Biddy's Latest Intern - Welcome Chris!

Dia Duit! (hello)

Hello my name is Christopher Kenny, from Northern Ireland and I am the new summer intern at Biddy Murphy Celtic Goods. I am taking part in a cross-community project called ‘Project Children’ which aims to provide 25 university students and graduates with summer internships across America in an attempt to see what life is like in the United States, both inside and outside of work.                                                                                                                                                          My first week in the states was spent in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where the group and I worked with Habitat for Humanity on 2 housing refurbishment projects. A tough
but worthwhile week that allowed us to gel as a group, create some great memories and also help out those less fortunate rebuild their lives. More insight to my time in Alabama will be in my next post!

I am a Business Studies graduate who finished up university in May of this year and now I’m hoping to find a full time job in my area of study. This opportunity is giving me some great experience into what working life is like and what the role of marketing executive really entails behind the scenes. I am working with great people who are very talented at what they do and they have taught me so much already.

On the topic of meeting great people, I should give a shout-out to my host family for the summer Ward and Mary Gahan, owners of Biddy Murphy. Ward and Mary, along with Cormac their son and Mocha the dog, have been so kind and welcoming to me and although I’ve only been here 3 weeks it seems so much longer, as I’ve just fit right into life here.

This experience is eye opening to me as I didn’t truly understand how much Americans appreciate Irish things. For example we sell Irish turf incense in the Biddy store, but in Ireland all you have to do is to walk outside your house to enjoy such a smell!! I’m also learning incredible new things about the Irish culture I didn’t even know myself, like the beautiful Celtic symbol meanings or unique spots American travelers have found on their journeys to Ireland. It’s really making me have a much greater love and appreciation for the country I call home.

Some of you may have met me already from visiting the Biddy store in South Haven, Michigan but if you have not give us a call in and I’ll let you make fun of my accent lol.
Over the next few weeks of my internship I’ll be working with our wonderful social media guru Deirdre to construct a few more blog entries about my time here, trips to Chicago and Ohio I’m taking and my opinion of life in America.
Hope you’ve enjoyed reading today and can join me on my next blog!
Slan!! (bye)