Music and good beer:

By far, the best part of coming to Ireland is the music. There are so many talented musicians over here, and the traditional music is intoxicated. Last night a group of us students listened to a great fiddle/guitar duo at a local pub and it definitely became a highlight of my time in Dublin. My friend Allison and I also spent a bit of time in the Temple Bar, one of the older pubs in Dublin, and we enjoyed our first half-pints of Guinness while listened to an Irish Rock band. I had my first whole pint of Guinness at the Brewery this afternoon in their "Gravity Bar" which is perched on top of the Storehouse of the Guinness Brewery.
If anyone is planning on coming over to Ireland, come for music, and plan on being out late to get the full advantage of the jam sessions that occur with local musicians in the less-touristy pubs... it's amazing. I was kicking myself the other night, wishing that I knew how to play the fiddle, the fiddle players over here are incredible.
We're off to the west tomorrow to see some beautiful country, then up to Belfast...
Learning tons about Irish history, it's very complex, but very intersting.
More soon, Cheers.