Dia Dhuit!
..or, Hello, if you happen to not speak Gaeilge. Only about one in five people in Ireland speak this traditional language, but it’s still an integral part of the culture, printed on the top of all traffic signs and spoken during certain hours on live television. This mixture of traditional and modern life is prevalent not only in the language but also in the architecture, the food and the live music escaping from Temple Bar pubs at almost any time of day or night. This is why I chose to spend my summer here, to experience the unique style that makes Dublin such a lovely place to be.
More specifically, I came to work in the fashion industry using my Merchandising Management degree. Most of my friends are completing summer internships in the Northwest but I wanted to do something different and have been interested in fashion for as long as I can remember. This, combined with my desire to travel, led me to choose an internship abroad with IE3 Global Internships. My internship is with Europe’s most successful regeneration project in Ballymun, which was created out of necessity during the 1960s, where high rises were built to house residents but virtually no jobs or malls were built to support the new population. This bad planning led to poverty and everything that comes with it.
Ballymun Regeneration Limited was created in 1997 to rebuild the area, and there are multiple schemes under it, including the Rediscovery Centre. Specifically, I am helping to open the Rediscovery Centre Eco Store, a boutique which incorporates multiple projects and will be selling recreated furniture, home goods and clothing and accessories made from completely recycled materials. 
Currently I am completing a guidebook for running the store, including everything from a product list to emergency information. In the next seven weeks, I will be doing a bit of Public Relations and will probably work a few festivals, which are really popular in Ireland and the UK during the summer.
The overall atmosphere is very relaxed. Even though my work site is starting a huge project, there is virtually no stress, which I definitely prefer because I can think clearly and express my ideas more freely. I am surprised at how “at home” I feel here, like part of a little family in my internship, which is so much more than I could have asked for. I am excited to watch the store grow, as well as my experience and knowledge about Ireland during the next seven weeks.
Until then, Cheers!
Erin Davis
http://erindavisgobragh.blogspot.com/
