Kirb SIN Post

From talking to many students around the campus from many different clubs, societies and courses I have discovered that there many people are on the same generic wave length as regards to what you should and shouldn’t participate in during your time in University. 

Joining clubs and socities is a big one that everyone agrees on, attempting to pass the year with a decent grade while having as much fun as possible is also a key factor on most peoples “to-do lists”. 

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In an attempt to get a new point of view on the Galway college experience, one that isn’t clouded by “the grass is always greener” syndrome, I went in search of some visiting students. Brendan Kirby, from New York has been here for exactly two months and is staying for another three so while he has experienced enough to know his favourite bits, so far, he hasn’t been here long enough to become unimpressed with the city and what it has to offer, so far. My perfect candidate!

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So, when I’m talking to Brendan I try to take a step back and look at Galway from the perspective of someone who hasn’t lived here their whole life and I begin to recognise, all over again, why people love this city so much. His first piece of advice to me is to see Shop Street, to really enjoy it. Initially I’m slightly dubious because I mean, it’s just a street, right? But then when I think about it, it is just a street but it’s a fabulous street. The shop exteriors are like something you’d see in a movie and where else do you find muriels been painted on the ground on a Saturday and Santa climbing down the Treasure Chest over Christmas. 

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One of the most famous Galway characters is the “doughnut man”, the man who surprisingly enough, sells doughnuts at the Saturday market, something I would also suggest everyone leaves their bed on a Saturday morning to see.

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An avid hiker Brendan has more since he’s been here than most of us have in our lives, he’s joined the Galway Mountaineering Club and loves it. He likes to hike to “see the country for what it really is”.  He also says that because we’re so close to all this wonderful nature we should take advantage of it. He has been to see the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands and he categorises them in some of his favourite bits of his trips so far!

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So while we may be slightly unimpressed with the weather, the government and the same things day in  and out, try looking at our college experience from an outsiders perspective. We’re close to and have so many wonderful things in our city, take advantage of it!