Work Experience

Every Tuesday, instead of school, I go to the Dunbrody Famine Ship to work as a tour guide and cashier from 10-4. The Dunbrody was a ship that carried passengers from Ireland, Co.Wexford specifically, to America because of the famine in Ireland that started in 1845 and lasted about 6-7 years. So, on my first week there I met two tour guides that I would work with, Jason and Frank. Jason is very eccentric and lively and does all of his tours differently, and he reminded me few times on my first day the "every tour is different because every person is different." Frank is a little older and does his tours by the book and all of his tours are the same. Both of them are excellent tour guides but with completely different styles. I met another person-Kevin. Kevin is the son of Sean Reidy, the manager of the Dunbrody, and his brother, Peter is also a tour guide. Kevin looks a bit like a pirate, and talks like one too, but he has a good heart and works really hard. On my first day, Kevin walked in and said "what is Pocahontas doing sitting' on my stool." Then Frank then said that he christens everyone with a new name, Frank is "big boss man," and Jason has a new name everyday. So then Frank properly introduced me saying "This is Kevin," to which Kevin said, "I'm not Kevin," to which I said, "Hello Not-Kevin," christening him right back.
These past 3 weeks have been really slow which is good for me because every big tour is scheduled, s and all the unscheduled tours are small groups or couples. This is really good because I'm able to learn how to give tours and ring people up step by step. The first day I was given a sheet which will act as my script for the tour, and  just tagged along as a tourist on the tours. However, by the second week, I was able to pitch in at times to give bits of information to the tour. And this last Tuesday, I gave almost half the tour! Jason was really impressed and said that we must "toast with toast" up at the Dunbrody cafe that sits above the front desk and souvenir area. I really enjoy working at the Dunbrody because I love learning about people's lives, and I'm a bit of a show-off if I know something someone else doesn't, so I can have the opportunity to show my knowledge without being rude :).
Aoife

The Dunbrody

 Me at the desk where people buy souvenirs and tickets for the tours

My interview for the job with Sean Reidy, who was very interesting and had a lot of stories about when the Kennedy's came to New Ross last year.