SO much has happened over the last couple of weeks, it’s hard to keep up! Everyone claimed that my time in Ireland would fly, but it seemed like the first month living here felt like forever (not so much a bad thing). From the end of August through September, most of my time was spent exploring, shopping, eating, sleeping, and the occasional basketball workouts…what a lifestyle. I knew the day would come where I would be looking back and wishing for all that extra time, and I think that day has come earlier than I thought.

Currently, I am taking 5 modules/classes this semester, each being at least 3 hours. I am also training for Meteors twice per week with at least one match/game per week, and training with Trinity at least once per week, but games do not start until the end of October. Aside from all of that, Shannon and I are coaching the Meteors 11U team twice per week, and coaching local schools at Trinity at least twice per week.

I know that sounds like a lot, but I am well adapted to this lifestyle thanks to my previous four years of college basketball. At Saint Joe’s, the amount of workouts, games, community service hours, and responsibilities were endless, but I enjoyed every minute of it, just as I am here. In Trinity, the classes are tough, but hopefully I will get through them. The kids that Shannon and I coach on both Meteors and Trinity are adorable and hilarious. Last, but definitely not least, I love everyone on my own Meteors and Trinity teams; they are truly a pleasure to be around!

Even though some of my days may seem hectic and get a bit stressful, it’s all worth it. I am so grateful to be in Ireland, specifically Dublin, surrounded by amazing people all over the country. Being this busy is only temporary, but the memories last a lifetime, so I am taking full advantage!

It’s almost Basketball Ball Hall of Fame time, as we are getting closer and closer to the month of December and I had the pleasure of seeing the beautiful court that the four college basketball teams will be playing on. With logo’s of Sport Changes Life, The Rory Foundation, and Belfast Classic Basketball Hall of Fame on them. The court seemed perfect for the event. Seeing the court also brought back some college basketball memories of playing at The University of Tennessee. I have played on many Basketball courts throughout my collegiate career and this court by far reminded me of the nicer ones.

 I am so happy that the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic is happening in Northern Ireland too. I am excited for the event but more so for the people to get a chance to witness the atmosphere of college basketball. If they have never seen a game, or either have just watched it on television or online it will definitely be something big for them to enjoy and they are in for a treat. It is kind of hard to explain the excitement that goes on at a college basketball event, but it is pure energy, and a clash of all types of feelings according to how the game is going and who you are cheering for honestly. But this event for Ireland in particular, will just mainly be about the experience of US college basketball and letting the Ireland people see a part of US culture that is kind of big more so in the states. So get your tickets and I will hopefully see you all there!!

As soon as I walk into a gym to coach or classroom to give a talk, and begin to speak, the kids always interrupt me and ask, “Are you American?” Obviously my accent gives my nationality away, but once the kids learn that I am American they bombard me with questions about where I grew up and ask me to explain how the US is different than Ireland. I recently spoke to a school where kids where in 5th class, so they were only about 12 or 13, but I was so impressed about how much they knew about the world beyond Ireland, especially the US. The most common questions the I received, however, were about our government system and the various fast food restaurants in America. I was sad to see that these were the two most well known aspects of America to kids in Ireland.

I am proud to be from America, and I am very proud to be from Cleveland, OH, but it is difficult to see the hardships that America has endured recently. I am not proud of the direction that our government is going in, and I am embarrassed to see Donald Trump give inappropriate speeches everyday on TV. I have gained an interesting perspective on how people internationally view America and I am disappointed that the perception of America has become relatively negative. America does have a huge impact on the international community, which is why America has to maintain good relations with other countries that process nuclear weapons and it must maintain a strong economy. I am currently getting my masters in Business, so I have seen the impact that the 2008 stock market crash had on the world and I see how and why the US dollar changes its value almost every day. Also, many countries, specifically Ireland, rely on US multinationals to have a prosperous economy.

America is a beautiful country; however, the US needs to change the direction it is going in. I love to see how kids in Ireland know so much about the US and want to visit all over the US, but I don’t like see kids wonder why a man who disregards minorities and women could be president of such a great country. Some kids ask if America does provide endless opportunities for people, and I believe it does, so that is what I want America to be known for.

In 2019, Royal Portrush Golf Club will be the host course of the 148th British Open; one of professional golf’s four majors. In the meantime, I’m lucky enough to call Royal Portrush my “home course” until May.

Prior to my arrival in Belfast, I wrote down several things I wanted to do and several courses I wanted to play while abroad. Of course Royal Portrush was near the top of that list as the proximity between campus and the course isn’t that far. To my surprise, I found out the first week that we would have the amazing opportunity to obtain a membership and regularly play the course for University of Ulster’s practices. A membership that feels like royalty.

Unfortunately, our first trip to the course wasn’t with the rest of our teammates as we had hoped. Although Royal Portrush is only about an hour drive from our Jordanstown campus, it’s still a wee bit out of the way for some of our teammates to scoop us up. But not having a ride didn’t stop Dom and I from enjoying the golf, the views and the entertainment. We took the train (which included transferring twice) and nearly two hours later we arrived at one of the most magnificent courses I’ve ever seen. Hauling my clubs with my fluffy dog headcover and getting weird looks from nearly every passenger was most definitely worth it.

My first time at Portrush brought a handful of lost golf balls and a wave of frustration, but watching the fescue subtly blow beneath the setting sun calmed me. On the 18th hole, not only did I quickly forget about the not-so-cheap Pro Vs I lost, but I was reminded of how much passion I have for this game and how happy I am I decided to stop playing other sports for it, even when I felt like giving up.

Playing the last four years as a division one golfer has helped shape my perspective and I wouldn’t trade my years at Siena for anything. However, there were certainly times when competing felt more like a tedious job than an enjoyable hobby. Although I like competing in tournaments, I have recently felt a greater sense of relaxation when carrying my bag walking the course swinging as freely as I please; not feeling like I have to shoot a certain score to feel satisfied. I cannot thank my family, everyone at Locust Hill CC, my swing coaches and everyone at Siena enough for helping me get to where I am today. You helped prepare me for competition and transformed me into an elite golfer. But now I am getting back into the swing of things at a more leisurely pace, thanks to Sport Changes Life and the Rory Foundation. I absolutely love this game, the courses it has allowed me to play on, and the people it has introduced me to. Playing Portrush reminded me how amazing this game is between the life lessons that are learned through it and the beautiful scenery that encapsulates most courses. While I’m not competing as regularly as I once pleased, I’m able to now frequently play for pure bliss and enjoyment. Competing every so often for the UUJ golf team will keep me competitive which I look forward to, but I am also lucky and ecstatic to have rediscovered my love for the game at a less competitive level.

