The Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience

I think one of the first times I ever visited the Dunbrody was when I was about 10/11 in primary school, when our big yearly school trip was to New Ross. My second trip to the Dunbrody was when I was probably around the same age and had convinced my parents to take me back and well my 101 trip (possible slight exaggeration) happened just the other day at the age of 22 and for me it was still as special as it was all those years ago. 

At the risk of sounding 'uncool' history is one of my biggest passions in life hence why The Dunbrody has always been one of my favourite attractions in the sunny south east so when my friend Karen told me she had never been it was pedal to the floor as we headed for one of my all time favourite places on earth.

For those of you like Karen and living under a rock, The Dunbrody was a ship built way

back in 1845 for the merchant family the  'Graves' of New Ross, Co.Wexford, built as a cargo ship it happened to launch the same year the Famine struck Ireland. With the potato crop failing and food prices soaring it drove millions of starving Irish across the Atlantic in search of a better life in America. With so many people leaving and demand high 'William Graves & Son' used their entrepreneurial skills and decided to deck the ship out with bunks to meet the demand of passengers and for six years between 1845 - 1851 she carried thousands of emigrants to a better life in America.
  Life on board the ship was treacherous, with up to 300 people on board disease was rampant and death wasn't unlikely it wasn't long before the Dunbrody became known as a 'coffin ship'.

The Great Famine or An gorta mor, in Irish was one of the most tragic and traumatic events to ever happen in Irish history and if you can walk onto that ship, hear the stories, meet the people and not get shivers... then you've a heart of coal.

Now onto the actual tour and experience, I travelled up from Waterford so it's literally a straight road and took about half an hour. Traffic can be mental coming from Waterford to New Ross so make sure to give yourself plenty of time and it can be even worse coming from New Ross to Waterford so brace yourself.We arrived for the 3.45 tour but tours run from 9.45am to 5pm daily. Admission is €10 for an adult and €6 for a child/student which is a great price and well worth it.One of my favourite things about the Dunbrody experience is the ticket you get on arrival, it's an actual replica of the ticket passengers would have received when they booked their one way ticket to America. The attention to detail is outstanding and it gets you thinking about what it must have been like holding that ticket ready to leave your family and home behind.  The first part of the tour is self guided as you pass through a museum of history, reading actual letters written by passengers, seeing what they had to eat just stepping back in time before we watched a little video, it almost transports you back to 1845 and as the shutters are opened and you're facing the Dunbrody it's almost impossible not to get a little lump at the back of your throat. 

 Our tour guide was a man named Mark and from the word go I couldn't fault him, one of the most informative tours I've ever been on, it was a pleasure to listen to him and straight away you felt comfortable and relaxed, able to ask any question you want without a bother. Big props to him!!

The next part of the tour is actually boarding the replica ship and being showed around the deck. It's pure madness!!! I couldn't explain it to you but seeing how small the area is and hearing the stories of what went on on board..CRAZY!!
Then you move downstairs into the cabin area, you get to see where Steerage and first class stayed and believe you and me it was anything but glamorous. When you think of what those poor people went through it would break your heart. The next, and probably best part of the tour is when you get to go back in time and meet two passengers who are still on board the Dunbrody. One steerage and one first class, you get to hear their stories and see their life and the actors who play these women are incredible. It was a different lady playing Ann White this time around but I loved it.
 The last and final part of the tour is when you're left alone to explore and take pictures on the ship, you can see which passenger slept where, go into the first class quarters and just really see how these people lived, it's a mystery how any survived!!

And so there you have it, my review on The Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience. I've loved this ship since I was a child and I guarantee you will love it too. Irish History is something I feel should be celebrated so much more and where better to start than with the Famine.
 Whilst down in this part of the country there's so much more you can do especially if you're like me and love being a tourist for the day. If you're heading back towards Waterford then take a tour of the Waterford Crystal factory and then head out for a walk on Tramore beach. However if you're heading the other way then head down to one of my favourite parts of the country, the Hook Peninsula. There you can visit Hook Head lighthouse or my personal favourite Loftus Hall, which you can read my experience about here..
 I really hope you enjoyed this post and let me know what you think too.

