This past Saturday I traveled to and from Dublin in a single day. How was that possible? Well . . . my destination was Dublin, TX not Dublin, Ireland. Before this trip I never realized Dublin was so close – only an hour and a half by car. The local accent was more Texas twang than Irish lilt, but I still had a lovely time. Thanks to spring rains, the countryside was almost as green as the shamrocks across the pond, and lovely patches of wildflowers bloomed along the roadside to distract me from the drive.
I was invited to Dublin to conduct a writing workshop at the local library as part of the Texas Writes series. Despite the rain that fell all morning, we had a wonderful turnout of about 15 people. I spoke on the topic of using research effectively in fiction and had fun sharing many of my favorite research sources and strategies for incorporating that research organically into a story. Charlotte Gullick from Austin also spoke. Her topic included great ideas for writing your family’s stories.
It’s always a joy to speak at a library surrounded by people who love books. And if I get to travel to the exotic location of Dublin, TX . . . even better! I even broke out my knee-high book socks for the first time since my hubby bought them for me last Christmas. It just doesn’t get any better than that!
Do you have towns in your area that are named after much more famous counterparts?
I knew we had a Paris, TX but until I was invited to speak, I didn’t realize we had a Dublin as well. Apparently we have Edinburg, Florence, Athens, and even London. No wonder Texas is so big. The whole world is here. Ha!
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We have countries in Indiana. Within minutes you can travel from Chile to Brazil to Peru. Since I’m a Spanish teacher, I always point that out to my students.
How fun, Rebecca! Interesting that there is such South American flavor up in the midwest. 🙂
There’s a Hell, Michigan. I’m glad to say I haven’t been to Hell.
Ha! Talk about an awkward hometown name. I feel bad for the residents. Must’ve been an unpleasant place to settle way back in the day when the name began.
I’ve been to Paris ——Texas. 🙂
Just this past weekend we drove through Tightwad, MO where the bank had went bankrupt. LOL
That’s hysterical! 😀 I love colorful town names. Great inspiration for fictional places as well.
When we visit my husband’s grandparents in North Dakota, we like to eat out in Lisbon. Here in Minnesota, we have Oslo, Upsala (as in the city in Sweden), Finland, Luxemburg, Holland, and Milan (though it’s not pronounced the Italian way, but rather ‘MY lan’). And we have Virginia and Wyoming too, for that matter.
With all the Scandinavian immigrants in Minnesota, those names make sense, but it cracks me up that you have Virginia and Wyoming, too. “I’m from Wyoming, Minnesota.” Poor person sounds confused. 🙂
You forgot Italy! It’s near Ennis off of I-35.
Yes! I’ve never visited the Texas Italy, but the name has me curious to do so. 🙂
We have a Dublin, Va., also. Since the first successful English settlement was Jamestown in Virginia, our state has many places named for the royal family and English counties, titles, etc. Jamestown is named for James I, and Virginia is named for the Virgin Queen Elizabeth I. Other places include Prinice Edward, Prince William, Princess Anne, Prince George, King George, King William. Williamsburg is named for King William. We also have Surry, Isle of Wight, Northampton, Southampton, Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, York, Richmond, Halifax, Buckingham, Lancaster, Nelson, Bath, Wise. I could go on and on. In addition there are places with Indian/Native American names: Pasquotank, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Shenandoah, Pulaski, Allegheny, Powhatan.
That’s quite a collection, Betty! I love learning the history and significance behind town names. Makes the imagination tingle.
I love learning about the west through your books.
We have a Paris and Versailles (pronounced Ver-Sales) near me here in Kentucky.
So sophisticated! 😉
I was born and raised and still love in Athens, Texas! It’s nothing like Greece. 💁🏻♀️
I live near Glasgow, Kentucky.