The party doesn’t stop after the Ceilidh. Join us and the Seoul Gaels in the Wolfhound, Itaewon from 9pm on Saturday, October 18th for a night of Ceol and Craic. If you can sing, dance, read a poem, come along and join in!
Tag Archives: seoul
The Ceilidh 2014
There’s no place like home.
The following is an account by Donal Ormsby, winner of the grand prize in our St. Patrick’s Day raffle. He and his wife won return tickets to Ireland sponsored by Etihad Airways
I’m sure it doesn’t cross many people’s minds to spend their summer holidays’ lying at home with their parents and family, but for my wife Rosie and I, it was a holiday that we will never forget.
Ireland is where we call home and it always will be, but we had not stepped foot on the sacred soil for almost a year and to us it felt like a lifetime. We were so excited and could hardly contain ourselves as we landed at Dublin Airport to be greeted by our tearful relatives. A quick (fantastically Irish, lots of milk) cup of tea later and we were on the road back to our homes.
The next ten days were just amazing. We got to meet 3 new nieces that had been born in the year that we had been away. Brenna, Rosa and Elyse were as beautiful and funny as we had imagined. We got to spend time with our 2 very large families and all their children. We had a joint birthday party for my mum (65) and myself (30). We also had a party for Rosie’s sister Siobhan who is moving to Barcelona. It was a fun filled 10 days that went in far too quickly. We had left Ireland just 3 days after our wedding day, and, in fact, our wedding day was the last time we saw most of our family. It was an emotional journey home for everyone. Leaving again was very difficult.
We really loved our time at home. We would like to thank The Irish Association of Korea, Seoul Gaels and Etihad Airways for making our summer one of the most memorable we have had.
There is no place like home.
One month in Dublin by Choi In Gyeong.
The following is a piece written by Ms. Ingyeong Choi, winner of the Ireland Korea essay competition about her month in Ireland. We would like to take a chance to thank our sponsors, Etihad Airways, Emerald Cultural language Institute in Dublin and the Embassy of Ireland, Korea and Listowel Writers’ Week for their continued support.
Winning the Ireland Korea essay competition was one of the luckiest things that has happened to me this year. I spent one month in Dublin as the prize.
For the first two weeks, I had hard time getting used to the longer daytime of June in Ireland. It was bright from 5 a.m. till 10 p.m. I usually cannot wake up in the morning without an alarm, but the early sunshine opened my eyes automatically. Besides jetlag, that made me keep yawning during the English class in the Emerald Cultural institute, for some time.
My daily routine in Dublin was attending the Emerald Cultural Institute, a language school, which was part of the prize. What I was looking forward to was meet diverse people from around the world and I did. There were a lot of students who had different reasons to study English: a French surgeon, a Venezuelan official, English teacher from the Czech Republic and Italy, students from Japan, Uruguay, Brazil, Russia, and Spain. Could I imagine conversing with someone from Latin America, before leaving Korea? It was exciting to share ideas in English with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
I took two classes in the mornings, grammar and conversation. The teachers were experienced and gave out interesting topics to discuss. In the afternoon, I participated in an extra conversation class, where I freely talked in a smaller group.
During the classes I learned that I needed to learn more vocabulary and natural English expressions. One month study was not enough time to perfect my English, but the time left me eager to keep practicing English. Learning a language was never-ending, I thought.
On weekends, I went on trips outside Dublin, short excursions to Dun Laoghaire and the Wicklow Mountains. Also, I went on day tours to the Cliffs of Moher and the Giant’s Causeway. It was possible to travel from Dublin to the west coast or to the north end within a day. The prevailing scenes outside Dublin were so green. Indeed, I was in the Emerald isle.
The memorable scenes in the Dublin city were street artists and buskers. There was always music in the Grafton street and the Temple bar. The buskers are from a teenage boy to an old man. The music ranged from modern rock to harp melody. The street musicians made up a unique vibe in Dublin.
Also, pubs. There were pubs everywhere in Dublin. In the wooden interior, with nice music, drinks, and some good company, pubs are perfect places where you can feel alive.
I had heard a lot about Guinness before visiting Ireland, but I didn’t know Irish butter was so good. I found that Irish butter was superb. My host mother proudly said that it was because Irish butter was fresh.
It is difficult to generalize people of a country, but I had an impression that Irish people liked to dance. On a Saturday night, there was an old man singing and playing the guitar on the Temple bar. An Irish girl jumped in front of him and started to dance. She was quite a good dancer and people around started to sway to the music too. Once, on the Henry Street, I saw a pair of girls dancing to the street music in the middle of the day. Once, in a pub too. I guess good music brings some moves from people, but I witnessed it more often in Dublin.
I think I will always recall Dublin with its buskers. Ireland had many charms. The one month I spent there was stimulating. I felt one month was too short.
At the Emerald Cultural Institute with teacher Desmond
Landscapes of Ireland
Dun Laoghaire
The Cliffs of Moher
The Giant’s Causeway
On the way to Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland
Irish Food
Seafood chowder& bread and butter
Irish coffee has whisky and thick cream in it
Guinness beef pie & some chicken dish
Leprechaun on the Grafton street
RASKB-Blue Dalmation photography workshop series
Or very own Tom Coyner is hosting this series of workshops. All the details are here;
RASKB-Blue Dalmatian Workshop series begins on Saturday, May 24th, 7:00 pm.
