IriSh NaTuRaL LaNdSCaPE

Click on the diaporama to see the show ! ==> DIAPORAMA 

SwEeTiE PiES PReSeNtAtiOn

*LOCATION*

Sweetie pies is a lovely tea room based is middle street, very close to shop street, the most commercial street in Galway. Very good location which allow sweetie pies to attract a lot of consumer!

*BUSINESS*

Even if it was at first a tea room, it developed its activity since the last few months.

- Now, sweetie pies propose breakfast for everybody : you can ask for “The work” if you want to test a real Irish breakfast, or if you prefer you can have French toast, pancakes, Belgian waffles, or a bagel for the America addict!

- We also have a lot of choices for lunch : Salads, sandwiches, pizza, sliders (little hamburgers), and the tasty soup which is different everyday (best soups ever, particularly the carrot/ginger/coconut/garlic one! YUMMY)

-But the biggest business of sweetie pies are the CAKES : Every taste, every color! (I’ll do an article about sweetie pies cakes later!)

- Sweetie Pies is working on an evening menu in order to open later. 

*STAFF*

- Maureen & Jenny : 2 sister who created Sweetie Pies. Jenny works on the business part, and Maureen is the maker of these fabulous cakes!

- Erika : She is the supervisor. She organizes the service, and give specific jobs to the waitresses in order to be effective. She is also a waitress.

- Emily, Katy, Deirdre, Anne-Claire(French), and me : Waitresses.

- Phil : the barman.

- Joe & Mikey : the cookers

- Corma & Michal : the “cleaner”

- Tekila (what a name !!! His real name, I SWEAR) : The holder of sweetie pies sign. His job is to go in shop street at a particular place and to hold a sign with a brief description of what sweetie pies propose and to indicate the direction to people!

iReLAnD & ThE eCoNoMiQuE CriSis

 [The first class of EU institutions has been one of the most interesting class of all the semester. The teacher begun class by telling us "Well, without the EU, you wouldn't be sat where you are sitting right now, I wouldn't be there teaching you, GMIT wouldn't existed at all". In fact, GMIT has been financed by the EU. So far, she seemed to thanks EU as if it was something very benefic for Ireland. But her point view changed quickly when she started to talk about Irish economic crisis…]

Explications...:
As part of the EU Institutions module and the Bachelor of Business Year 2 Semester 4, we had to do an assignment on the challenges facing Ireland within the European Union and to discuss recommendations to deal with these challenges. Most of these challenges are related to the economic crisis which affected a lot the Irish economy.

Due to the banking crisis and the current economic climate, banks have no money to lend. The biggest challenge would be the EU/IMF Bailout for Ireland having to pay back the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ireland is unlucky in that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is providing high rates to Ireland in the banking bailout. As from 2012, Ireland will be a contributor. 

That was abundantly criticized on the island, which has difficulty in accepting an interest rate considered as "punitive" and a severe draining in the reserve fund of the pensions, the last savings of a ruined country.

Ireland has to return the Irish public deficit to 3 % of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), as require the EU. Indeed, this last one flew away in 32 % of the GDP, because of the 50 billion euro which the Irish state had to inject in its banks to avoid them from the bankruptcy. Ireland has to prove its capacity to control its financial spending. To succeed, Irish state must both increase its revenue and reduce its spending.

Principals measures of Irish austerity plan :

#1  Ireland presents four-year austerity plan outlining $20bn in savings.

#2  It is a requirement towards securing a bailout package from the European Union and the IMF.

#3  Sales tax will be raised to 23 per cent from 21 per cent by 2014, but the 12.5-per cent corporation tax rate - a key attraction for foreign companies to invest in Ireland - will be maintained.

#4  The government says it expects unemployment to be brought under control
and to drop below 10 per cent by 2014, from its current level of over 13 per cent.

 #5  But the minimum wage will be cut by one Euro an hour to 7.65 Euros an hour. 

ð    What strikes me the most is the fact that Irish don't want IMF and EU aids! In fact most of them refuse to be dominated by any countries because they have so bad memories with English. "Never again." 
By the way, the governement agreed to these aids. However, Irish are giving a hard time to the governement and especially to their last Prime Minister during february. 

I fOuNd aN iNtErNsHip !

