July 8th- Back to the Burren

Today was another day of rain. The rain usually isn't too big of a problem here, since it tends to rain on and off during the day rather than pour for hours on end. I have gotten in the habit of taking a rainjacket wherever I go now. Anyway, classes were pretty normal today. The university had a workshop in Sean Nos singing today during the lunch break, so I went with a few friends to check it out. Sean Nos singing is a traditional Irish style, characterized by its lack of accompaniment and a high degree of improvisation. The instructor for the workshop demonstrated a few songs, as well as had us sing along with him. The songs are sung in well-known airs, but the singer then adds embellishment and variation by drawing out certain syllables or departing from the note of the air. It reminded me a lot of Indian singing. It's quite interesting to listen to, especially in Irish. We tried a few songs ourselves, mostly sticking to the tune of the air. It's also hard to embellish when singing as a group, so Sean Nos singers sing solo. It was a pretty cool workshop.
In the afternoon, we had our second archaeology field trip to the Burren. Dr. Jones came with a heavy rain jacket, rainboots, waterproof pants, and a fedora (kidding about the last one). The rest of us were significantly less prepared. Our first stop was a 9th century hillfort called Cahercammaun, which required a twenty-minute walk up said hill in the rain. We were pretty soaked and grumpy by the time we got up there, but things greatly improved once we got to the site. Cahercammaun is a three-ringed hillfort from a time when there were laws about how many rings your hillfort could have based on your status. These laws indicate that Cahercammaun was the residence of a very powerful figure or family, probably a chief. The fort is set on a cliff, which gave a great view of the surrounding area. We got to poke around the fort for awhile, and then we headed back down the hill and onto the bus for our next site, Corcomroe. Corcomroe is a late twelfth century Cisterian abbey, and is possibly the most interesting Christian site we've seen on this trip (and we've seen a lot.) The inside carvings are uniquely intricate, and for all the beauty of the place, there are several architectural mistakes. Dr. Jones said that the men commissioned to build the abbey were locals without any experience with such big buildings, though they were very skilled in carving. The site is being used as a graveyard now, and in the landscaping of the grounds, the ground level around the abbey has risen, resulting in doors that would be quite comfortable for a hobbit (many pictures were taken). It was awesome to see a more complete site, since we've mostly seen megalithic tombs and half-preserved forts. Corcomroe completed the field trip, and we all headed back home where dry clothes awaited.
Other interesting highlight of the day: Pineapple and grapefruit soda. Sounds weird, tastes surprisingly good.