Please note we reserve the right to switch around the topics by month, based on workshop participants’ and facilitators’ preferences and requirements. But as things stand, we have scheduled the following workshops:
May 24 – Getting to Know Your Digital Equipment – review of proper use of the basics and intro to the rarely used functions, including those used by professionals, that make up 90% of most equipment’s features. This first workshop is priced with an introductory 50% discount.June 21(?) – Korean Landscapes (field trip workshop): basics and handling unique Korean challengesJuly – Informal Portraitures: basics and cultural nuancesAugust – Street Photography – Gangnam Style: dealing with Korean strangers on the streets of GangnamSeptember – Lighting & Color: controlling and creating photo environments in KoreaOctober – On-site Application of What’ve Learned at Gyeongbug-gung (field trip workshop)November – Evaluating One’s Own and Other’s Photo PortfoliosDecember – Exhibition: Seoul location to be determinedFuture/Concurrent Workshops:* Fine Art Photography (workshop series)* Applying Leadership Skills to Your Photography (single workshop)* Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, etc. 3- and/or 5-day Photography Workshops (from 2015)
One does not need to participate in all or even a majority of the workshops. However, regular participation is rewarded by having professional photo critiques by Sang, an experienced photographic arts professor, which will take place during each subsequent workshop’s review of the past month’s photographic challenge photo assignment.
Map and directions to the Workshop (may also be seen at https://www.facebook.com/BlueDalmatianPhoto):Spring Studio in the basement of 107-12 Nonhyeon 2-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
WALKING DIRECTIONS (5 minutes total): Come out Exit 3 of Gangnam-gu Office subway station on (Olive) Line 7. Go straight, with the street on one’s left. Pass the first alley (Hakdong 47-gil) and go 1 short block to Hakdong 45-gil (separates a coffee shop from a pharmacy). Turn right on Hakdong 45-gil, and go down the hill to a T-intersection facing the 우림 Motel. Take a left and go up the hill to just one block short of the main intersection at the top of the hill. Turn right at a multi-story noodle store on the right, on to Hakdong 41-gil alley. Go 3 short blocks. The studio is in the basement of a four-story building on the right with a coffee shop on the first (ground) floor.
Please bring your camera with you to the May 24th workshop!
Please bring your friends to the workshops – but kindly have them to register with Tom Coyner first at tomcoyner@gmail.com or by phone at 010-9099-6195!
The first 3-hour workshop, that starts from 7:00 pm, on Saturday, May 24, in Nonhyon-dong (Gangnam), is W50,000, or W45,000 for RAS members. The subsequent workshops will also be 3 hours long at double that fee rate. We are building the workshop series so that the total value will be greater than the sum of the individual workshops through ongoing individual monthly photo challenges/critiques. There will be a photo exhibition of the workshop’s photographs in December. In any case, people pay at the door in cash at each workshop.
The workshops are being led by Sang-Bum Lim, a bilingual Korean fine arts photographer who studied 6 years at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California as well as worked as a commercial photographer and journalist in the US. He is now teaching at Daegu Arts University and Choong-Ang University. He has almost 20 years teaching experience. I have been doing photography for 40 years and have taught workshops for the Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch and the US Embassy in Korea.
The workshops are very much individual photographer oriented so as to be able to provide genuine value at amateur to professional skill levels.
The first workshop will take place in a professional studio and we will return there for portraits workshop later this year. I will uniquely dominate this first workshop, but Sang will take over the workshop at the end. The first half of the workshop will be a presentation on the latest trends in digital gear as well as tricks and tips that the professionals use in their shooting that most amateurs are unaware. Following that, Sang and I will consult each participation on questions and issues regarding current and possible future equipment. Sang will then give a presentation on his fine art and documentary photography. We will conclude the evening with Sang assigning a photographic challenge for the participants to take on during the coming four week. Optionally, following the formal session, we will have a survey of the local beer found near the workshop location.
All participants will receive a 70+-page PDF equipment and tips guide that is reviewed during on the workshop.
Most of the future workshops will be outside, with a strong “hands on” orientation with Sang and me working closely with individuals. The first workshop will be focusing on people being adequately up to speed with their digital equipment There will be a lecture on some of the less obvious basics, some not well known tricks employed by seasoned professionals, extensive one-on-one cons
Sang and I look forward to meeting you all on May 24th.
Tom Coyner
Onsite Studios Asia
studio-quality photography
tel: +82-10-9099-6195
HBC Festival 2014- The Irish acts.
The HBC festival is happening this weekend, May 16th, 17th and 18th. The entire schedule and run down of acts can be found on their website.
Here are some acts involving our very own Irish….
Friday: Magna Fall will p lay at 11pm in Philly´s Basement
Friday: Ceolteori Seoul will play in VFW at 11pm
Saturday; Baekma will play in Rabbit Hole at 8pm
We´ll keep the list updated as we get the details.
