I'm loving Ulster-Scots!

I just have to say what an awesome time I'm having on this trip!  We spent the whole day with Maynard Hanna.  He really had us meet with some great people.

After breakfast we headed out to the office of the Ulster-Scots Agency in Franklin House.  They are in the process of moving to a new location but we met there anyway.  In the morning we met with Michael and Ian who work with the Heritage Council.  They really helped us with the culture of Ireland and were eager to pick our brains about how things are perceived outside of Ulster.  We learned about the music and how it tends to be more organized with fife bands or accordion bands that rehearse weekly; as opposed to the Republic with their "sessiuns".  There was also an opinion expressed about where funding for integration should occur.  (Some people see the money being put into middle class areas where those children will meet each other in things such as sports organizations while the working class are left out and they won't have that opportunity to meet and be social.  It reminded me a great deal of "No Child Left Behind" and where the funding goes for that...instead of going to the schools that aren't doing well so they can improve, the money goes to the affluent schools that are doing well, that don't really need the help to improve.)  We also learned about the reevers and that the words "freelance", "blackmail", "bereaved" and "red 

handed" come from Ulster-Scots.

We then left the Agency to have a spot of lunch with Lord Laird, a Member of Parliament in Westminster at Schomberg House.  It was really interesting to see others talk about the Protestant side of things.  There are many many things I never understood about this side of "The Troubles".  I had a few very tasty prawn sandwiches for lunch....mmmmmm.... and we chatted and had the

 viewpoint put to us again.  There is no end to how amazed I am about how well people over here know our American history.  They are very proud of the Ulster-Scots that came to America.  And th

ey should be with all the great things they have accomplished.

A tour of the exhibit of the Grand Orange Lodge was given to us by Dr. David Humes.  He really knew what he was talking about and told us a rather unbiased history of the Order.  We also had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Cahill.  Kevin had a rather interesting take on the conflict because he was actually born in the Republic and works with the Order.  He was very passionate about the fact that the IRA never met with the South to determine a course of action in the North and he considers their actions terrorism.

After this wonderful meeting with chatted more with Maynard.  They are really treating us well.  Our meals have been covered while we're with him and they gave us all kinds of promotional materials (a hat, backpack, jacket and a hat and portable radio from Fuse FM).  Maynard took us to a chipper called Ena's on Sandy Row right after showing us the new offices.

We have a group meeting tonight and tomorrow we head to the Giant's Causeway!!