel better. Her love for her family is amazing and her love for God is the same. We have shared life stories, even though my life is short! ha! She is great and I hope we can meet some day :). Her kids and grandkids are blessed to have a mother and grandmother like her!!

Thank you God for leading me to these people, they are all great!

Studying

OK I really have to start studying. It is now less than 4 weeks to the exams! I am planning some kind of time table where I will spend "quality time" with each of my 7 subjects. Since I have never made a study plan before does anyone have and hints or ideas to make it a bit interesting?? :)

These few days have been really great. I have kept good relationships with everyone!  I also made it to mass most days, and I woke really late today so I couldn't go. The L.C.V.P exam went OK. The questions that we had planned didn't come up, the questions were very weird!!! 

God bless

God is amazing

You know I picked the title for my blog for a reason. God works in so many, wonderful and mysterious ways. It is sad so many people cannot see this. God created this wonderful world, and everything works in harmony in it. God sends people into our lives to show us the good and bad in us, to bring love and happiness when we need it most. 

But equally God can make life hard, or the decisions people make, make life hard, but you know no matter how tough things are God makes them right. I have used this phrase a lot in the past week "God knows what He's doing.... yup He knows" and its true. When going through hard times you may say "God why are you doing this to me" but really when you look back you are usually glad that it happened because, eventually, good came out of it.

This happened recently with Chicken and I. We were having fights almost every day of the week. I was not nice to her at all, and I didn't notice until one day she just exploded and it all came out. I hurt her so much, she didn't even want to look at me. She told me we would never be best friends again, never go to see each other, nothing. I thought it was all over.

I asked God why would He take away someone that I cared about so much (even though it was my fault she was gone in the first place). I knew I had to change, change my mood swings, watched what I said and I had to become more independent. I prayed firstly that I  would change, not completely, but change my "clingy" attitude, then I prayed that my friendship with Chicken would not end. A good friend of mine, a one I met online actually ;) (you know who you are) told me to say 3 Hail Mary's a day, and I did.

A few weeks later I am a way better person. I have realized jealousy pushes people away, fighting is no use and giving people a bit of space and freedom does not mean they forget about you, in fact it was the best thing I've done. Chicken and I are now the best of friends and loving every minute of it!! 

So even though it may have not seemed like God was doing any good by "making" - not the right word to use- fight, He knew I would become a better person at the end of it all.

OK you are probably sick of hearing about Chicken and I but we have went through a lot. I know I depend on her for a lot and probably sound immature but still God is my rock! :)

Sunday

This Sunday has been a brilliant one. As  I posted earlier Chicken and I were arguing yesterday, well what I thought was an argument but it was not at all, anyway we've sorted it all out and are back to the way we were- happy, delighted, best of friends. I really don't like the way I worry so much although I am learning day by day that God knows what is planned for my life, so worrying is no use. Chicken played a match with the county team and the Coach was very impressed, this gives her a good chance of being on the senior team!! I'm so proud of her :)

We didn't get to mass AGAIN. I cannot wait until I can drive or move out so I can go to mass whenever I feel like it and especially on Sundays. I watched a little mass on TV though but it's not the same. 

I have a day off from school tomorrow so it's only 4 days of school this week woohoo! Hopefully I will get lots of study done this week because time is running out. 

I don't know why but this weekend I've been thinking a lot about marriage and family life. I really can't wait to find the right guy, get married and have a family. I feel this is what God is calling me to do. Ever since I was 13 or 14 I've dreamed about having a family of my own.

 I know some people say that that age is too young to be thinking about things like that, but I was. And ever since then all I want in life is a Husband and kids (obviously when I'm older), I can't wait for my wedding day, kids birthdays, schooling-just basically watching them grow. Reading blogs here has also made me more excited about my life and the future. Hopefully God will provide me with everything I need to be a good wife, mother and person in the future. For now though its back to the books!!

This week

This week has been good. Things have gone a bit pear- shaped between Chicken and I and I don't know what I've done!! I am going to try to ring her tonight, hopefully she will answer and be in a good mood.

Studying has also gone badly this week. Only 4 weeks to the leaving Cart so I better get my skates on! I done well in my Irish test (that I didn't study for) so I am proud of that :) although I really need to start studying! 

Its the Month of May, the month dedicated to Our Lady. What a lovely month!! This month I will try my best to say 3 Hail Mary's a day, and try to say the Rosary when I can. For me Mary is such a good example of kindness, happiness, peace and love. The love she showed for God is just amazing! I don't know how other religions don't regard her as someone special because for me Mary is a person who we can all model our lives on, especially women. 

