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Swanny - Robert Matthew Swann

Robert Matthew Swann Hello everyone and welcome! My name is Matt Swann, and I am from Nashville, TN. I am a Junior at Maryville College in Maryville, TN studying history. Currently, I am studying abroad for the Spring '08 semester at the University of Ulster-Magee College in Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland. I hope you enjoy my blog.
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Joined on: February 22nd 2008
Last Login: May 14th 2009

Blog Entries: 10
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by Swanny, order by Date newest first.


Well, I am back in Nashville. But, I still have two more entries to put up on this blog. I took one last trip and went to London and Germany. It was great way to finish "my exile abroad" (as John Adams called his in HBO's John Adams). I am still waiting on the results of my exams and coursework (I will not know till June 30th so never complain that your teacher or professor is a slow grader because I know a couple of people who are slower than molasses in an igloo). Anyway, I had a great couple of [View Full Entry]

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169 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 47 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: June 21st 2008 | 71 Views | [diary=285586]

Trekkie Monster from Avenue Q
London Eye at Night
Greetings from London

And I am....not quite....not quite......and.... done! This morning I had a three hour exam for my Unionism Under the Union course on a Saturday (Yeah!). There is nothing like Unionism to wake one up in the morning. I wrote on Female Unionists for my first essay question, opposition from conservative Protestants to the Act of Union in the 1790s for my second, and Ulster Unionists in the Great War for my third question. And everyone who just read that is now asleep. Anyway, I wanted to post some pictures from trip to Dublin and County Wicklow including the monastic site of [View Full Entry]

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170 Words | 1 Comment(s) | 76 Photo(s) | 2 Video(s)
Published: May 17th 2008 | 58 Views | [diary=274820]

Lovely Day for a Guinness
Dublin
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Well, my time in Northern Ireland is gradually coming to an end. I apologize for completely ignoring April, but I was busy finishing papers with one on the Cold War, one on 19th Century Orange Parades, and one on the changing views of commemorating the Siege of Derry. I have finished my classes after twelve weeks which went by quickly. Currently, I am enduring the revision week and exams weeks (I have an exam on May 7th, 15th, and 17th so wish me luck). In the past weeks, I have been enjoying the pleasant weather and traveling to places like Cork [View Full Entry]

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133 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 30 Photo(s) | 2 Video(s)
Published: May 9th 2008 | 44 Views | [diary=273244]

So soft
Springtime for Magee
Happy U.S. Mother's Day

Well, I took a two night trip to Galway (the city of Tribes) in the Republic which is considered the art center of Ireland and called one of the sexiest cities in Europe (which is good to know). It is not a very large city but there are a few things to see and more outside the city. I enjoyed just walking by the sea and walking through the town square (Eyre Square) which is home to a monument of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy who visited Galway shortly before his death. On my second day, I went to the Aran Islands [View Full Entry]

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399 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 42 Photo(s) | 2 Video(s)
Published: April 2nd 2008 | 124 Views | [diary=261694]

JFK
Spanish Arch
Merchants Road

Well, I am back from my trip to Scotland and I really enjoyed it. I visited the city of Stirling, Edinburgh, and a little time in Glasgow. I also spent some time in the smaller towns of St. Andrews and Doune. Some of the highlights include visiting Doune Castle (the castle where they filmed Monty Python and the Holy Grail), walking the Royal Mile, Stirling Castle (the home of many of the Stewart kings of Scotland including Mary Queen of Scots and her son James the future James I of England), Edinburgh Castle, the British Golf Museum, the Old Course of [View Full Entry]

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128 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 136 Photo(s) | 5 Video(s)
Published: March 25th 2008 | 68 Views | [diary=259364]

On the train
Glasgow
Willy Wallace Hostel-My Bed

I went to my first St. Patrick's Day parade today, so it seems fitting that my first one would be in Northern Ireland (don't hate me). It was really interesting and a lot of people were packed in to see the parade. I went with Minda, Sarah, Kelly, and Ronald and we were all in our green. I have some pictures and hopefully some video. Well, I am off to Scotland tomorrow. I hope you enjoy the pictures and videos. Thanks and have a brilliant St. Patrick's Day. matt [View Full Entry]

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89 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 18 Photo(s) | 4 Video(s)
Published: March 17th 2008 | 53 Views | [diary=257059]

I don't know who that guy is
Heading toward the parade
Parade 1

A few days ago, I went for a run and attempted to run into County Donegal which is apart of the Republic of Ireland, so I could officially say that I ran into another country. Well, it was a great success, but I quickly ran back into Northern Ireland. Today, I went for an exceedingly long walk into the Republic. When you enter the Republic, the signs quickly change with some of the road signs in Irish with English translations. Furthermore, the speed limits are in kilometers and not miles as they are in the North. Eventually, I found myself in [View Full Entry]

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318 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 19 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: March 15th 2008 | 78 Views | [diary=256191]

Some Sheep in the Street
The signs are a changing
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Now, I know what it is like to be Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, but this time it happens to be a whiskey distillery. In fact, the worlds oldest distillery. This Sunday, I went with Ronald and Minda to Bushmills, a very small town outside the surf town of Portrush. We arrived at the distillery and took a tour of the Old Bushmills Distillery. Founded in 1608 with permission of King James the I after the infamous Flight of the Earls in 1607, the Old Bushmills Distillery has been providing high quality Irish whiskey (Just a reminder: evidently, you do not [View Full Entry]

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464 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 19 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: March 3rd 2008 | 337 Views | [diary=252090]

Old Bushmills Distillery
2
Welcome

Welcome to another exciting blog entry! Last night, I went and auditioned for a play at the Waterside Theatre in Derry. It just happens that the play is Hamlet. Well, I tried. I guess I will see what happens with that. Afterwards, I bought a ticket for Hayseed Dixie. They are a Bluegrass/Rock band that is a 'Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC' because they do covers in their own style of AC/DC. I first heard about them on the Rick and Bubba show. Now that they are on their World Tour, I thought I would see them in Derry. I think it [View Full Entry]

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356 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 16 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: February 29th 2008 | 94 Views | [diary=251383]

Starting up
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3

I cannot believe it. Well, it has been a little more than a month since I left Nashville and arrived in Derry, Northern Ireland. Now, I have started this blog to share my experiences and photos. Hopefully, I will update this blog regularly. Enjoy, my photos from the past month. Photos include my time in Belfast, my second trip to Belfast, Derry, Portrush, the Causeway coast, and one night in Coleraine. Enjoy. [View Full Entry]

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73 Words | 0 Comment(s) | 48 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s)
Published: February 23rd 2008 | 91 Views | [diary=249040]

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Portrush
Me