Good new : I found an internship ! I thought that would be complicate, but it was finally easy ! On the beginning of march, I went to enable Ireland, in Galway, in order to propose myself as volunteer. This is a charity shop, were people come to work for free. I heard that it was really easy to get a job in this kind of store! Not so true… they had too much volunteer at this moment and couldn’t accept my help ! They were supposed to call me later, but never did.

3 weeks later I still didn’t have any internship… One morning I just woke up, and decide that was a good day to find one ! It was sunny, and warm outside. I went to GMIT to print some CV’s, put a cute dress, and took a bus to the city center. When I got out from the bus, I was kind of lost. I didn’t know where to apply, and what to say. 

I walked in shop street (one of the main street of Galway), and decided to take my chance in a coffee shop named “food4thought”. When I entered, I immediately recognize who the manager was.

-“Hi, how are you going today ? What would you like to drink?”

-“Nothing thank you, I’m looking for an internship, and wanted to know if you need staff”.

He looked very hostile until I said that my goal was to improve my English and not to be paid, so I could work for free. He took my CV, wrote “NO MONEY” on, and said that he would think about it, and call me back pretty soon.

I continued my research and went to other coffee shops until I saw that lovely tea room “sweetie pies of Galway” in which I drunk a tea and ate a cupcake with friends few days ago. I had such a good memory of this place and would LOVE working in. I was reluctant to go in, but thought that I had nothing to lose by applying there. The manager looked immediately very interested in hiring someone for free! (I understand her…) She took my CV and promised to call me.

I went in approximately 6 coffee shop and thought that was enough for today. I took the bus back home with the hope of receiving two positive call.  I was just arriving home when my phone rung : it was the woman from this lovely tea room, who wanted to plan a meeting before I start working ! Youhouuu so happy !!!! I get an internship ! I couldn’t find a better place to work in Galway!

The day after the man from the first coffee shop called me back but I refused its proposition.

Paddy's Day !

I can't do a blog about my trip in Ireland without talking about the St Patrick's day !

Some History...
Saint Patrick's Day, also called "Paddy's Day" is a religious day celebrated particularly in Ireland on the 17 of March since 1737. Nevertheless, it is also celebrated in places such as Canada, Britain, Australia, the United States and New Zealand. It commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who is credited with bringing christianity to Ireland. 


How is it celebrated ?
There are Parades, processions, and everybody were green stuff (it can be a green shirt, hat, scarf... etc!)

IriSh SyMbOLS

The Claddagh symbol in Galway street

The Claddagh Symbol

The Claddagh symbol : This symbol is composed of two hands holding a crowned heart. It is used to show the bonds of love, friendship and loyalty. Some believe that the right hand of the symbol represents the father of Celtic Gods, called Dagda, and the left represents the mother goddess, Anu. The Christian version of this legend says that the crowned heart is a symbol of God the Father and the two hands are his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The Shamrock

The Shamrock : Anyone who sees this club automatically thinks of Ireland. Some people say that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, used the shamrock to spread Christianity in Ireland, and the three leaves of the plant could represent the Holy Trinity. Other people say that the shamrock and the number three were considered magical in Celtic tradition, so this plant was believed to bring good luck.

The Celtic cross : This symbol is a variation of the traditional Christian cross. The circle that circumnavigates the intersection of the cross is often believed to represent a fusion of the old ways and the new.

The Leprechaun

The Leprechaun : The legend of the leprechaun and his pot of gold are known by many people all over the world. A leprechaun is a fairy-like being in traditional Irish folklore.

The Harp

The Harp : The Irish loved to entertain guests with the use of a harp during the Gaelic times. Since then, it has always been a well-loved symbol or Ireland. The harp was used in documents written by Benedictine monks in the 8th century. It was also shown in coins made during the 1500s. It became part of the national flag of Ireland from the 18th to the 19th centuries.


The Tricolor Flag : The current flag of Ireland has three colors—white, orange and green. Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish nationalist and a revolutionary who fought for his country’s independence from the British, introduced this flag in 1848. He says that the white in the center of the flag represents the peace between the Irish people (represented by the green color) and the English supporters of William III of England, or popularly known as “William Henry of Orange.” 

IriSh UrbAN LaNdSCaPE

Ireland offers very beautiful urban landscapes. What striked me the most is how much they take care of houses' front. I decided to devote this article to irish colourful and pretty fronts and doors. In a unique road, each front can be a different color from the other. This include every shop, pub, ... fronts.


I think a diaporama is the best to show it. To see the slide show, click on the link bellow ! ==> DIAPORAMA