First let me start by saying there is a huge difference between undergrad and grad. In undergrad you probably have like a test every week. Homework. 500 assignments through out the semester. A project/paper that’s due at the end of the semester on top of a final… So far as a grad student I’ve had no exams, I have one group assignment that is due the end of the semester and one final… That’s it, for pretty much every class. Some classes its not a group assignment its individual. So I have two chances to earn “marks” they call it… When I first found this out I was freaking out internally because in my mind, if I do bad on one of those two things I’m screwed for the rest of the semester. But as I’m getting along and working with some of my groups I actually feel okay. I don’t feel like I’m going to fail any of my assignments. 😁
My program is very diverse. Keegan, myself and maybe two other people are the only Americans, there is about 5 or 6 Irish students, the other 20 something students are either Indian or Chinese. Its really great to be around so many cultures. When we have class discussions and group work you get so many different perspectives and opinions on every topic. It makes for a very interesting 3 hours. (yes all of my classes are 3 hours long 🙃) One thing I noticed is the Irish students work very well together. One of my groups consist of Myself, a man from Indian and 3 Irish girls. When I say these girls are the bomb, like they’re so on top of everything, they know exactly what they’re doing, they’re the ones usually leading our group meetings. Meanwhile, the man from Indian and myself are sitting there twiddling our thumbs looking lost.  I think its because those girls are already used to the way our teachers grade and what they’re looking for us to produce with the assignments etc…. I don’t know but it’s interesting because I’m usually the type of person who takes charge in group assignments but I have absolutely no issues with these girls doing it because all this is so new to me.

Here in Ireland I’m studying international Management which is COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone. I have zero business background whatsoever. I come from a Nutrition/Medical background. My ultimate goal is to go to medical school or PA school. So the things I’m learning in class are like a foreign language. I learned it the other day but i still couldn’t tell you what GDP is or who stakeholders are… I’ll know by time the final comes.. hopefully. But some stuff i am actually starting to pick up on and I’m excited about because I really have picked up a strong interest on this stuff. The other day I went to a job fair on campus and there were big companies there like Deloitte, IBM, PwC, etc. And just learning about some of the job opportunities that I will now have with this Masters really was eye opening. Its actually making me question what I want to do with my life. I had a plan, a plan I’ve had for a very long time that I was/ am still very happy with.. but I’m also not against placing that plan on hold for a little bit and seeing where a new plan could take me.

On our day off Kristen and I ventured off to go play Royal Portrush and I could not of been more excited. We are also extremely fortunate to be members for the year because we are apart of the Ulster golf team. For those who do not know Royal Portrush is considered one of the best links golf courses not only in Northern Ireland but also in the world. The course has a rich history dating back to when it was founded in 1888 and is set to host the British Open in 2018. It was certainly a bit of an adventure trying to get to the course because we had to take multiple trains to get to there and it is not the easiest to do so carrying around golf clubs but it was well worth it.

With the reputation the course had and what I had previously heard from others who have played the course I had super high expectations and the course lived up to all of them. We were fortunate enough to play on a sunny day and some of the views were incredible. There is a stretch of three holes that are along the coastline that are without a doubt some of the best holes I have every played. The course was also extremely challenging as we struggled to figure out how to play in such high winds. It is so hard to adjust to the style of play that links golf demands. However I can safely say that I am hooked on links golf and cannot wait to play more courses all around Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Greetings from Cork!

What prompted me to write this post was a notification from Facebook actually, sharing that it had been one year since Holy Cross Athletics posted the video of our men’s and women’s teams seeing the beautiful new court that was renovated last year for the first time. In the short bit I’m being interviewed in the video, my absolute *love* for being on camera (lol) and excitement over the renovation definitely shone through as I emphatically shared that being from Needham, the Massachusetts state decal part was my favorite because “I’m a local.” Although this quote was met with lots of jokes and funny comments from family, friends, and even myself, I fully meant it. Growing up so close to where I went to college and being able to immerse myself and fall in love with the Worcester community, I loved that my MA state was now a part of the Hart Center because it just further solidified that Holy Cross and Worcester had become one of my many homes.

Serendipitously, the day I saw the video shared on Facebook, I had been somewhat reliving that mentality of a home away from home – not for Worcester, but for Cork.  Through coaching my two teams, playing for Brunell, and studying at CIT where there are a lot of students from the area, I was excitedly realizing that perhaps (if I’m lucky) by the end of the year I might just be able to use my “I’m a local” motto for a city other than Worcester, MA. However American I still am called out for being with my to-go iced coffee cup that my classmate calls my “sippie cup”, this place is becoming home – when exploring the beautiful Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral the other day, I ran into one of my classmates. I saw another one of my classmates grocery shopping in the city, and one of my teammates just happened to be at Penney’s at the same time I was (not very hard because I’m there maybe 3x a week). I especially knew I was on my way to making it when someone asked me, the girl that MIGHT have had Google maps running on her phone, how to get somewhere and I actually gave the correct directions.

So overall, things are definitely going very well. However slowly, I am *surely* on my way to becoming a local, and this city and this community is becoming a different, lively, challenging, and refreshing home away from home. 🙂

With basketball season right around the corner, I had to touch upon it in my blog this week. I started playing basketball when I was about 5 years old and, honestly, it has been a part of my life every day since. Growing up, my brothers and I were always playing sports. Basketball, soccer, football, baseball, softball, you name it….we did it all. Up until my senior year of high school, I had some sort of athletic practice every day; sometimes even twice in one day. Looking back on it all, I really can’t thank my parents enough for all of the hours they dedicated to drive me to and from practices (even the practices I didn’t always want to go to), workouts, and games literally all over the country. They dedicated just as much of their time to my athletic career as I did. Thank you both for pushing me and believing in me every step of the way. Mom, thank you for being my ultimate number 1 fan. Dad, thank you for treating me the same as my brothers. Sean and Chris, thank you for never taking it easy on me.

