Portlaoise has become my second home aside from Maynooth in Ireland. I play basketball for the Portlaoise Panthers so I spend at least two days in Portlaoise, and I am unbelievably thankful for everything that the club has done for me. One of the women in the club, Lynda, works in Dublin and picks me up and takes me to almost every practice in Portlaoise. Her dedication to the club and ability to change her schedule to fit mine is unreal. I also often spend the night in Portlaoise and my coaches have gone out of their way to make a place for me in their homes. My coach Peter and his wife even made a beautiful dinner for my friend and me when when my friend came to visit. The Portlaoise Panthers are truly a family and I am so appreciative that the entire club has gone out of their way to make me and the two other Americans in the club feel comfortable, safe, and loved. My other coach Peter and his wife Sinead also allow me to stay with them occasionally which is amazing because although they are great company themselves, they have two beautiful dogs. I miss my dog so much, so I take full advantage of any opportunity I get to play with the dogs. My team is also comprised of some amazing young women, who I have really loved to get to know over these past months. We only have three games left of our season, but I know that we will go out with a bang and leave our mark on the league. The Panthers are truly a family, and I am so honored that I have been able to become a member.
