An Irish Education
Donation protected
Earlier this year I was able to travel to Roman ruins along the course of the Antonine Wall in Bearsden, Scotland. It was a beautiful, sacred experience for me. Standing at a site where Roman soldiers had been stationed almost 1900 years ago, I was reminded of my favorite class at university, which explored the late Roman occupation of Britain. I relished every moment, imagining what it might have been like for the lowland tribes and the Roman soldiers along the wall, wondering how the Roman presence affected Celtic culture.
(At the Antonine Wall ruins)
I have always been profoundly drawn to discover how cultures and societies developed over time. I spend hours delving deeply into cultural histories to figure out where or why something came to be. There is something mysterious, beautiful, and vital about the stories of the past; the famous, infamous - and even unknown commoners - were people just like us, living in such a different world. Historical worlds seem so alien, yet are intricately linked to our present. This is why I am called to study History and Medieval Celtic Studies at Maynooth University in Ireland. Here, the histories I yearn to immerse myself in will be right outside the classroom door.
(Ruins of the Medieval Maynooth Castle right outside the university I'll be attending)
A few years ago, I visited Dublin for a short time. I was instantly in love with what I was able to see of Ireland. The people were kind and welcoming, the culture was vibrant and warm, and the music spoke to my soul. It was a strange sense that a place like this could feel like home so quickly.
(In Dublin)
Even before my travels to Ireland, I began to shift my focus to the country. In one of my college courses, “Medieval England,” I wrote my term paper on St. Patrick and Celtic Christianity. This was the first time the idea to focus my studies on Irish history began to take form. I later took it upon myself to begin learning Gaelic, as language is also a deep passion of mine. Other aspects of Irish culture, such as the music and literature compliments my interests in both.
After receiving my degree in this course, I hope to continue on to obtain a Master's Degree in Historical Archives so that I may preserve and promote historical study. I cannot wait to continue this journey with Maynooth University.
(The oldest library in England. It's places like this where I dream to work one day)
In order to be able to live in Ireland and receive a student visa, I will need to have about 3,000 euros in the bank when I arrive. Obviously, I will need more than that to sustain myself, but for the purposes of this fundraiser, I am only asking for help for that amount as well as help with travel expenses and some cushion as I settle in Ireland. Therefore, my goal is to raise $5,000.
I will need these funds by September 2018, when I will be moving to start my first semester in Ireland.
Anyone who decides to contribute will receive monthly updates about my what I'm up to in life and my studies. I'll also be learning some Gaelic and Irish songs that I'll share to my contributers.
Any help at all will be deeply appreciated, no matter how much. My decision came about after a lot of work on myself, soul-searching, and research. To recieve support in my decision would mean the world to me.
Go raibh maith agat! (Thank you!)
Update: Thanks to support on GoFundMe and from my family, I have made the first part of this dream a reality. I'm currently studying at Maynooth, Ireland! I love my classes and I know this is the right path for me. I miss my family and friends so much, as well as my guitar (which I wasn't able to bring). I still have two and a half years to go, and money is still tight. I still welcome any donations you may be able to offer and continue to be deeply grateful for any support (especially if it'll help me get a guitar somehow so I can continue my YouTube channel someday!). I had to remake this GoFundMe because I couldn't get payments to my new bank account or address in Ireland (but I still have the old one up). Thanks again!
(At the Antonine Wall ruins)
I have always been profoundly drawn to discover how cultures and societies developed over time. I spend hours delving deeply into cultural histories to figure out where or why something came to be. There is something mysterious, beautiful, and vital about the stories of the past; the famous, infamous - and even unknown commoners - were people just like us, living in such a different world. Historical worlds seem so alien, yet are intricately linked to our present. This is why I am called to study History and Medieval Celtic Studies at Maynooth University in Ireland. Here, the histories I yearn to immerse myself in will be right outside the classroom door.
(Ruins of the Medieval Maynooth Castle right outside the university I'll be attending)
A few years ago, I visited Dublin for a short time. I was instantly in love with what I was able to see of Ireland. The people were kind and welcoming, the culture was vibrant and warm, and the music spoke to my soul. It was a strange sense that a place like this could feel like home so quickly.
(In Dublin)
Even before my travels to Ireland, I began to shift my focus to the country. In one of my college courses, “Medieval England,” I wrote my term paper on St. Patrick and Celtic Christianity. This was the first time the idea to focus my studies on Irish history began to take form. I later took it upon myself to begin learning Gaelic, as language is also a deep passion of mine. Other aspects of Irish culture, such as the music and literature compliments my interests in both.
After receiving my degree in this course, I hope to continue on to obtain a Master's Degree in Historical Archives so that I may preserve and promote historical study. I cannot wait to continue this journey with Maynooth University.
(The oldest library in England. It's places like this where I dream to work one day)
In order to be able to live in Ireland and receive a student visa, I will need to have about 3,000 euros in the bank when I arrive. Obviously, I will need more than that to sustain myself, but for the purposes of this fundraiser, I am only asking for help for that amount as well as help with travel expenses and some cushion as I settle in Ireland. Therefore, my goal is to raise $5,000.
I will need these funds by September 2018, when I will be moving to start my first semester in Ireland.
Anyone who decides to contribute will receive monthly updates about my what I'm up to in life and my studies. I'll also be learning some Gaelic and Irish songs that I'll share to my contributers.
Any help at all will be deeply appreciated, no matter how much. My decision came about after a lot of work on myself, soul-searching, and research. To recieve support in my decision would mean the world to me.
Go raibh maith agat! (Thank you!)
Update: Thanks to support on GoFundMe and from my family, I have made the first part of this dream a reality. I'm currently studying at Maynooth, Ireland! I love my classes and I know this is the right path for me. I miss my family and friends so much, as well as my guitar (which I wasn't able to bring). I still have two and a half years to go, and money is still tight. I still welcome any donations you may be able to offer and continue to be deeply grateful for any support (especially if it'll help me get a guitar somehow so I can continue my YouTube channel someday!). I had to remake this GoFundMe because I couldn't get payments to my new bank account or address in Ireland (but I still have the old one up). Thanks again!
Organizer
Lindsay Taylor
Organizer
