Week in Mayo

Hi! I'm sorry, I believe it has been about two weeks since I've added any pictures, BUT... to make up for the lack of blog activity- I have many, many pictures for you today! I was in Co. Mayo last week, which is on the West coast of Ireland. We were there studying the Shell2Sea campaign and the conflict that has been ongoing for the past 10 years. Without going into too much detail, Shell is trying to process the gas in the Corrib gas field (which is right off the coast in Mayo), but the issue is that they will be causing environmental damage and destroying a small, rural community's way of life as well as putting them in danger if the pipeline (carrying raw gas at a high pressure) were to explode. The community wants to process the gas, but they don't agree with the way it is being done. Obviously, I am way oversimplifying this & the conflict is very complex. We got to meet and talk with several different people and hear all sides of the story. Overall though, the area was absolutely gorgeous, and we met really wonderful people. It was a great escape from city-life to a lovely rural town.

The gang.

This is the really cute hostel we stayed at. (where we ate incredible home-cooked meals!)

All of us. :)

This was a solidarity camp that has been there since 2005 protesting Shell's activity in the area.

Still smiling (once I made them for the picture), even though we are soaking wet at this point.

Visiting a farm!

Picking up turf on the farm. This stuff is called peat & it is vegetable matter from the bog that they burn as fuel instead of wood.

Jumping on the bog - It is literally bouncy, sort of like jelly.

Pictures from the hike -->

Katy & I

Looking really good in my many layers... ;)

Sheep!!! Everywhere.

Senior pic?