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About Megan Marples

I am a student at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in Phoenix, Arizona. I am working toward earning my degree in journalism and my minor in tourism management. I will be graduating in December 2019 and staying on for an additional year to complete my master's in journalism in December 2020. I am also a student at Barrett, The Honors College.

 

My focus is in multimedia travel journalism. I write stories, take photographs, shoot video, produce podcasts and build websites with interactive elements. I also have covered a wide variety of topics, from sports to concerts to restaurant openings. I currently intern at Phoenix New Times, writing for the arts and culture and food sections. 

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My goal is to gain more real-world experience in travel journalism by working for media outlets like CNN, Travel Channel, and National Geographic. I want to continue contributing to the way readers and consumers digest information, plan their travels and learn about the world. 

 

In my free time, I enjoy traveling to different countries and exploring their heritage sites. I have been to Ireland multiple times and keep coming back for the breathtaking views and friendly locals. 

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I am currently based out of Phoenix, Arizona.

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For more information, please visit meganmarples.com

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Itinerary

Day 1

Thursday, December 6

  • 9am: Dublin City Center to Airfield Estate

  • 2:30pm: Airfield Estate back to Dublin City Center

  • 6pm: Dublin city center to The Brazen Head Pub

    • -storytelling with Irish Folk Tours

  • 9pm: The Brazen Head Pub back to Dublin City Center

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Taking videos of sheep at Airfield Estate.

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A wet path on Howth Loop Trail.

Day 2

Friday, December 7

  • 9am: Dublin City Center to Howth

    • Hike Howth Loop Trail

  • 3pm: Howth to Dublin City Center

  • 6pm: Walk to Celtic Nights near O’Connell Street

  • 10pm: Finish at Celtic Nights and walk back to hotel

A rainbow after the rain on the trail.

Day 3

Saturday, December 8

  • 9am: Dublin City Center to St. Anne’s Park

    • St. Anne’s has old ruins, hilly terrain and a farmer’s market

  • 3pm: St. Anne’s Park to Grafton Street

    • Grafton Street has a wide variety of shopping. O'Connell has some shopping too.

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A tower at St. Anne's Park

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O'Connell Street at night.

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Temple Bar in central Dublin.

Day 4

Sunday, December 9

  • 9am: Spend the morning in Dublin City Center

    • Visit Queen of Tarts, a local bake shop, and Temple Bar

  • 1pm: Catch train from Dublin to Cork at Heuston Station

  • 4pm: Arrive in Cork. Explore downtown shopping

Cake and tea at Queen of Tarts.

Day 5

Monday, December 10

  • 7am: Take a bus from Cork to Cashel

  • 9am: Arrive at the Rock of Cashel

  • 2pm: Take a bus from Cashel to Cahir

  • 2:20pm: Arrive in Cahir. Walk to Cahir Castle.

  • 4:20pm: Take bus from Cahir to Cork

  • 6pm: Arrive in Cork

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A wall at Cahir Castle.

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The north side of Rock of Cashel.

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A river in Killarney National Park.

Day 6

Tuesday, December 11

  • 8:55am: Take train from Cork to Killarney

  • 10:20am: Arrive in Killarney. Take a car or bike to Muckross Abbey

  • 2:30pm: Take bus from Killarney back to Cork

  • 4pm: Arrive in Cork

    • Check out the English Market

The English Market in Cork.

Day 7

Wednesday, December 12

  • 9am: Bus from Cork to Blarney Castle

  • 9:30am: Arrive at Blarney Castle

  • 12:30pm: Walk from Blarney Castle to Blarney Woolen Mills

  • 1pm: Bus back to Cork

  • 1:30pm: Arrive in Cork

  • 2:15pm: Take bus from Cork to Limerick

  • 4pm: Arrive in Limerick. Walk to Miss Marples Tea Rooms

  • 4:30pm: Arrive at Miss Marples Tea Rooms

  • 5:15pm: Leave Miss Marples Tea Rooms

  • 5:45pm: Arrive at bus stop. Eat dinner.

  • 6:25pm: Bus from Limerick to Galway

  • 8:45pm: Arrive in Galway

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The entrance to Blarney Woolen Mills.

Conducting interviews at Blarney Castle

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A path in the Merlin Woods.

Day 8

Thursday, December 13

  • 9am: Bus from Eyre Square to Merlin Woods

  • 9:30am: Arrive at Merlin Woods

  • 2pm: Leave Merlin Woods. Take bus back to Eyre Square

  • 2:30pm: Arrive in Eyre Square. Walk around the City Centre

Merlin Tower in Merlin Woods.

Day 9

Friday, December 14

  • 9:30am: Take Aran Island Ferries bus from Eyre Square to Ros a’ Mhíl

  • 10:30am: Arrive in Ros a’ Mhíl. Take ferry to Inishmore

  • 11:30am: Arrive on Inishmore. Take bus to Dún Aonghasa.

  • 12pm: Arrive at Dún Aonghasa.

  • 1:30pm: Leave Dún Aonghasa. Ride bus to Seven Churches

  • 1:45pm: Arrive at Seven Churches

  • 2pm: Leave Seven Churches for ferry port

  • 5pm: Ferry leaves for Ros a’ Mhíl.

  • 6pm: Take bus back to Eyre Square

  • 7pm: Arrive at Eyre Square

Conducting an interview at Dún Aonghasa.

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The cliffs at Dún Aonghasa.

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Day 10

Saturday, December 15

  • 12:30pm Take bus from Galway to Dublin Airport. Depart to next destination.

Paris, my next stop after Ireland.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to my thesis director Sarah Muench and my second reader Dr. Dallen Timothy. Also thank you to the following individuals, who without their help, this project would not have been possible.

Caroline Stanley | Frankie O'Connor | Cillian de Grás | Kostas Karkaletsis | Spyros Kontostavlos | Irene McGrane | Colm O'Driscoll | Collette Fitsmaurice | Evan Fitzmaurice | Ronan Kenny | Catherine Carr | Seán Forde | Peter O'Toole | Gina Schriver | Eleanor Morrissey | Jacob Goodrich | Paul O'Sullivan | Colum Murphy | Karen Durand | Helena Byrne | Johnny Daly | Niamh McMahon | Gary O’Brien

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