It is extremely strange knowing that I will not be stepping on the court this year with a Brockport jersey on. I had an incredible 4 years on and off the court there. It truly became my second home. When my parents first dropped me off for my freshman year, I didn’t know what my collegiate future held. Four years of an unknown future in a completely new world seemed like an eternity, but that “eternity” flew by in the blink of an eye and I would not have changed a single thing. I made some of the greatest friendships and memories which I will cherish forever. I’m looking forward to watching the women’s basketball program continue to grow and I wish them nothing but great success.

I know that some people say “your college years are the best four years of your life”, but I hope that’s not true. At least, for me anyways, I believe that those 4 years are just a starting point for my amazing adventure in this world. I want to make a difference while I’m on this Earth in any way that I can. Life is too short to not make the most of it; it’s even too short to spend a day unhappy. After my team lost in our semi-final game last season (the program’s first playoff game in almost a decade) and the final buzzer sounded, I ambivalently smiled at the scoreboard. After my team shook hands with the other, we came together for one last time. I told my teammates, “it’s your turn now, go make a difference.” That’s my ultimate goal in life: to always leave something better than I found it. Life has no limitations, except the ones you make! What are you waiting for?

“Why should you never iron a four-leaf clover?”

“You don’t want to press your luck!”

Cork has been incredible so far.  I’m starting to finally navigate around the city without using the maps app on my phone, so I’m feeling like a native now.  Here at CIT or just school in general in Ireland, they don’t really use dates for assignments, but they use what week into school you are for the due date.  I am just finishing up my fourth week of school and have been assigned a multitude of work… especially group projects.  To be exact I have been assigned four group projects and each one is very different from the next.

In one group project, we first were assigned to run a fashion show, but after much consideration it was changed to running a winter lifestyle workshop.  In this workshop we will run the whole event for charity, and will have key note speakers on fashion, nutrition, fitness, make-up and beauty and overall styles. Along with the keynote speakers there will be food, coffee, tea and booths up for these speakers to answer questions and sell their products if they have any.

The next project is dealing with Kart Racing in Ireland.  It is not much of a sport here but they really want to push it to become one. Right now they have no marketing or brand image, therefore our goal is to really advertise and figure out ways on how to market the sport in a positive light.

For the third project we are working with Marymount Hospital and trying to figure out ways to fundraise for them since they are in some debt.  We are trying to market them and raise money for their hospital so they can keep serving the city of Cork as the best hospital in the south of Ireland.

And finally the fourth and final project is a case analysis on how change in a business can be positive and negative. We are analyzing the alterations in the bank AIB.  One of my group members worked there while putting in the online banking system so we are using that alteration to develop our case analysis.

As you can see very very business with school, but still enjoying the city of Cork and of course enjoying basketball as well.  A quick update on that, we are 5-0 and hope to stay undefeated as we play the Limerick Celtics next.  I love my teammates and am excited to stay on this undefeated track with them!

Thanks for reading, hope you all keep tuning in each week to see what I am up to next!!!

If there are two things Ireland love (besides chips of course!) it would be 1) roundabouts and 2) revolving doors. Every trip we have taken or every road we travel on, there is at least 4-5 roundabouts that we have to go around. It seems like almost every five feet there is a lovely roundabout, and let me tell you Irish drivers don’t go slow through these! Along with roundabouts, almost anytime you walk into a store or shopping centre-you have to go through one of those revolving doors-the ones where you have to push to keep it moving. To be honest, I am slightly claustrophobic and usually avoid those doors. However, Sport Changes Life and Ireland are really making me face my fears. I have now gotten used to the lovely revolving doors and embrace them everywhere I go!

Now, you may be wondering why in the world I am writing a blog about roundabouts and revolving doors. These two things lead me to my main point of this blog. Here in Letterkenny, I have no access to car and/or public transportation, which means I have to walk or bike everywhere. (Shoutout to Ed for letting us borrow his bikes!) This means biking or walking to school, workouts, grocery shopping, and anywhere else you can think of. I love to track the miles I walk a day, and sometimes I am walking 7 miles a day. This a great workout for my body and staying in shape for hoop, but it also means that everything I do takes longer. If I have to bike or walk to a workout that is several miles away, that means I have to leave much earlier than I normally would. Walking or biking everywhere is especially fun when it rains here in Ireland, which let me tell you is everyday! A good raincoat is a sure necessity. During all my time spent walking, it is safe to say I come in contact with roundabouts and revolving doors quite often.

I didn’t write this blog to complain about walking or biking everywhere, I actually really enjoy getting fresh air and getting to stay in shape! I realized that I love it so much the other day when it was down pouring and the wind was blowing and I was still a mile away from home- and at first I thought, “NO!” but then I thought “YES!” It made me appreciate everything that I have access to at home in America and how truly lucky I am that when I go home, I will have access to a car (love my car Bessy) and public transportation. I realized how much easier life is with those things. I definitely had a moment in the rain, where I was just so thankful for all that I have been able to have in life. While I won’t have access to much transportation for the rest of this year, I am going to totally embrace it. How amazing it is to have this opportunity to be in Ireland and get to experience such a beautiful country by walking or biking everywhere. This whole experience has truly made me grateful for everything I have back home, and as also allowed me to live a much slower and relaxed way of life. I get to take in nature and appreciate everything around me during my walks to and from places.

So for this year, I will fully embrace every long walk, every bike ride, every roundabout, and even every revolving door! Sometimes, the best things in life are the little things that truly make you appreciate everything you have.

When I found out I was selected to go to Galway, I didn’t know what to think. I had never heard of the city before and honestly didn’t know what to expect. After watching a few videos on YouTube and talking with some friends who had visited, I came away with the impression that I was in for a good year. The people from Ireland I’ve met have confirmed this, with most saying it’s the nicest city in Ireland.

So far Galway has not disappointed. It isn’t huge but there is always something going on. Coming from a small town it feels like a big city to me. On a regular walk to class of practice I pass countless restaurants, shops, cafes, and street performers. The street performers are actually really good and it’s not uncommon for a large crowd to gather around them in the street. There’s some sight or event every day that makes me stop and take it all in.

Although I’ve only been here for a month, it’s clear that I really lucked out being put in Galway. I look forward to continuing to explore this beautiful city the rest of the year.

