HOME Nora Daly

July 26, 2007

I think the best part about any trip is the element of vulnerability you have to your new environment. Like a small child you experience the feeling of awe and amazement at the world around you; smells, tastes and the sensation of a different wind can ignite a powerful desire to explore and capture this new setting on film as well as your precious frames of memory.

Since being in Armagh, I have seen a part of the world that is perpetually changing, where the whitest clouds piled high in the sky fall into the darkest bodies of a coming storm. Here in this ancient town we have enjoyed the beauty of this foreign scenery, with its distant rolling hills, modest streets, and beautiful sunshine that leaks through the stained glass of the commanding cathedrals. Within this first week I have encountered many inquisitive locals and watched mothers move busily through the streets, in and out of shops as their children tag closely alongside, a delivery man collecting a load of beautifully arranged bouquets from the flower shop as well as the small crowds that gather along the sidelines of a local Camogie match.

The first few days of this trip were really hard, with the time adjustment and the task of carting twice my body weight in luggage up the steepest streets of Ireland, I was less than thrilled to be here. As the days have gone on however, I have truly felt the pleasure of being hosted here, with its enthusiastic citizens, gorgeous atmosphere, and refreshing charm I find myself relaxed and ready to explore the many facets of this city. On Tuesday night we saw a play in the town Theater which was just as confusing as it was entertaining. The actors were completely uninhibited in their roles and I really enjoyed seeing a production alongside the rest of the group and Armagh locals.

As the week progresses the project at hand becomes more and more clear, and as of Wednesday evening I was able to discover my story for the written portion of this project. With the help of a council worker at the Cathedral Road Recreation Center I plan on researching the growing popularity over the Armagh Harps the local women’s Irish football team. In doing this story I hope to shine light on the intensity that these girls project and the commitment to the sport as a true passion and legitimate Irish sport. On Monday night I will attend their match and speak with team members in order to understand the weight of what they are doing, for, in a way they are the trailblazers for future girls that envision themselves participating in a game that has been a man’s sport.