If we all show the same dedication to God and to our families as Mary did the world will be such a better place. If the women model their lives on Mary there would be no need for cruel abortions and women would work on their marriage instead of taking the easy option- divorce (although I know sometimes its the only option to protect other family members). Mary is an excellent Saint, Queen of Heaven, Mother of God and this May we should all pray to her and acknowledge her very important role in the life of Jesus

hi

Hi,

I'm finally back after the computer had some kind of breakdown. The week was good, I got a lot of study done :). It's exactly 5 weeks until the exams start so I really have to get studying hard.

I know that the exams aren't the end of the world, there are plenty of options of you do not do well in them. Some people don't see this and start to get really stressed, and they end up doing badly because they cannot concentrate. I hope this doesn't happen to any of my friends, or anyone sitting exams for that matter.

I cannot wait until they are finished. It will be really different not having the same routine everyday and seeing everyone in school either. College life will be very different but what's good is there are continuous assessments so your final grade doesn't depend on one big exam, one one day :)

OK apart from that rant the week was good, I've gotten on well with everyone, had good times, no bad so overall it was brilliant, I hope to have more weeks like it ha!

Rambling!

I just finished watching the film Padre Pio de Pietrelcina from youtube. The film is amazing and he deserved to become a Saint.  It also taught me that we can all overcome sin, no matter what the temptations are. Padre Pio was tempted by the Devil to go against God's agreement with him and save his Father from death, but he didn't. It would have been extremely difficult for him, knowing he could ask God to help him, but he didn't give into the devil's temptations, he made a promise with God and he kept it.

This made me think about sin in our own lives. Our temptations must be fairly minor compared to the ones Padre Pio encountered. He didn't give in, not once. He kept his faith in God no matter what he was accused of and no matter how hurt he felt he didn't turn his back, in fact, this made his faith stronger.

Sin is awful, and sadly we all sin, everyone does. So this is why God gave us the sacrament or confession, and what a blessing! I can never see how people don't think it's necessary to confess their sins, and there are many churches who believe this too. 

Confession is one of the greatest sacraments.  Time and time again God forgives us, He is probably sick of hearing the same sins but still He forgives. To me that is what is great about God, He never turns our back on us, yet some of us turn our backs on Him, go against His teachings, doubt Him and some leave for good and never come back. Well they are missing out! Big time! I suppose the only thing we can do is to try our best to get them back, if they don't listen well then we give it to God and let them decide, this reminds me of a verse I read last night Matthew 18:15-17.

Typical me. How did I get from writing about the film to confession! Hope I didn't bore you too much. ( And I would recommend the film, it's really good)

Irish Potato Famine Part 2: Potato blight in Ireland

Part 2: Potato blight in Ireland

There were many reports of blight in Ireland in the years prior to the famine but in September 1845 it was official, blight was widespread in Ireland. In November 1845 it was said that over one third of the potato crop had been destroyed.

In 1846 three quarters of the harvest was lost to blight. It was in autumn 1846 when the first deaths caused by starvation were recorded and they weren't the last. There are no exact figures to show how many people died from starvation but I'm pretty sure it was thousands.

It must have been awful to see such hunger and starvation right on your doorstep!!

This week

Hi,

imagine this time next week I will be back in school after 2 weeks off!!! The thoughts of going back :(. These past few days have been good. Me and Chicken are definitely back to our usual selves YAY!!! She always makes my day more interesting from boy problems to injuries to just having fun. I thought I wouldn't go to her house again, went there Monday :) so slowly but surely things are going back to "normal". I thank God for this because He controlled the way things were going to go, and it turned out things went brilliant!!

Started studying today (yes I know I left it too late as always) but I got my Irish and English essays done. Now all that's left is French, and I don't mind that. So for this week I plan to do more study, hang out with Chicken, hopefully meet up with friends from irish college (if they can come up) and again, hopefully make it to mass as it will be Divine Mercy Sunday :)

And also found out today that Chicken and I could be on first aid duty for the Munster match. Not a big match but it's something. Yeah you probably thinking First aid is kinda weird and to be honest I did too when I started but it's great. The best part are the trips away (free entry to concerts and matches that you on duty for ;)) and of course the competitions. 

Last year Chicken came 3rd in the All Ireland individual competition which was brilliant as it was her first year in the competition. And our team came 2nd in the regional/area competition, but we will come first next year ;)

Well that is all for now, talk to you soon!

The Easter season

Well We made it to Good Friday Mass safe and sound. It was lovely and I plan to make it every year (I should make it every year anyway!!). 

Of course there had to be trouble in our house about going to mass. My sister had to help at mass on Holy Thursday and didn't want to go again on Good Friday. Roaring and screaming for a good hour before hand, I really though my mother would give in and stay at home with her but she didn't. We finally got to mass and even though we didn't all enjoy it, I did.

