wish my name were irish

At the end of August, I will leave my home-sweet-home of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a four month stay in Ireland. I am excited and anxious. I almost didn’t go—in June, I got cold feet and examined the possibility of returning to CMC. But I will get on the plane. And I will tour castles. And I will learn about political conflict. And I will kiss the Blarney Stone. And I will write about my experience here.

I have some post ideas started already. But I will pace myself with them, seeing as how I am not yet in Ireland and this blog is about me in Ireland.

Some background on the name of the blog:

When I was really little, I would beg my mother to give me a different name. There was nothing wrong with my given name, I just liked other names better. The names of my cousins and relatives, who all went by the last name of Callahan. I would ask to be renamed Margaret, Kathleen, Brigid, or Colleen—any number of strong Irish names. When she refused to give in to my demands, I started to name my dolls in the Irish tradition. Strangely, it was only one name– I had about 10 dolls all named Katie. So if we’re into drawing conclusions, I suppose my journey to Ireland is fulfilling my childhood need to be connected to Irish culture and heritage.