Often Asked Questions

 Q: What if I arrive early?

A: If you are staying in Dublin, we will have a pre-arranged meeting point in the downtown area where we will gather to take the train to Roscommon on June 22nd. Make sure you check in on Facebook to coordinate with other students who are also arriving early, you can explore the city together. 

Q: What if my flight is delayed?

A: There is free Wi-Fi at the airport, so you can reach out to us in various ways; Facebook, e-mail, Whats App, or call us and we will make arrangements. All of our contact information will be coming soon and be posted on our website as time approaches and the directors have activated their Irish phones.

Q: What about jet lag?

A: Yes, this is tough one, but the time change does pass after about 2 to 3 days as you acclimate. We will keep you busy which will lessen the affect, remember we are at a high latitude so the sun goes down rather late in the evening.

Q: How do I communicate with my people back home?

A: There are many ways you can get in touch, beyond the obvious e-mails and postcards, you can bring your phone and download an app, like WhatsApp, which allows you to use the Wi-Fi signal to make phone calls and send messages with others who have the app back home. If you have a good connection you can use any number of chat services: Skype, Google hangouts, and Facebook. You can invest in a “burner phone” to have an actual Ireland phone number on a pay-as-go service. The cost of buying a phone and getting a service contract varies significantly.

Q: Is there internet connections in town?

A: Yes, there is public Wi-Fi at the two pubs in Ballintober. It does get slow when we all converge for dinner, so my advice is to walk over the other pub if you need a faster connection.

Q: Is there internet in the houses?

A: Generally there is no internet in the individual houses, although this might seem crazy, but this is a good thing. You can experiment in disconnecting from the web, social media and instead be locally social with your people closest to you.

Q: Are there other internet possibilities?

A: Yes, you can buy a Wi-Fi hot spot from a local provider that leverages the cell signal network, it can work rather well and can have good bandwidth, although it requires an investment on your part. Not sure of the exact cost, but it can be in the neighborhood of EU200 for the whole set-up.

Q: Is there a nearby “big city” where we can purchase things?

A: Yes, about 30 minutes away is the city of Roscommon, where you can buy that Wi-Fi hot spot, burner phone, rubber boots, fresh bagel, and espresso. It has all the stores you might expect and in the first week we will be traveling to Roscommon Castle on a field trip where you will have an opportunity to make purchases.

Q: Do the houses have kitchens?

A: Yes, all the houses are equipped with all the amenities: stoves, fridges, hot showers, maybe a bath tub or two. 

Q: Is there food in the houses?

A: Yes, on a weekly basis each house creates a list of items for breakfast and lunch that will be passed onto the “food foraging” team who will make purchases and food deliveries. Most reasonable items are purchased, just not the smoked salmon and frozen pizzas. Yes, there is pizza delivery if you feel the urge.

Q: What is the laundry situation like?

A: There are facilities for washing and drying clothes in each house, though keep in mind most Irish people use a clothing line NOT a dryer. This is an archaeological project so we are working mainly outside and less concerned with appearance, however there are Catholic services each week and you may want to visit the local nightlife so a nice set of “go out and be presentable” clothes at the ready is understandable. Last year we went to the local horse races and witnessed the winners of the most beautiful hat contest, many would seem totally in place at the Kentucky Derby!

Q: Are there any issues with living in a rural and socially conservative region?

A: Not really, people are very community oriented, welcoming and curious about our crew of yanks, especially those from California. In classic rural fashion people are very gracious and accepting. 

Q: How much money should I bring with me?

A: First, there are ATMs in the surrounding towns so accessing your account is relatively easy, so there is no need to carry a huge amount of cash. Make sure you contact your bank and let them you’re your traveling, some will flag out-of-country purchases as suspect. This is very easy to do, last year I called my bank from the airport and quickly gave them the heads up. In terms of actual amounts, this would be a good question to ask on Facebook to the returning students who have a much better idea of how much they spent, what is the cost of a meal, a drink, a train ticket. 

Q: Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?

A: Not necessarily, all the houses have bedding but some might want a little extra. There are opportunities to camp out throughout Ireland if this is in your plans. 

Q: How does transportation back to the airport work after the project?

A: In the final week we will organize among the group to see who is going where and compare everyone’s departure times. In groups, we will assist you to local public transportation points, bus stops and train stations where you will travel back to Dublin or wherever you are going. Many people will set out to other destinations like Galway where there is a large festival the weekend after the project ends. Our housing on the last day of the program, so everyone cleans their spaces and packs their bags in preparation for life beyond sweet little Ballintober.

What did I forget? 

If I left something out please post your question to the Facebook page and among the group we can start a discussion and response.