• Hey everyone, 

     I would like to share with you some actualities from the city where I am presently living. I have chosen to present you a football game that I have seen with a German Guys. 

    Dundalk vs Saint Patrick's Athetic

    The game was nice: the score was 3-0 for Dundalk. th goal was scored by Brian Gartland (16') and David McMillan (68', 86'). But the two last goal, Saint Patrick's was playing with ten players (Red card for Conor McCormack (44') and twenty minutes later with nine (red card for Killian Brennan, 63'). 

    The game was interesting but the players do not shoot a lot and it seems to be less professional football compare to France or England League. 

    Dundalk vs Saint Patrick's Athetic

     

    Dundalk vs Saint Patrick's Athetic

    I have chosen to present you this soccer team because Dundalk is one of the only one city which is reknown for soccer and not for rugby (which is uncommon in Ireland) 

    The Club was created in 1903 and it is the second most successful team in Ireland behind the Shamrock Rovers. They are playing in Oriel Park, a stadium of 6,000 places. 

    Dundalk vs Saint Patrick's Athetic

    Seating in the Oriel Stadium, we were around 3,000 this night 

    The Stadium owns a bar where you can have a drink and there is also a place to get some candies, hot dogs or soup. In this lovely place, you have to drink there, therefore everybody is coming before and after the game and during the break. 

    There we saw that Dundalk FC has already playing... Liverpool FC, in European Champions Cup, Not that bad right :)

    Dundalk vs Saint Patrick's Athetic

    Here is the List of Dundalk FC's Honours 


    As you can see, Dundalk FC is the last Champion of Ireland League and they have already won one trophee, the LFA Presiden's Cup. 

     

    I hope you enjoy this new articles on news from Dundalk, 

    Cheers, 

    Victor ^o^

     

    Bibliography: 

    http://www.dundalkfc.com/

    http://www.matchendirect.fr/live-score/dundalk-st-patrick-s.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dundalk_F.C.


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  • Hey everyone, 

    I have prepare an email to a friend who told me that he wants to join the Univerisity (English exercise) 

    I would like to share it with you, it is on the facilities in Dundalk too. The first article was writen is formal and this one is writen in informal:

    Hi *****,

    I’m very happy to hear that you want to study in DKIT. You’ll see the DKIT campus is really good and the facilities are so deadly. I want to share with you some facilities that I really appreciate.

    The first one is the Student services facilities. Here, in DKIT we are so lucky because we have a bank on the campus. It’s not necessary to go to the centre of the city, which is twenty five minutes from the campus if you need to withdraw money for your lunch, candies, or drinking. You can buy those things in the shop located in the campus too, which is dead handy when you want to eat something between two classes. There is also a café which offers many products too for your breakfast or your lunch.

    The second one is the library. In there, you find lots of stuffs (books and computers essentially), not like in your home university, believe me. This place is as well really nice when you want to revise your assessment or to practise oral exam, because it is a quiet place. You can borrow some DVD/Series too, especially if you want to improve your English.

    Finally, there are lots of activities which are mostly free. For instance, you can do rugby, soccer, volleyball, hurling, Zumba, kick-boxing, and so on. The issue is that you have timetables for all the activities and sometimes the activity that you want to do is unavailable because of your lessons timetables.

    I’m really excited to introduce my school to you, it’s amazing and I hope to see you next semester,

    Cheers,

    Victor

    I hope that you enjoy the comparison between the formal and the informal language, 

    Hope to see you soon, 

    Regards, 

    Victor ^o^

     


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  • Hey everyone,

    I want to present you the economic situation of Ireland:

    Crisis

    Ireland's Economy (Geopolitical Article)

     

    As perhaps some of you knows, Ireland have known an austerity policy since 2008 and, by an International plan (International Monetary Fund and European Union), have been saved to the bankruptcy in 2010. Nowadays, Ireland rear its head. Indeed, their economy grew 4.8% in 2014, the fastest pace in Europe according to The Wall Street Journal. Even if there was a reduction during the last month of 2014, this dynamic should continue in 2015.

    Ireland's Economy (Geopolitical Article)

    In fact, Ireland forecast a growth of 3.5%. According to Alan McQuaid, economist at Merrion Stockbrokers, “Ireland benefit from its closely commercial link with United States and United Kingdom, two of the principal motors of the global growth during the last twelve months”. Moreover, there is also a development of the local demand for the first time since 2010. Finally, the loss of the euro should be an opportunity for the industrial competition base in the country.