Iskra Lawrence Interview

For me, the best part of blogging or any area of the media industry is the interviewing side. There's nothing I rather than getting the opportunity to chat to new, interesting people and there's sometimes I literally have to pinch myself for having the opportunity to interview people I genuinely look up too and my first interview of 2016 is with a young woman I idolise and that's UK model Iskra Lawrence.

 A couple of months ago as I scrolled through instagram I came across a picture of a girl I had never seen before lifting some pretty heavy weights and thought to myself 'Wow, what a woman' so I went onto her page and learned she was a UK model living in New York called Iskra Lawrence and she's a pretty big deal with a huge instagram following of 791k people.  I couldn't get over how amazing she was sharing her workout videos, inspiring posts and teaching girls about being comfortable in their own skin and what Iskra prides herself on is not retouching her photographs embracing her curves and even her cellulite she's also known as the next Kim K with her extraordinary booty, I hope you enjoy my interview with the lovely Iskra Lawrence.

Little Piece Of Lynda: You began modelling at the age of 13, but was it always your dream to become a model?

Iskra Lawrence: My mother actually entered me into Elle girl search for a supermodel as she knew I loved fashion but at that point I actually dreamt of being a ‘brain surgeon’. But as soon as I got taste for modelling I loved working with creative teams, getting my hair and makeup done and getting ‘dressed up’ and styled.

LPL: Was it always modelling or was there ever any other career options?

Iskra: I have wanted to be numerous ‘things’ from dancer to owning a car garage to becoming an architect. I wish growing up more children were told not what do you want to do when you’re older in singular terms but let them know they can try hundreds of different career paths throughout life. I haven’t been to college or university because I wanted to model and it was my sole focus. Maybe I’ll go back to university however right now I’m very fulfilled and love what I do and I try very hard to be humble ask for help and learn off everyone I meet.

LPL: You recently took the plunge to move from your home in the UK to NYC what made you decide to pack up and begin your new adventure?

Iskra: I have dreamt of living in NY since i was 15 and went on a school trip. I love a challenge and to create situations that put me out of my comfort zone and force me to grow. So as soon as the agency I had read so much about and was desperate to be signed by asked to represent me I had no doubt in my mind I was going. I wasn’t worried about leaving because I knew I could always come back and there are no failures in life only lessons.

LPL: You landed your first big break by landing the untouched campaign with Aerie but how did that come about for you? Has it changed your life much?
Iskra: There was a couple of casting rounds, one of which was a filmed question about your favourite body part. Not only did the Aerie campaign change my career forever it made me believe that anything was possible and increased my confidence ten fold because I wasn’t retouched and they booked me for being me not my measurements.

LPL: You're now run one of my favourite websites 'Runway Riot'  but for people who have never heard of the website how would you describe it?

Iskra: RunwayRiot is the fashion, style, and beauty site for women of all sizes. We are dedicated to serving an underrepresented and often overlooked community ​of curvier women ​who deserve to have just as many stylish choices as everyone else. Every editorial fashion spread you see will be 100% unretouched. And we hope to encourage healthy body image in the fashion industry and positively impact those women who may have felt excluded before, because we celebrate that everybody is beautiful.

LPL: Iskra how different is it living in the USA compared to the UK?
Iskra: NYC is extremely fast paced compared to the UK. It’s such a small island so it’s intense but I love it because it drives me to work hard and play hard.

LPL: How did you go about getting your body into the shape it is in now?
Iskra: I didn’t change or alter my body shape I focused on health and fitness and becoming the best version of me.