To say that it was dope to go to the Women’s Gaelic final match is an understatement. It was beyond anything I have ever experienced both as a cultural and athletic event. The match was set between Dublin and Mayo. Fans from all over the island swarmed to Croke Park Stadium in spirit wear, chanting songs and waving their team flag in the air with enthusiasm and excitement. When we finally reached our seats (shout out to Jim from Maynooth for getting us tickets), you could literally feel the rivalry between the two teams as both Dublin and Mayo walked onto the field. The seats vibrated as people erupted in cheers shouting “Mayo” or “Dublin” at the top of their lungs. With 46,000 people in attendance, this women’s finals match was recorded to be the most in women’s Gaelic football history. The atmosphere was intense and electric and I felt self conscious cheering for Dublin while sitting in a section with Mayo fans. However, as the game went on I cared less and less about the Mayo fans I sat next to and cheered ruthlessly with pride for a county that I have only called home for a month.

Aside from the cheering, I sat in my seat trying to understand how the rules of the game were played. Gaelic is nothing like I have ever seen before. It is such a dynamic sport that incorporates rules from so many different sports. From what I could see, it seemed like a cross between rugby and soccer with players being able to score by kicking or throwing it into a soccer goal or field goal. If a player managed to get it between the field goal, that counted as 1 point but if they were able to score a soccer goal, that counted as 3 points. Additionally, players have to either bounce or kick the ball in between every few strides, which looked extremely difficult to do because the movement seemed unnatural. As if the task for players to run and dribble the ball simultaneously wasn’t tough enough, they also had to avoid getting hit by defenders running full speed at them and nobody wears protection pads! I almost felt like I was watching a brawl match because players were tackling each other left and right, falling hard to the ground and not getting back up for minutes at a time. There were times that trainers ran onto the field to aid wounded players and correct me if I’m wrong but typically, if a player is hurt, the game will stop… not in Gaelic football! Every man for themselves! Wounded or unwounded the game continues! It was the weirdest thing to watch. At one point during the game, the trainer was on the ground with a player and Mayo strategically used them as a blocker for her defender. It was seriously wild. I could not believe my eyes. In the end, both teams played amazingly aggressive and after two intense halves, Dublin was deemed 2017’s All-Ireland Women’s Gaelic Football champions. The final score was 4-11 Dublin and 0-10 Mayo (aka 23-10 in favor of Dublin).

So far, Ireland has offered me a whirlwind of new experiences and memories that, as corny as this may seem, will last me a lifetime. From beautiful fishing villages to fiddle music to traditional Irish sports, Ireland has been an absolute blast. One month down, nine more to go! Stay tuned folks, the future holds some good craic!

This time of year is one of my favorites back home. Connecticut is well known for the beautiful autumn season and the many traditions that go along with it. Apple picking, corn mazes, colorful foliage changes, homemade pies, apple cider, pumpkin carving, hay rides pulled by horses, and my absolute favourite apple cider doughnuts. Recently, I find myself thinking less about the pumpkins back home and more about the fact that I’m falling in love with Ireland. Aside from all the rainy days, are these incredibly kind people who make a point to welcome me to their country.

This week I was treated to dinner with one of the families associated with the Celtics and I loved every second of it. The Nealon family has 6 children, two college students, and one Dutch fellow all living under the same roof for the year. We joked about their family being similar to the Brady Bunch and Cheaper By The Dozen! Spending the evening at the dinner table with a home cooked meal was not the first thing I expected to be treated to when I arrived in Limerick. We discussed some Irish slang words and listened to Taylor Swift (Matt’s favorite singer). It was such a treat to sit on the couch and relax with everyone! We watched Harry Potter and enjoyed a slice of warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The everyday chaos of class, practice, training, and coaching keeps me very busy, but spending quality time with others once a week is an absolute delight.

As the leaf’s change from their original green colour to the warm yellow, red, and orange I see more beauty to this country. The city of Limerick is picturesque with the Shannon River running right through it and the countryside towards Claire has the quaint grass fields filled with horses, sheep, and cows. But the true reason as to why I’m settling in so well is because of the kindness the local people have provided. The real beauty of Ireland is found in the people that live here.

“IT Carlow makes history”

This is the headline I woke up to the morning after our first game. This wasn’t just any other game to IT Carlow women’s basketball program. This game was special to us. It was IT Carlows first ever super league game for basketball. It was an honor to be apart of it and as a team we knew we wanted to make it special. We wanted so badly to be able to say we won our first super league game played on our home court.

I’ve heard before coming here that the basketball was much more physical and that statement couldn’t be anymore true! It was a battle each and every minute of that game. We had ups and downs throughout the game but I am so proud of our team and how we stuck together through all adversity. Not only one, but we lost two players due to injuries in the third quarter. Some teams would hang their head and call it quits, but not IT Carlow. We played even harder and played as a team.

Picture this. Tied game 58-60, only 6 players left on your team able to play with 12 seconds left. It’s your ball down by 2 points. Kojack drew up a play and we were able to execute it perfectly leading Aiofe to score the layup at the end of regulation. We knew it wasn’t over yet though and we had 5 minutes of over-time to keep fighting for the win. All 45 minutes we played hard and we played together which led us to our first ever super league win! It was an incredible feeling filled of such exciting emotions. I am so proud of this team for pulling out the win even though we unfortunelty lost key players during the game. This is out first step in the super-league and I can’t wait for our next game this Sunday against the Wildcats!

• Thanks for helping me get where I am today.
• Thanks for being my constant support system.
• Thanks for pushing me in school, basketball, and in life even when I didn’t want to be pushed.
• Thanks for always listening to all my sass (y’all know I got a lot) on FaceTime.
• And most importantly, Thanks for giving me all the money I need and consistently ask for haha =)

I occasionally think about where I am and sometimes I’m still in awe about what I’m doing right now. I’m a graduate student, studying abroad, playing the sport I’ve loved my whole life, all while giving back to the Northern Ireland community. It is really unbelievable to me at times. And as my basketball career officially starts this Sunday with our first game of the season, I wanted to take the time to thank the two most amazing people in my life, my loving parents.

I know my journey won’t always be easy and I’ll face some challenges but I also know my parents will always be there for me. One challenge I already have to cope with is my parents not being in the stands while I play. Growing up my parents rarely missed a game and if they did, they knew they better have a great excuse haha. So it’s been different looking over and not seeing them. But I know they’re still supporting me back home.

