Co. Sligo, Ireland// Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2014

Hey everyone! I finally am getting around to posting the pictures from our trip to Co. Sligo for the Fleadh (Irish music competition) in August. It was SUCH a blast! It was crazy busy with classes all week long, but it was also a load of fun!

 

 We flew into Shannon Airport on Sunday morning and went straight from the airport to Mass. We were so tired... Most of us hadn't slept on the plane the night before.

 ^^My uncles cows :)

After Mass we drove to  my grandmother's house for a meal and some sleep!It was really hard to settle in to sleep, even though we were tired. My cousins and I all love the Irish countryside, so we obviously wanted to be out in the sunshine exploring around my uncle's farm- totally not sleeping! But my aunt put an end to that and I think most of us went out like lights when we hit the pillow!

^^The amazing Sligo mountains.

 Then we started off on our 3 hour journey to Sligo! We kinda slept and then took a lot of random videos of the countryside and the sun in between clouds during the drive. The next day we plunged into week long music classes and late-night sessions.

Above is one of the main streets where people were playing music all the time, both on the streets and inside the pubs. It was a lot of fun to walk down the street and see all the kids playing music! My friends and I did go out and play in the streets one afternoon after class! It was kind of awkward at first but it got better and it was a great memory.  

We also had spontaneous sessions in our rented house, during which people would grab spoons and try to play them, or start playing their instruments in a weird key or something to make the end result very chaotic. :) Oh and I should probably explain that a session is when a group of people get together to play tunes.

Competitions are so nerve-wracking! I was competing in a band and a harp solo. When we were walking to the competitions I was snapping pictures vigorously to calm my nerves, hehe.

 

^Image via Pinterest

On another note, today is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. I've been studying astronomy at my community college, and I've been realizing how big the universe is. It's really been reminding me that the universe is unfathomably big, but God's mercy and love for us is even bigger.

"We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us..." ~Saint Pope John Paul II

"Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy..."

~Our Lord to St. Faustina (Diary 699)

Have you ever taken part in a music or dance competition before? 

Do you like competing or does it make you nervous?

What are your favorite quotes about God's love for us?

Have a Blessed Sunday!