LPL: The Booty Iskra, it's one of the biggest talking points surrounding you but were you born with the curves or were they born in the gym?
Iskra: I have always had an hourglass shape and I learnt to embrace it and find ways to workout that worked for my body and over time I became curvier through exercise and eating more

LPL: What advice would you give people hoping to tone up or loose weight?
Iskra: I would encourage people to stop looking to ‘lose weight’ I don’t believe in diets I believe that the focus should be your body’s and mind's health. When you begin to research nutrition and try workouts that your body responds well to if you have the goal to be the fittest strongest version of yourself you will naturally shed fat.

LPL: What is a typical day like for Iskra Lawrence?
Iskra: In NYC I wake up make a juice either go to a photo shoot or if I’m not shooting I’ll catch up on emails and social media, do some interviews go to about 3 meetings, film for RR or write my self-care piece. I usually eat out with my girls a couple of times a week and go to the cinema or the club once or twice a week.

LPL: What's your gym playlist like?
Iskra: I love hip-hop, rap and some house music.

LPL: Can you tell us something about yourself that no one else knows?

Iskra: I have a balloon phobia it’s terribly embarrassing lol

LPL: Was there ever a time in a career that you felt like giving up, what made you keep going?

Iskra: Yes from 14-18 I just thought I would get by modelling doing small jobs but never ‘make it’. I was doing my A-levels and just seeing where it went. But the more rejections I received and body scrutiny I realised that there was no one representing girls my size and it motivated to be that change.

LPL: What are your top tips for looking and feeling good?

Iskra: You decide your worth not the mirror, a man or the media. So wake up and love that you’re you, one of a kind and give your gift to the world no one else can - you!

LPL: Is there anything else left in this world that you'd still like to achieve?

Iskra: Sooooooo much I haven’t even scraped the surface I have a huge announcement coming soon. I also want to have a TED talk, make compulsory self-care classes in schools and have my own nutritional baking show. There’s a lot more but I’m taking it one step at a time there is no rush.

LPL: And finally Iskra with you being half Irish (I know lads, we can claim her as our own) do you like Ireland and do you come back often?

Iskra: HAHA yes my mom and her whole family is from Ballymena in NI I try and visit once a year - love it! :)

And there you have it, my exclusive interview with model Iskra Lawrence, I'm literally still in shock I got to interview Iskra with it being a real dream come true for me. Huge thanks to Iskra for answering these questions and Gary for setting the interview up.

Of course you can keep up to date with everything Iskra in the following ways: 

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/iskralawrence
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/iamiskra
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/iskralawrence
VK http://vk.com/iskralawrence

I hope you enjoyed this little piece of Iskra :)

Bring Me To The States: 10 places I Want To Go To In America

There's something about America that excites almost everyone and I am no different. It's not a place I could ever see myself moving permanently but that being said it's on my bucket list to one day touch down in LAX. The idea of America is something in which I for one have completely built up in my head, a complete change in lifestyle, a land where it's actually sunny in June and you can just go to the beach at any time during the day. You can wear flip flops all year round and even scoot around on scooters, not to mention walking into the Kardashian's on a daily basis ... it's the dream life.  

Obviously I'm not stupid and I know that's a complete made up stereotype I have in my head and a day to day life in America would definitely not include scooters, beaches and the Kardashian's but none the less that doesn't stop me drooling about the American life.

There are some places in America which do excite me more than others and if I won the lottery these are the first ten places I'd be booking a flight to: 

1. Los Angeles: The first place I'd be booking my ticket to is without a shadow of a doubt to LAX airport. For as long as I can remember LA has been my dream destination and if I had to live anywhere else in the world this would be the place. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, everything about this place just seems so glam and exciting. I can only imagine how intense it would be to live in a place like LA but it's the dream, with a list the length of my arm of things I want to do like see the Hollywood sign, walk the walk of fame, drive around in a convertible the real cliché things of Los Angeles. 

2. Salem/ Massachusetts: Whilst on my tour of America this place is a must for me. I know, it's not somewhere that's on everyone's bucket list but with my intense love for Halloween and the history of Halloween it's one of my first stops and oh yes you guessed it, ideally at Halloween time. Not only would I want to be in Salem for the history and the witch stories it's also home to my all time favourite film Hocus Pocus so it's a must see, for me.. oh look, I'm a poet and I didn't know it.

