I love Ireland - you know this. Every day being back brings this country and its people a little closer to my soul. But, as with all things, there are dark sides to the ones we love. And there are parts of Irish history pertaining to women in particular that are extremely troubling - and …
Author: maryannk
A native of Bozeman, MT, Maryann studied print journalism at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, graduating with honours in 2004. From there she jumped into the role of Film & Research Coordinator for Heartland Film in Indianapolis, which is where she eventually met her husband, Irish filmmaker Frank Kelly. On January 1, 2008, Maryann moved to Ireland where she spent the next 5+ years getting married, having two children, and learning volumes about the pretty green island and its peoples. In 2013, the family relocated to Indiana and then later California, but moved back to Ireland (where they intend to stay!) in 2018.
Catching Up
We've had a pretty mild winter this year in Ireland, all things considered. I haven't really minded being back in the world of grey skies and rainy streets because I love the contrasting warm fires and hot stews, not to mention misty mornings and lovely sunsets. If anything, I would have liked to see a …
Pitch Black
Ireland gets darker than any place I've ever lived. It gets so dark I can't even explain it to you - darker than the desert, darker than the mountains, darker than anything I know. I think I forgot that when we moved away for a while, and came back. Even then, I'd only experienced the …
American Baby
We recently celebrated the first birthday of our Isla, the third (and final?) baby, the only one of my children to be born in America! She is our little ray of California sunshine, a joy to us during ups and downs, and rounds out our family of five perfectly. When I think about my pregnancy …
Fleadh Cheoil
I just started a new job, so things have once again become hectic. Nevertheless, I've been wanting to share some photos from the fabulous Fleadh Cheoil in Drogheda last month. The Fleadh (pronounced "Flah") is a hugely popular and colourful annual festival of traditional music and dance in Ireland, and we were lucky enough to …
Just Stuff
I wish you could smell my house right now. It's a rainy and windy Friday night, so we've lit the fire - some logs, some briquettes - and are settled in for the duration. I've also just popped a tray of *Blackberry Pie Bars into the oven, so the aroma of wild berries, Irish butter …
Full Circle
To make a long story short - we've moved back to Ireland. Quick refresher: I moved to Drogheda in January 2008, to marry Frank Kelly. We spent a few years trying to make a living and build a family here, but the Recession had us beat. We saved up what we could, went through the …
Under Construction
Just a quick note to let you know that I am still alive, I've just been insanely busy... working full time, having a third baby, moving back to Ireland! I plan on giving the ol' blog a little facelift and hopefully bringing you more new and interesting content and commentary within the coming weeks. Watch …
Making time, the Irish way
I was driving home last night with a shameful haul of used books from a local second-hand shop - it's an addiction, really - when I looked into my rearview mirror and noticed the sun setting behind a row of palm trees. It occurred to me that we've lived in California more than 2 1/2 …
An Irish Christmas
It's dark and quiet as I sit and listen to the clock tick this early morning while I drink my tea. I'm back in the corner of the couch in the kitchen I've sat in a thousand times before, contemplating Christmas, family, and jet lag. We're home in Ireland for Christmas!! This is the first …
View From an Irish Back Yard 