CHAPTER 1

The first chapter is mainly about David Monagan explaining why he and his family took the plunge and moved from a small town in Connecticut to Cork. Ever since he visited Ireland (the place his ancestors fled from) as a student, he has fallen under its spell. The news came as a shock/joke to some of their friends, who didn’t understand why anyone would do such a thing.

VOCAB:
1. with a vengeance – After the dreadful accident the famous footballer is back with a vengeance.
2. disparage – Although my presentation was perfect, she didn’t mind to disparage it.
3. transfix – On hearing that he is going to marry her, I stood transfixed with shock.
4. marshy – The rain was in surplus this summer, which is why the ground is so marshy.

After several hours spent in the town, Monagan says that doubts were already creeping in. I am wondering why. How can he expect that the country will stay the same after several decades? It’s patently obvious that some changes must have taken place and this is what he didn’t take into account.

I did some research on the internet and found something about the education system in the RIL, as well as the Celtic Tiger, cul-de-sac and Cork. I will give you some brief info about it, and more you can find under: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork_City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_Tiger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cul-de-sac

A cul-de sac (bottom of sack) – dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet.

Celtic Tiger (“ the booom”) – name for the period of rapid economic growth in RIL (1990s – 2002).

Cork (Corcaigh) – 2nd largest city of RIL, nickname: The Rebel Country