    Ireland's Economy (Geopolitical Article)

     

    Nevertheless, those numbers have to be taken with precaution. Actually, there is a large amount of multinational in Ireland in pharmaceutical and communicable technologies especially, and their result depend on the conjunction of the country. These 6 years of austerity was marked by a rise of the taxes, the creation of a property tax, the low of 11% loyal servants’ wage… The government had also chosen to tax the drinkable water while nowadays these measure causes many manifestations. Otherwise, the Anti-Austerity Alliance (AAA), an extreme democratic movement created in 2014, covet to be like Syriza in Greece or Podemos in Spain. Ireland get a safeguard plan at the end of 2013. They obtained a partial restructuration of their debt, which high at 114.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Ireland's Economy (Geopolitical Article)

    Manifestation on the drinkable water

     

    Fiscal Paradise

    According to the newspaper Forbes, Ireland is the Sixth best Fiscal Paradise all around the world. There is three steps to elaborate this rankings:

    “First we had to determine what places were secrecy jurisdictions. To do this we created a « list of lists » looking at tax haven listings over a period of more than 30 years and selecting for testing, broadly speaking, all those that came on two lists or more over that period. Then our team researched data on a wide range of issues–about 200 variables per location. 

    Then, twelve criteria were selected as key indicators of opacity, varying from whether there was formal banking secrecy or not, to whether accounts were required to be on public record, to how many tax information exchange agreements the jurisdictions had. The place got a mark for being opaque and none if it was transparent. Next we had to determine the amount of cash flowing through each location using International Monetary Fund data.

    Combine the two rankings (deploying a little mathematics along the way, I admit) and you get the overall top 10 list. These are the 10 most significant secrecy jurisdictions in the world, in the opinion of the Tax Justice Network: the U.S. (Delaware), Luxembourg, Switzerland, Cayman Islands, the U.K. (City of London), Ireland, Bermuda, Singapore, Belgium and Hong Kong”.

    Ireland's Economy (Geopolitical Article)

    Ireland's idyllic landscape belies its savvy financial sector

    Ireland offers interesting financial conditions. It's called the "double Irish" in the financial world: A company founds two subsidiaries in Ireland with its business tax rate of 12.5 percent. Then, one claims to be based in a different tax haven (Comparable taxes in the United States, for example, are around 35 percent). While the one company does business in Europe, it pays the other patent fees. Profits vanish, as costs and income equal out on the balance sheet. This is completely legal in Ireland, and therefore an optimal location for companies such as Google, Apple or Amazon.

     

    I hope you enjoy this article on the Ireland’s economy,

    Cheers,

    Victor ^o^

     PS: In Ireland it is very sunny since two weeks (20 degrees), a friend of mine visit me so I am very happy to share some time with her and the other Erasmus


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  • Hey Everyone, 

    My parents visited me last week and we were in Bushmills (Northern Ireland) close to the Giant Causeway and the Causeway Coastal Route. My parents and I have done, with a car, the major part of the road (We stop at Portrush)

    This route begin in Belfast and finished in Londonderry. How it name indicated it, this Route is really close to the Nothern Ireland's coast.

    Causeway Coastal Route

    On this Route, there is so many landscapes to take in, and I would like to share with you the ones that I appreciate the most. 

     

    The Giant's Causeway

    Causeway Coastal Route

    The Giant's Causeway is located close to the city of Bushmills, close to the Northest coast (County Antrim; 2 miles/4.8 kilometers from the east of the city). It is one of the Nothern Ireland's top tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986-1987.

    It is an are of about 40.000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of a former volcanic eruption. The top of the columns form stones that lead from the cliff foot and sisappear under the sea. The majority of the colums are hexagonal. The tallest are about 12 meters high. 

    The site is open for working all the year and it is free to visit it if you don't want to go in the visitor center. The site is managed by the National Trust, a conservation charity which try to keep it as natural as possible for the visitor experience. 

    Causeway Coastal Route

    Causeway Coastal Route

     

    The Carrick-a-Rede

    Causeway Coastal Route

    The Carrick-a-Rede is a bridge suspended almost 30 meters above the sea. It was first erected by salmon fishermen 350 years ago. Nowadays, these bridge us a popular tourist destination. It attracts thousands tourist each years. The bridge is long of 20 meters, linking the mainland to "Rocky Island". In these island you have a wonderful view on the Rathlin Island and Scotland.

    Causeway Coastal Route

    A short footpath (close to one kilometers) leads to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. On the way, there are gorgeous point of view, where tourist take picture of the landscape (there is also some scenes shoting in these county).

    Causeway Coastal Route

    Tourist can take the footpath for free but the crossinf of the bridge is not free. (Adult: £5.90, Child: £3.00).

    The Bridge is opening: 

    1 January - 22 February: 09:30 - 15:30

    23 February - 24 May 09:30 - 18:00

    30 March -12 April 09:30 - 19:30 (Easter holidays)

    25 May - 30 August 09:30 - 19:30

    31 August - 25 October 09:30 - 18:00

    26 October - 31 December 09:30 - 15:30

    Final access to Rope Bridge is 45 minutes before the closing time. It is closed the 24th, 25th and 26th of December.

     

    Ballintoy Harbour

    Causeway Coastal Route

    Ballintoy is situated between the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede. The Ballintoy Harbour is built from limestone blocks and surrounted by limestone cliffs was once a hub for north coast fishing, boat building and local industries. There is a house which catch the attention. This house was build by Newton Penprase, an artist. Tourist can take a walk close to  the ocean. 