Jameson Brand Ambassador- position available
May 12th 2014
*Ideal candidate would be fluent in written and spoken Korean. Candidates an be of any nationality, preferably Irish or Korean.
Job Title : Jameson Brand Ambassador (Korea market specific)
Recommended Korean title :제임슨한국홍보대사
Reports to:Modern Spirits Brand Manager
Training will be held in Ireland for Jameson for 5 weeks(TBC)
Person who plans to stay in Korea for long-time
| Main Objectives of Job |
|
| Roles & Responsibilities |
Assist Brand Manager with developing event & promotion aligned with global activities Global and new activities update & communication with global brand ambassador and others from different countries
brand education and easy mixed drink for key opinion leader and consumers new drinking ritual, mixology
relationship with key account owners and bar staffs communicate brand image and sales increase Branded item status check
Competitor activities, promotion daily visit to different venues with weekly report (list of venues, key market update, picture) consumer needs + trend key men/bartender needs + trend competitor activities drinking ritual + mixology trend new brand in market Modern spirits promotion idea development in SMOT Branding status check Monthly report of all information
|
| Communication with | |
| InternalBrand ManagerSales representative
Jameson Regional Manager Other related internal dept. if necessary |
ExternalVenue Owners/CustomersBartenders
Consumers |
Temporary position available in Embassy of Ireland, Seoul
Job opening
Temporary post as Attaché
Embassy of Ireland, Republic of Korea
The Embassy of Ireland in Seoul is seeking applications for a temporary position of Attaché.
The Attaché will undertake a range of activities across the political, trade and administrative areas. Responsibilities will include coordinating and managing projects at the Embassy including visits and events; planning and participation in meetings; monitoring and reporting on political developments; supporting the representation of Irish trade interests and ensuring the smooth running of the administrative functions of the Embassy.
Requirements for the Post
The successful candidate will have:
– A third level qualification;
– Good interpersonal skills;
– The ability to work well in a team and under pressure;
– Strong skills in project management, analysis and report writing, customer service;
– Knowledge of Ireland, its history, culture, political systems and current government policies;
– A strong interest in and knowledge of, Korean current affairs including domestic policies, international relations, inter-Korean policies and international trade agreements;
– Interest in EU structures and policies
Previous relevant work experience and knowledge of the Korean language will be taken into account when applications are assessed.
Application Process
Please submit:
– A CV of not more than 2 pages including contact details for two referees
– A letter setting out your interest and suitability for the position (max 1 page)
Application should be submitted by email to heejeong.kim@dfa.ie or by post addressed to Attaché Competition, Embassy of Ireland, 13 F Leema Bldg, 42 Jong-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-755 by 5pm on Wednesday 7 May.
A shortlist of candidates will be called for interview on the basis of the information supplied. Interviews are scheduled to take place during the week of 12 May and may be conducted by video conference, if necessary. No travel expenses will be payable for interviews
Contractual Information
Gross Salary: KRW 4,900,000 per month
Location: Embassy of Ireland, Seoul
Hours of Work: generally 09.00-17.45. The hours of attendance are based on a working week of not less than 43.25 hours. However, given the nature of the role, a considerable degree of flexibility will be required, including some evening duties.
The contract period will be for a period of up to 11 months. There is no entitlement to civil service status. On completion of the contract the attaché will be precluded from internship positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs either in Ireland or abroad.
The successful applicant will be required to provide a medical certificate.
Persons who have availed of recent incentivised early retirement or voluntary redundancy schemes in the Irish public service are not eligible to take part in this competition. Applications will be required to complete a declaration confirming this. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to an Irish public service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Irish public service employment and/or where they have received a payment in-lieu in respect of service in any public service employment.
The Embassy of Ireland is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.
Seoul St. Patrick’s Day in pictures.
From Stephanie Anglemyer- http://www.anklebiterphotos.com
Bringing an ancient Irish Tradition to South Korea
‘Did you hear the one about…?’ That’s all you need to gather listeners in Ireland. Storytelling has always been a big part of life in pubs, kitchens, and playgrounds round Ireland.
Storytelling is the flagship of Irish folklore and our famous oral tradition is exemplified in famous storytellers and ancient mythical tales of bravery, discovery and knowledge.
Legends tended, and still tend, to be told on a more informal basis – in the fields, over the kitchen table, at the pub – and do not need any specialised skill or knowledge in their telling.
Today the art of seancaithe (tradition bearers) and scéalaí (storytellers) is being revived in festivals and events all over Ireland and we are excited to bring these stories to our festival here in Korea.
As part of the Seoul St. Patrick’s Day Festival this year on March 15th, we will be sharing this huge part of Irish culture and history. We have put together an amazing team of volunteer storytellers who can be found in The Irish Village between 1pm and 4pm retelling some of the most famous Irish folk-tales and hero-tales.
The stories that will be told on the day include; Oisin, The Children of Lir, thew Salmon of KNowledge, The King with Donkey Ears, The Giant from Scotland and of course the story of Ireland’s patron Saint, Saint Patrick.
Irish Association of Korea 한국아일랜드협회 