It’s been a little over a month living out here in Northern Ireland and the support I get from all my family and friends has been unreal so I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all.

If you ever decide to travel to Ireland and someone tells you it rains a lot, BELIEVE THEM. It can be the nicest day, with the sun out, the bluest sky, the whitest clouds but some how the weather will decide to just rain. Sometimes you wouldn’t even expect it but that rain finds away. The rain here is definitely a norm to the people of Ireland. I remember a week or so after us Scholars arrived we were at a youth community center doing a session and one of the kids asked us why we decided to come to Ireland. And my response being “why not, it’s a beautiful country,” I won’t forget his response, “it rains a lot.” And I remember just laughing in my head because the combination of his accent and how he said it, all I could do was laugh. However, if a 12 year old boy was telling us it rained a lot I knew it had to be true. And I better be prepared for a wet 9 months.

Nonetheless, I haven’t allowed the rain to affect my mood too much. I have my moments where I am literally like “rain, rain, go away DON’T come back another day.” But like I said, the rain here becomes a norm to you and you just continue on. Besides, without the rain I wouldn’t see all the beautiful rainbows that I do being in Ireland. Yet, I am sure any native of Ireland would say rainbows here are just as much of a norm as rain is. I wouldn’t disagree with that after being here for a month or so now, because I think I’ve seen more rainbows in a month then I’ve seen back home in Jersey. (Ok that may be a little over exaggerated, but y’all get the idea haha, there’s a lot of rainbows here.) Although, rainbows do appear regularly, for me I don’t think they’ll ever become a norm. The idea of them alone is already cool, Like the sun and rain make them, how is that not cool?

And remember, “When it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the Rain there would be no rainbow.”

A rainbow right over the building I live in.

Every Wednesday night from 6-8pm a group of kids ranging from 16-24 comes to Ulster University for fun, free pizza and an education lesson. We pack into Sports Hall one playing all kinds of games ranging from dodgeball, basketball, soccer or any team building activities you could possibly think of. Last night, after my team unfortunately lost an event (rarely ever happens) we had to run around the gym four times singing the lyrics of twinkle twinkle little stars. This action was caught on film, as well as our past 6 weeks of eHoops activities. You can watch and keep up with all the action here at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=ehoops%20aug%202017

After the fun and games are over, we head up to the classroom where the eHoopers complete a workbook about how their online presence can help or in some cases hurt their chances of securing job opportunities. They all know have professional emails, LinkedIn accounts and have started cleaning up their other individual social media accounts. After the classroom session its time for arguably the most enjoyable thing ever. Free Pizza! Four Star Pizza provides the eHoops program with multiple pizzas in multiple flavors for everybody to enjoy. Once we have full stomachs, its time to leave. Every session ends in a #123eHoops and the kids are off to the bus carrying the lessons they’ve learned from this session and eager for 6pm on wednesday of next week to roll around.

On Monday, I volunteered with a program that teaches blind people how to play tennis. I found out about the program through a career fair held at my school. They were in desperate need of volunteers and after speaking to two of their players, I knew that this was something I wanted to do. I had never played tennis before – besides in P.E class if that counts? Lol – but I have watched it on television numerous times because of the Williams sisters. I was very interested to see how people who were blind would learn how to play tennis especially because the ball is so small and able to travel very fast and very high.

The session started with introductions. We went around the circle, said our names, where we were from, and each player told us how impaired their vision was. The majority of the players could only see some light and shapes. They all required some type of assistance. For instance one lady that I met named Claire, had a guard dog. Next we helped the players through a quick warmup. The warmup consisted of things like arm circles, jogging in place, and even sprints as the coach had them run from the baseline to the net. Everybody was so excited to be there. As volunteers we taught skills like a forehand swing and a backhand swing. The key thing we focused on was timing and getting them to swing properly. After that we broke into one on one groups and continued to work with the player, just giving them as much repetition as possible. By now I’m sure that you’re wondering, how does this all work?

Before jumping into that, I want to point out that while volunteering I learned that there are different classifications for different types of vision impairments, which can impact things such as the size of the tennis court that a person plays on. Some players were considered “B1”, which means that they have no light perception in either eye and are unable to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction. The size of these players court was 42ft. × 21ft. (12.80m×6.40m). Players in the “B2” and “B3” group were able to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 20/600 and/or a visual field of less than 5 degrees in their best eye. Their court was a little longer as it was 60ft.× 27ft. (18.28m×8.23m). After understanding the different groups, the first step to how this all works was to lay down tactile lines. This allowed the players to feel with their feet where they were on the court. They understood that if they were on the line or past it, then they were out of bounds. The rackets the players used were smaller and they also played with a sponge ball. The ball was soft and light so it didn’t travel as fast or high. In the middle of the ball was a table tennis ball that contained four iron pellets. It produced a rattle sound which allowed the players to know when it bounced and how far away the ball was from them. Lastly, before each serve you had to say “ready”, “play”, so the player knew to be on alert for the sound of the ball.

I got to work with a boy named Edward who was in his second time at the program. In the beginning, he could barely do the drill where I rolled the ball to him and he stopped it with his racket. By the end of the session he was doing that and more. He progressed all the way to hitting the ball close to the net. If you could hear the excitement in his voice and see the smile on his face, your heart would literally melt. See, failing wasn’t an option for these players. Every time you told them that they missed the ball they were more determined to hit it the next time. Often times we give up so easily when things aren’t going our way. “It’s too hard”, “I don’t have the money”, or “I’m too tired” are the excuses we tend to give. These players had every reason to want to give up but they didn’t even though they don’t have one of the most important things in life, sight. In their minds they see themselves as winners and so should we!
Count your blessings because it could always be worse. I truly am grateful that I decided to volunteer and help out this program. Sports really do change lives.

~Bless up
TC3

Since my first day here in the Emerald Isle, it has been a daily activity to look across the Belfast Lough. The view itself has plenty to offer, however one part always captures my attention…the Hollywood Golf Club. A highly respected golf course and also the home track to Rory McIlroy, it is safe to say I have been eagerly awaiting my first opportunity to play.