    Causeway Coastal Route

    The village was used for the fictional town of Lordsport in the Isle of Pyke in the second season of the TV series Game of Thrones in August 2011.

    Causeway Coastal Route

     

    Whitepark Bay 

    Causeway Coastal Route

    This spectacular sandy beach forms a white arc between two headlands close to the North coast. The beach is supported by dunes that provide a range of rich habitats for the wild life, chiefly the bird life. These bay is one of the most natural coastline sites in Northern Ireland. The place is also reknown for archeology, because there is many fossils there. The White Park Bay has been in the care of the National Trust since 1938.

    Causeway Coastal Route

    If you want to stay one night their, in a quiet place, the White Park Bay Youth Hostel is perfect for the students (there is also adults who go their). There is a wonderfull view on these bay. 

    Causeway Coastal Route

     

    Carrickfergus

    Causeway Coastal Route

     

    Carrickfergus is a large town in the County Antrim (Northern Ireland). It is located on the north of the city of Belfast, 18 kilometers (11 miles).There is close to 30 ,000 inhabitants in the city. Carrickfergus is one of the most the oldest town of the County Antrim and one of the oldest colony of Ireland. 

    Causeway Coastal Route

    Carrickfergus is also the subject of the classic Irish folk song "Carrickfergus".

    Here is the Lyrics of the song, written by the Dubliners: 

    I wish I was in Carrickfergus

    Only for nights in Ballygrand
    I would swim over the deepest ocean
    Only for nights in Ballygrand
    But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
    And neither have I the wings to fly
    I wish I had a handsome boatsman
    To ferry me over my love and I

    (This verse is only sung on the "40 years "cd)
    My childhood days bring back sad reflections
    Of happy times there spent so long ago
    My boyhood friends and my own relations
    Have all past on now with the melting snow
    So I'll spend my days in this endless roving
    Soft is the grass and shore, my bed is free
    Oh to be home now in carrickfergus
    On the long rode down to the salty sea

    Now in Kilkenny it is reported
    On marble stone there as black as ink
    With gold and silver I would support her
    But I'll sing no more now til I get a drink
    Cause I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober
    A handsome rover from town to town
    Ah but I'm sick now my days are numbered
    Come all me young men and lay me down
    Come all me young men and lay me down.

    The tittle of Bron Carrickfergus was given to Prince Williams on his wedding days on 29 April 2011.

    Causeway Coastal Route

     

    Carrickfergus Castle

    Causeway Coastal Route

    Carrickfergus is reknown for its castle. The castle is build in a Norman style. It was the property respectly of Scotish, Irish, English and French. It is one of the best medieval strucutres in Northern Ireland. 3/4 of the castle is surrounded by the water (in modern time it is "only" 1/3). The Carrickfergus Castle is maintained by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, as a historic monument. 

     

    I hope you enjoy this presentation and those pictures on the Causeway Coastal Route, It is one of my favourite journey during my Erasmus, 

    Hope to see you all soon

    Cheers, 

    Victor ^o^

     

    Bibliography

    http://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/causeway-coastal-route.html

    http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway/

    http://www.ireland.com/campaign/normal-campaign/2013/causeway-coastal-route/

    http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede/

    http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Carrick-a-Rede-Rope-Bridge-Ballintoy-Ballycastle-P2829

    http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/causeway/

    http://www.walkni.com/walks/583/ballintoy-to-bushmills/

    http://www.hini.org.uk/hostels/White-Park-Bay-Youth-Hostel

    http://www.walkni.com/walks/115/whitepark-bay/

    http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Carrickfergus-Carrickfergus-P7124

    http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/travel/attractions/castles/carrick.shtm

    http://www.virtualvisittours.com/carrickfergus-castle/


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  • Hey everyone,

    It’s been a long time that I did not write an article but I got an issue with my hand. Indeed, two weeks ago, I have been suited on my right hand and I cannot write at all at the beginning. Now, I am feeling better and I can use it. I have also finished my semester in Dundalk, since one week, but I still want to write a few articles.

    So, I would like to share with you a movie that I watched three weeks ago. It focuses on the war between the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This is the story of a young and disoriented British soldier who is accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the deadly streets of Belfast in 1971.

    '71 movie, "geopolitical" movie

    This movie shot in 2014. The director is Director Yann Demange and the Writer is Gregory Burke (screenplay). Jack O’Connell is the main character of the movie. He’s playing the young soldier who his name is Garry Hook. 

    '71 movie, "geopolitical" movie

    I really recommend you this movie because it focus on the war between United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. It shares also the behaviour of both side. There is also a large amount of actions in the movie focused especially on bombing.

    '71 movie, "geopolitical" movie

    71 was noted 7.2/10 by IMdB and 3.8/5 by Allociné.  

     

    If you want to watch only the trailer, you can watch it there: 

     

    I hope you enjoy this article and you will watch the movie because it is an interesting one, and not yet reknown, 

    Cheers, 

     

    Victor ^o^

     


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