3. Vegas Baby: Trust me when I tell you this would be my dream place, but also trust me when I say that this is the place that would destroy me. I am not a gambler by any stretch of the imagination but it's for good reason. If I was to gamble it would not stop at just one scratch card or one game on the slot machines believe me and if I was in Vegas for two nights I could almost guarantee you I'd come home bankrupt and having to sell my house to pay off my debts.. none the less Vegas is on the list!! - I'm already singing Kenny Rogers! 

4. New York City: I'm like every other girl in the world when it comes to NYC and would kill to go there. It's not number one on my list of places to go but it just seems so magical and surreal. From reading 'The Catcher In The Rye' for my leaving cert I always loved the idea of NY and of course as a 'Friends' fan I think I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to go and see times square and to jog around central park. With so much to see and do around New York I don't think you could ever get bored.. as they say, it's the city that never sleeps (and to be fair neither do I so book me in) and of course to walk the streets singing New York Minute!! 

5. Miami: 'I'm In Miami B*tch'  Who wouldn't like to go to Miami? - come on, tell the truth!! EVERYONE WANT'S TO GO TO MIAMI!!!! Growing up watching the likes of Miami Ink I always had a love for the place and that beach!! - To tell you the truth I know NOTHING about Miami except for the beach and for that reason and to sing 'Miami Beach' alone I want to go there!! 

6. Kennedy Space Centre Florida: Whilst I'm already in Florida for Miami I'd have to stop off at the space centre but in reality this is a place I'd come to America alone for. I'm obsessed with anything related to NASA, the moon, stars anything space related so this is a place that is definitely on my bucket list. I've done so much research about this place and it's truly one of my dream places to one day go. 

7.  Honolulu, Hawaii: Ever since watching Hawaii Five O Hawaii has been my dream holiday destination. The beaches, the lights, the palm trees everything about this place is beautiful AND, Alex O'Loughlin aka Steve Mcgarrett aka my dream man just so happens to live there... 

Ohh just one more for the road so...

 8. Chicago: For one reason, and one reason only and that is for Lollapalooza. I can already hear it in my head 'what the hell is Lollapaloza?' well my uncultured friends, Lolla is one of the biggest music festivals in America specifying in Indie/Rock/Dance music, everything I've ever wanted in a festival. 2014's line up included, MGMT, Foster The People, Calvin Harris AND Kings Of Leon.. hello?!! Could I want anymore?!

9. Arizona: This place has fascinated me ever since snapchat covered it for a day and there's just something about the place that make me scream 'TAKE ME TO ARIZONA!!!!!!!!' -Except quietly, and in my head and yano very rarely, but I say it!!
I don't think there's a more perfect place to get away and relax.

10. Nashville: After LA this would be my most desired place to visit in the states. Not only for the reason it's home to my favourite band King Of Leon, and I could sing 'back down south' all day, everyday but the place itself is absolutely amazing!!
 There's something about this southern way of life that makes me wish I was born over there, throwing horse shoes, dancing in barns aggghhh the Nashville life... BRING ME THERE!!!!

So there you have it, my top ten places I want to visit in America.. where would you love to go? 

Let me know below :)

Take Me There: Kennedy Space Centre, Florida

With no extreme love for Florida, but a extreme love for space, the Kennedy Space Centre is the next stop on my 'Take Me There' section, and this is one place I really want you to take me too...
 For me, this would be a dream holiday, not so much Florida, I mean maybe we could go to Miami and then a day trip out to the Space centre, yes that does sound perfect doesn't it!!
I won't lie to you and say I know all about what goes on here, and what we'll actually do here BUT I know we can do a space tour and explore the centre and you can even drive past the launch pad!!!

Not only all that, but we can also do the 'experience' tour where you can feel like you're really in a rocket going to space. AND you can even have lunch with an astronaut, I know why are we still here?!!!!!!

You can do your own research on the website https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/ 

I'll start packing!!