Luckily today it so happened that I had a free afternoon and immediately I asked one of the golf Victory Scholar’s if she would like to play. Fortunately we were both on the same page and next thing you know I was on my way to check off one item on my bucket list.

I am happy to say that my anticipations were not let down in anyway. Just driving into Hollywood you realize your going to somewhere special. Nike everything in the clubhouse, a brand new golf learning facility in the works of construction, and an extravagant shrine of Rory and his accomplishments; this is what would capture your eyes at first but once you step on the course you forget all about that. I have never played golf in Ireland but now I understand why it is constantly talked about. Calling for a much different style of play due to the crazy weather conditions of on/off rain and heavy winds, it also is just relaxing to go out and enjoy the naturalness of the surroundings.

As usual it was another great day in the books, although Kristen unfortunately beat me in match play with 2 holes left. Being given 8 strokes, this DIII guys could not keep up with the Siena skill level, but soon enough I will make my comeback hopefully on the likes of my next bucket list course, Royal Port Rush.

Cheers,

Matthew

Last Saturday night was a huge night for the Limerick Celtics. It was the club’s first ever National League home game in Limerick. The club did a great job promoting an event, which led to a sellout crowd at LIT’s gym. We were able to pack people tightly throughout the small gym. This created an environment that was loud and fun. It was a great experience for our team to interact with the community. During halftime, there was a game between the u10 boy’s and girl’s teams. It was an incredibly successful first night, even though we came out on the wrong side of a close game.

After the game, our club had a welcoming party for Liz and I at a local restaurant. A bunch of our teammates, their families, and coaches all attended. We had some food, drinks, and they even got us a cake. It was a great night to meet people throughout the club, talk about the game, and Limerick in general. The club is full of great, supportive families that are so helpful and appreciative for the work that Liz and I are doing here.

This past Saturday, we also got our first win! We beat the Dublin Lions on the road 98-81. It was a huge win for us and many guys stepped up with big performances. After losing close games the first two weeks, it was a really important win for our team. Onto next week!

Hello again!

So Jas and I have been coaching for a few weeks now. Every Saturday we have our MiniBall camp and then other coaching during the week. So far it has been really fun! The kids that come to our MiniBall and our skills sessions are very enthusiastic and seem to really enjoy the hour or so we work with them!

Coaching is definitely not the easiest task in the world, though, I’ll admit. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to come prepared. Jas and I always sit down and make a plan for whatever session we do. This has proved to be a big help, especially when we may need to change things during a session, we always have backup drills for that. Along with planning being very important, having fun and being enthusiastic is very important as well. That comes more easily because the kids we work with have been really great and excited about everything! So hopefully we can keep the sessions as fun as they have been!

Jas and I have been learning a lot about what it takes to be a coach. It’s a lot tougher than it seems, but I am enjoying learning how to be better. It has definitely given me a greater appreciation for all the coaches I’ve had. There are a lot of aspects of coaching you don’t often see because it happens behind the scenes, so it’s been fun having to walk a mile in their shoes so to speak.

I am hoping to continue improving my coaching skills throughout this year. You never know…maybe I’ll take what I’ve learned back to the States with me and coach? Who knows, but the various skills I’m learning will come in handy either way!

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

Stay tuned for more to come!

-Meg

Hello again!

So recently we traveled up to Carlow for a preseason tournament! It was really nice to get back on the court competing again! We played 3 games over two days. I haven’t played two games in one day since my AAU days in high school, so that was kind of fun. We also got a chance to catch up with some of the other Scholars while we were there, so it was nice to see them again!

Irish basketball is VERY different from what I’m used to in the US. To say it’s physical is an understatement. Those of you who know me, know that I’ve spent majority of my basketball career in foul trouble (sorry Coach lol). I can honestly say I don’t think (hopefully at least) I will find myself in foul trouble here in Ireland. They take the whole “let them play” mentality to a whole new level, especially when it comes to post play. It’s a push and shove match the entire time down in the post, and so far almost nothing has been called by the refs. Which again, those of you who know me and how I tend to play, you know this is good for me!  Now this was only one tournament, so we will see how the rest of the season plays out, but I’m excited for the season to officially start soon!

So overall, basketball has been going pretty well. It’s been nice to be back into the swing of things basketball wise. Missing the Siena squad of course, but my new team here has been great! The coaches, players, and community here in Waterford have been so kind and welcoming, I couldn’t be happier to have been placed here with the Wildcats!!

Keep up with how the Wildcats do throughout the year but following them on Facebook!

Also stay tuned for more blogs to come!

-Meg

This Saturday my team and I embarked on a long three and half hour bus ride to take on Killorglin.  The setting was quite familiar to me: get dressed in traveling gear, head to the gym a little early, board the bus and head straight to the back of the bus.  As we set off to our destination, it occurred to me that although I have done this routine over a hundred times, a very foreign feeling came over me. Instead of strapping on the neck pillow, shutting the world off by putting on my noise-cancelling Beats, and maybe throwing over a sweatshirt over my face to block any light to steal a nap, I just stared longingly out the window for hours.

It reminded me of my train ride to Dublin earlier this month.  In front of me these twins, no older than 18 months, just stared out the window, scrunching their nose against the cool, clear window pane.  They pointed and exclaimed to their mother after every cow or sheep they passed.  To save any ridicule I may have received from teammates, I refrained from making any animal noises; however, my feelings towards the rustic world that passed quickly by made me concur that I had the same thoughts as those adorable twins.

It was a fine afternoon in Irish terms, you just got a glimpse of the sun every now and then behind the continuous cloud coverage. It was just the simplest things that garnered my attention. The grass was almost a vibrant, neon green, the hills seemed to roll to the edge of the world, and the animals, grazing the infinite farmland, looked as content as I am after consuming a fulfilling meal. The three hours seemed to fly by, my thoughts were everywhere, and hey, even gave me time to write some of this blog.

This past week consisted of great coaching sessions. I had the opportunity to meet and teach three new teams this week. As much fun as it is for the kids to run around and get their head wet, it was equally as rewarding for me to show them a thing or two about the game in a limited time frame.  Most of the kids have never been exposed to a coach with playing experience, so it was shocking to me that each and every kid hung on to my every word. To have their undivided attention and their eagerness to apply it in a game situation was an incredibly rewarding experience for me. I am looking forward to establish a relationship with my teams and to continue to learn and grow.