I read at mass today (Easter Sunday) and the mass went very well. One thing I was disappointed with though was the lack of people at mass. Its really disappointing that some people don't make the effort to go, even on Easter Sunday. Well I guess all we can do is pray for them and try to show them the importance of mass, after that it is up to them to go.

In the Popes Eater message He said "The Resurrection is our Hope". I thought these were good words. The Resurrection is our Hope in a life after death. God showed us through the resurrection that although we may not be physically present our spirit never dies. He let His only Son die so that He could show is His great power, He can raise us from the dead.

I have finally realized that Easter is way better the christmas, no matter what. Easter is a time when the death of Christ happened (and of course the resurrection) but also the birth of Christianity :)

Holy week

Hi Guys,

Well this Holy week has been, so far, so good :). I helped a lot with cleaning etc. and went to adoration  last night (Holy Thursday). I found it really peaceful and relaxing. Although I couldn't make it to the mass I done more than what I usually do during Holy week so I guess thats a start.

We are going to Good Friday Mass at 3pm today. I think it will be nice as, sadly, I cannot remember other Good Fridays when I willingly went to mass and enjoyed the Easter celebration, apart from the eggs.

Tonight We are going to a  relatives house. I'm not really looking forward to it as parents are leaving us there by ourselves, while they visit more relatives and won't be back till all hours and there is a cranky 7 year old who I'm sure will not enjoy being up until 3/4am.

But I suppose thats the way things go so I'll just have to grin and bare it ha!!!

Good advise

A friend gave me this quote a few days ago, 

"Anything is possible if you put your heart and mind into it"

 and it was a really good quote. If you think about it, if you don't believe you are going to get something you won't get it. You won't believe in yourself and you will just keep dreaming on. For example if you dream to live in France but you keep saying "oh that will never happen to me" or "I will just keep dreaming about" it is never going to happen. 

This is the way I lived until I heard this quote. I hope to live in Spain or France, be fluent in spanish and french and raise a good Catholic family there. I kept telling myself that I wouldn't be able to do it. But being realistic it can and hopefully will happen. I mean it isn't an impossible dream I have. If I work hard enough I will be able to go there, Anything is possible if you put your heart and mind into it, before I wasn't putting my heart and mind to it, now I am.

Just thought I'd share the goals I hope to achieve in my life. Hopefully this quote has made a difference to you as it has to me.

Irish Potato Famine Part 1

Part 1: Causes and Contributing Factors

The great famine (in irish "An gorta mor" literally meaning: "the big hurt" or "An Drochsaol" literally meaning: "The bad life") was a period of starvation, disease and mass emigration between 1845 and 1852. During this time the population of Ireland was reduced by 20-25% - Dramatic!! On top of that over 1 million emigrated.

One third of Irelands population was entirely dependent on potato for food. Following reports of potato blight in England  the blight was first reported, in Ireland on the 13th of September 1845.

Also, as England had rule over Ireland all land was owned by the English. Irish tenants rented the land from English landlords. Some of these landlords lived in England and were called "absentee landlords". This made the Irish frustrated as most of their produce went to their landlords in England and they got very little pay for it.

Some families lived on potato and water, had a one bedroom house with no insulation and a bed and blanket was a rare luxury.

This caused tension between the English and Irish. Landlords used their power remorselessly and people lived in dread of them. Many people were evicted because of high rents of not producing enough food. This also contributed  to the effects of the famine as people were homeless too.

Further posts will be up in the coming weeks. Hope you enjoy.

The Irish Potato Famine

OK I cannot do this blog all at once so I will do it in parts

• Part 1: Causes and Contributing Factors
  
• Part 2: Potato blight in Ireland
• Part 3: Governments Response
• Part 4: Emigration 
• Part 5: Aftermath  

Good Idea

Dia Dhuit,

A friend of mine (from down under, OZ) gave me a really good blogging idea. She said seeing as there are so many Irish-Americans and Irish-Australians living around the world and for those who would like to know a bit more about Irish History that it would be useful if I posted blogs on Irish history and things about emigration etc.

I think this is a really good idea. What do you think? I will hopefully start this soon! 

Chicken had her french oral exam today. She said she did brilliant! She was able to answer every question she was asked and the examiner seemed impressed. Chicken didn't think she would do this well but now this has boosted her confidence a lot. Hopefully the two of us will live in France for a bit- putting all this learning to good use!

While we were in the Oratory, in school, practicing for the exam I started to read a children's book on St. Joseph of Cupertino. He seems amazing. I never got to finish the book though, hopefully I will. I really want to boost my knowledge of Saints and their lives, this is a start.