I never thought I would say this but I will be looking forward to my next away game to steal another opportunity to take in the views of this country, and of course some laughs with the team to fill in the quiet hours.

Before there was anything else, there was basketball. It’s hard for me to remember high school, or middle school, or elementary school, without picturing my basketball teams, car pools to practice, summer camps, and AAU tournaments. Basketball stole my heart at a young age. Little did I know how drastically it would impact the path and quality of my life for years to come. My best friends and memories have come from this sport, and it’s taught me more about my self than any classroom, test, or job ever could. It has truly shaped me into the person I am today. People say not to measure your wealth in money but in moments, in that case basketball has made me one of the wealthiest people on earth. I’ve collected enough moments to last a lifetime. I still remember playing in the state semi-finals at the Boston Garden my senior year of high school, warming up on the same parquet that all of the Celtic legends had played on for their entire careers. I remember how clammy my hands were at the tip-off (still happens), and how fast my heart was beating when I put up a shot to send us into overtime. I also remember my heart slowly breaking as I watched the minutes tick down on the clock and the other team rushing onto the floor to celebrate. I had never felt such a dramatic high instantly turn into an all time low as I realized I would never play with this team again in my life. Basketball had broken my heart big for the first time.

Fast forward four years, who knew I’d still be in the same committed relationship with this sport. Now I’m a senior in college, and basketball has a whole new meaning in my life. It brought me to the school of my dreams, it shaped my identity on campus, it made me into a captain and a leader. It taught me the true definition of selflessness, of having your teammates back, and what it means to protect a program, a culture, and the tradition and legacy of those who came before you. Being a Polar Bear was a privilege, one that I tried desperately never to take for granted. I thought I’d be ready to pass that privilege on to the next generation come senior year, but I just wasn’t. I remember the NCAA Sweet Sixteen game at Amherst, walking into the barn, realizing the finality of my basketball career. It’s funny, because I wanted to go all the way, win a national championship, that had always been the dream. But in that moment, the one thing I wanted more, was to not have to give up my Bowdoin uniform and to not have to say goodbye to my teammates. It was a love/hate relationship, just like it’d always been. I had been in this situation just four years earlier, and here I was again, ready to face the inevitable heart break.

What I failed to comprehend as a six year old, wide eyed and obsessing over my new found love, was that I would one day get that same joy and satisfaction from sharing that love with others. I never thought of myself as a coach, or a teacher, and yet after graduating I just couldn’t seem to let the game go. I felt I still had so much to give, and to share, and to learn myself. My relationship was just beginning. I landed as an assistant coach at Colby College, another school in my conference, competing against the family I had just left behind. I hated changing teams, but those who knew me knew it wasn’t personal, it was about the game. I got to watch people fall in love with the sport, and share in all their highs and lows. That year was when I realized how powerful the sport of basketball truly was, how far it could bring you in pursuit of your dreams, and how transformative it could be in your life.

Fast forward one last time, six year old me is now officially blown away, because playing and coaching in another country was never part of the plan. I think I wanted to be a dentist when I was six. But when I first found out about Sport Changes Life as a recent graduate I was desperately looking to play basketball overseas. I knew I needed to be thrown into a new uncomfortable environment and start another adventure with this sport. Everything happens for a reason, I firmly believe that, and my year at Colby lead me straight to this. “I am delighted to inform you that..”, instant tears. I remember calling my parents right after I received my Victory Scholar acceptance letter, I was so happy I couldn’t stop crying. It was that type of happiness that only basketball could give me. Basketball had most certainly changed my life, and now I was ready to help it change the lives of young people in Ireland.

We had our opening tournament with the Dublin Meteors last weekend, and somewhere between the initial tip off and receiving the championship trophy three days later, I realized something. This relationship I had with basketball, it wasn’t a one time thing, it was a life long love. I still got the same amount of joy doing bench cellies and cheering on my teammates that I got in AAU games at age 12 ,or at Bowdoin during big home games. But by far the best part of the weekend was looking over and seeing three of the girls on the U11 team that Mackenzie and I coach watching and cheering from the sidelines. Their relationship with basketball is just beginning, and I’m jealous. They don’t care about college, and minutes, and winning (okay well maybe during knockout), but more than anything they’re just having fun. They’re genuinely just there for the good times. Part of me wants to tell them, “look it’s not all gonna be sunshine and rainbows, you’re gonna get your heart broken, you’ll lose games that you think you can never come back from, you’ll let yourself down, let your teammates down, have moments where you want to throw it all away”…but then I stop myself. They’re going to figure it out on their own, and hopefully like me, they’ll realize that it’s all worth it, because it’ll change your life without you even realizing it. Six year old me had no idea what she was getting herself into, but 23 year old me, now in Dublin, playing and coaching and getting my masters, she’s so happy that I took the chance and never looked back. It’s true what they say, you never forget your first love.

Cheers,

Shannon

Meet Team North West, my National League team! This team is comprised of players ages 16-30, and this is the first year that the team is in existence! This is the first time that women from the Northwestern part of Ireland will be competing at the National level, so you could say we have a lot to prove!

To start the season off right- our coaches Paul and Bill announced that we were invited to Spain for a preseason tournament where we would play 6 games in 2 days. When Faith and I heard we were going to Spain – we started dancing in the kitchen, because we would get to go to a new country; a place both us had on our bucket list! We arrived in Spain late Friday night and met our incredible guide for the weekend, Juan! He was extremely accommodating and showed us around the town- and even got us some late night ice cream (he knows us too well!) It was SOOO WARM in Spain, about 95 degrees Fahrenheit (I am still not used to degrees in celsius yet!) I love the heat, and it’s not very warm in Ireland so I couldn’t complain!

Saturday, we had 3 games against some great teams, and we went 2-1. We got to play against several Spanish teams, and that was a unique experience because neither team knew what the other team was saying! Also, the officials only spoke Spanish, so I am pretty sure they had no idea what we were saying! In between our games, there was a under 10 Spanish girls team playing and they just kept smiling at us and saying “Hola!” They were so cute, and we tried talking with them, but my Spanish is very poor, so we just kept smiling at them! During their game, my team cheered them on and every time when they scored – they would look back and give us a thumbs up, and we would give them the thumbs up back! That is one of the best things about basketball or any sport – you don’t have to speak the same language or come from the same background, at the end of the day basketball is the same in every language. I got to witness that first hand with the little Spanish girls and it just reminded me why I love this game so much. After our games, we got to explore the town more, but we couldn’t eat dinner till 8:30pm! We were in Spain, they close shops and restaurants from 2-8pm because it is the hottest part of the day and people usually nap, so we couldn’t even get dinner till 8:30! We were starving and then had to try ordering in Spanish, which was very difficult!

Sunday, we had another 3 games and also went 2-1. Our last game was really tough, the team was very very good and well disciplined. All in all, Team North West did a great job for never playing together before and for playing 6 games in 2 days! It was an all around amazing experience for me personally getting to play against girls from other countries, and I am just so thankful to be playing basketball again. Sunday night, Juan took us to an italian restaurant and the food was amazing! We sat around and laughed about everything and taught each other different Irish, American, and Spanish words. It was really cool to be surrounded by so many people from different cultures- again all thanks to basketball which brought us together. Later that night, we tried mattress surfing, like the movie the Princess Diaries, and my coach Paul wiped out head first! It was actually really scary, but he came out unharmed so we were able to laugh about it!

Monday, several members of the team had to head back home, but a few of us were lucky enough to have a late night flight home, so we got to spend in Spain with Juan! In the morning, we were invited to a Spanish press conference in the city hall where we met the mayor of Molina and we were put on the local radio station! It was an awesome experience! From there Juan took us to the city of Murcia, where we toured the whole city, and the best part was that Murcia is not a touristy area at all, so I felt completely immersed in the Spanish Culture, almost no one spoke English. I always love non-touristy places, because you get to experience something so different! Murcia was beautiful, the architecture and cathedrals were unbelievable! There was a guy playing live music in the center of the city and it just really made the whole experience even better! It was funny because all of my Irish teammates were hating how hot it was and were avoiding the sun because they didn’t want to get sun burnt, meanwhile I was basking in the sun trying to get tan, knowing that I may not see the sun much for the year when I get back to Ireland! After a full day of seeing the city, we headed to the airport. When we landed in Belfast – Faith and I actually couldn’t get back into the country! There was an issue with our VISAs and it was very scary at the time, but needless to say we eventually safely arrived back in Letterkenny, with some great stories to tell! The next day, I got hit by a car in Letterkenny, but I was thankfully okay! It was sure an eventful weekend in Spain, and I had the absolute best time bonding with my teammates and coaches, getting to meet new people, experiencing real Spanish culture, and touring a city! Huge thank you to Molina Basketball and our Tour Guide Juan for such an amazing time, we will be back soon! Adios!

So the first time I heard the term “GFIS”, I was like what?? It took me a minute to realize that it was the acronym for my academic program lol (Global Financial Information Systems). I’m kinda glad there’s a nickname for it because it was getting tiring saying the whole thing lol. Anyway… so far I’m loving my graduate program! It’s going on three full weeks of classes and I can see already the value of the program and how much it will help me in my future career. Currently, we’ve been working on creating databases, statistical analysis, project management, and some other topics that I won’t bore you guys with it (even though they are interesting to me). Either way, its great to get to learn something new this year and something that is very applicable to this technological age. It’s also been fun getting to know my classmates. We actually had a Business Graduate Program team-building day, which was great craic (meaning fun for those in the states)! We did a big scavenger hunt that I kinda messed up on, but got the hang of it later on, and some other cool team building games/exercises. Overall, I am very excited for this school year because I obviously can’t get enough of school (I got called a professional student before, which I’m embracing), but I’ll keep you guys updated on how I do in the program.

So its already been a month that I’ve been in Ireland and I’m actually not homesick lol. Don’t get me wrong, I miss my family and friends, especially my sister and parents. I spent four years at a college 50 mins from my house and where I was able to go home whenever I just wanted to bother my parents and sister, to get that home-cooked meal😍, and to see my friends. I was so spoiled for 4 years and even being less than an hour away, I just always felt the urge to go home. But now I’m 3000 miles away from home and surprisingly i’m chillin 😎! I’m enjoying every minute here in Ireland! I’ve been meeting new people, trying out different foods, having fun coaching and playing ball, and walking A LOT (well only when we dont ask for lifts (rides) lol).

Side note: Thank you to everyone from the wildcats who has given us a lift, we appreciate you guys!!

I’ve also been getting used to this sideways rain down here in Waterford. Meg and I have been having fun going into the city centre, mainly to eat donuts (dinky donuts are life😍) or to try out a new restaurant/cafe that had caught our eyes. My teammates are great, super chilled and I’m looking forward to this season with them! We had a preseason tournament this past weekend, which was a great learning experience for us and a great opportunity to get to know the wildcats team even more!

Also, in this first month I got to go into the Guillamene (check out my video on Facebook lol) which was freezing, but a fun time. I promise next time I will jump 😬. Speaking of videos, this is something I have seen a big difference in myself as I think I’ve become less camera shy when it comes to me making my video blogs compared to when I first got here! It is something I am really happy with and definitely deserve a pat on the back from myself!

Thank you Sport Changes Life and the Rory Foundation for a great first month in Ireland, and many more to come!😎

I wake up, make my Irish bacon and some eggs and then finish it off with some tea. And then Meg and I head to the gym for our morning coaching sessions. The mini ballers are the first group and they come in so excited for the upcoming hour. As a coach, you can’t help but to be just as excited or more excited to teach, interact, and inspire the young ballers that step onto the court. This is definitely one of my favourite aspects of my time here.

So far we have done three Saturday coaching sessions, but already I’ve noticed progress with each of the girls. Whether some girls have gotten better skill wise with their ball handling or shooting. Or some who walked in the first day so shy and nervous, to now making friends, talking, and being more comfortable with the ball. One mini baller came into the first session shooting the ball underhand, having it be her first day of basketball. By the end of that session, she won “Hot Shots” (a slight twist on the game “Knockout”). She was so happy and shocked too lol. Then by the second session, I helped her try to shoot the ball the proper way instead of shooting it underhand. She listened and continued to shoot that way the rest of the session and in the next session, even though it may have been uncomfortable for her (or just something new). It’s moments like this that make coaching special because you get to see the improvement first hand and how much more confident each of the young ballers get in each session. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year!