Any comments about the Irish History blogs would be helpful, ideas or specific information anyone wants I will try my best to provide. :-)

Moi et mon examen

Hi again,

Finally I figured out how to make a 3 column blog, thanks to Abby's posts. Thank you Abby :-) But I am having trouble when I get a new template, the things I added to the old template, Patron saint, feejit etc. all get wiped off? Any one have any ideas on how to fix this?

Today I had a french exam, the oral. This makes up 25% of my overall grade. The listening and written parts will be done in june. The oral exam went OK, I kinda messed up the start but once I got into the rhythm of things I flew through it- I hope. 

Chicken is still on crutches, we found out she sprained all her toes-ouch! She gets so many injuries on her right foot, 3 in the past 8 months and all have been serious. Hopefully she will get well soon.

I can't wait until these exams are finished!! Then 3 months off- going to Spain and probably finding a job, then the Leaving Certificate results and hopefully off to College. I can't wait to start college but I will miss the routine of school and seeing all my friends everyday but I'm sure we will all keep in contact! 

These past few days have been good. Chicken and I have been getting on great!! I really hope I don't mess things up again but I am trying my hardest not to. We have gotten close again over the past few days and her trust in me has definitely got back to its original state YAY!!

Her mam is also looking at new houses. I hope she finds a nice one :-). 

Everything else has been going great, except for studying, I really need to make a timetable and stick to it!! I am not the best person to study and knowing me I will probably leave it all to the last week- and I cannot afford to do that! Hopefully over the Easter Holidays I will make a timetables and get a lot done- only 8 weeks left!!

My family and friends

Ok before I start, throughout my blog you are probably going to hear a lot about a person nicknamed "Chicken". Chicken is my best friend, and calling her Chicken is not an insult (she knows) :-). 

Sunday went well. I got to mass (that is a big achievement as my family usually don't want to go), but something troubling happened, my sisters and Dad did not go up to receive the Eucharist. I am used to my Dad not going but my sisters? I just don't know why. I asked them and they just said "I just don't want to" and "leave me alone". I am presuming that this "not going to receive" is just a phase, as my sisters are only 10 years old I doubt they are experimenting other faiths or have stopped believing in God, well at least I hope not.

As for my Dad I don't know either why He doesn't go, He has been doing this a lot over the past few years. He hasn't stopped believing as I saw Him pray before mass (something which he doesn't normally do) and he is the one who got the rest of the family up when I asked to go to mass. so I'm not sure, hopefully this is just a phase they are going through. 

This incident has also made me think about the affect public schooling has on young minds. Even in my own experience public school has never really nurtured my faith (saying that neither have my parents for that matter "cafeteria Catholics" I call them). If my sisters and I were home schooled I  bet we would appreciate our faith more and try to live it in out everyday lives, that is if we had good teachers too! So all you home schoolers out there I look up to you, even though it is real hard work it does pay off!!

Chicken and I had a long talk on the phone. Things are looking up for the both of us (we have been going through a rough patch recently) and I pray to the Holy Spirit to help me be the  most best friend I can and not give in to the jealousy, anger and guilt I was feeling.

Monday was eventful to say the least. Chicken damaged muscle tissue in her foot (not pretty) and had to be taken to the doctor. I helped her all the way,it's the least I could do, I couldn't leave anyone in as much pain as that, being her crutch, getting ice and became her "home help" for about an hour! Then it was back to school for me. I didn't want to leave her but I prayed that God would help her get well soon!

That has been my story for the past 2 days. hope to live out Gods will all day everyday during my life. :)

miracles in my life so far

It is so true that God is great. He has produced many miracles, including my existence!! I was born 1 pound 13 and a half ounces. I could fit in my dad's hand. The doctors thought I wouldn't survive but my Mam prayed for me everyday.....and here I am, a full of life 17 year old.I thank God for this everyday. 

Throughout my 17 years God has given me many gifts, my siblings, my friends and everyone I have been fortunate to meet. Although I sort of "abandoned" the church for about 6 years, I don't mean stopped believing I just didn't see the point of getting up early on a Sunday to go to mass, and I didn't pray or go to confession either. Shameful I know! 

It is only when something bad happened I  fully understood that God is always holding your hand, no matter what. He knows your plan and even through all your sufferings God is always there- don't ever forget that. 

So from that day on I promised God that I would do my best to be the best Catholic I could be. I felt it was kinda stabbing Him in the back, God always being there for me and in return what do I do for Him, nothing! So from that day and for the rest of my life I will be always thankful to God for everything He has blessed me with!

first day

hello,

well this is my first blog. i hope to share with you my journey through life. Trying to be a good Catholic and hopefully getting my place in college!!! right now i can't think of anything to write but i will come up with ideas as the days go on.

God bless

Olivia