b'mOnACOArOunD THe WOrLD The Ireland Fund of Monaco Residential BursariesAwarded annually, The Ireland Fund of Monaco Residential Bursaries were established to enablewriters born or living in Ireland to pursue a current project during a one-month residency at thePrincess Grace Irish Library in Monaco. We are pleased to present this personal reflection of Dr. Vandra Costello on her experience in Monaco.About the AuthorDR VANDRA COSTELLO is an historic landscape consultant and garden writer. Afterstudying law at Trinity College Dublin and the Honourable Society of the Kings Inns, she practisedat the bar in Dublin for a number of years before studying landscape architecture at UniversityCollege Dublin. She holds a PhD from the School of Architecture of the National University of Ireland for research into the history of Irish demesnes in the seventeenth century. Vandra haswritten and lectured extensively on garden history and is currently finishing a book on IrishDemesne Landscapes 1660-1740.Reflections on Magical Monacoby Dr. Vandra CostelloItislessthanamonthsinceIreturnedfrommy I can honestly say that I have never in my life felt asmagicalstayinMonacobutitfeelslikeitwasall safeasIdidinMonaco.Imetsomewonderful some kind of wonderful dreamthe Princess Grace people in Monaco, some of whom I hope are friendsIrishLibraryandTheIrelandFundofMonaco for lifethe wonderful women at the library, friendsmiraculously gave me a bursary to live in Monaco for of the library Alan Douglas and Ciaran Walsh, anda month, with a flat, pocket money and, best of all, a Pierre Joannon and his beautiful and elegant wifegorgeousbook-linedstudycompletewithJackB Annick and I am already planning my return trip toYeats painting to work inalone, and in peace. Monaco. I feel like a sort of honorary MonegasqueI was met at the airport and ferried to my apart- and long for the sights and smells of the principality,mentbymyfairygodmotherJudithGantly,the thebuzzofscooters,theboulangerie,thenoisy administratorofthePGIL(asitisknowntothe market beneath my window, the azure sea and bluecognoscenti like moi), after which she showed me skies and the wonderful people who made my staythe ropes, introduced me to local traders, pointed such a pleasure. out the post-office, chemist and other necessariesand behaved like an all-round angel.I cannot thank The Ireland Fund of Monaco enoughOn my first day at work I met fair Geraldineand Sile who works part-time so I didnt see as muchfor providing me with the time, the space and theof her, but happily she was around on my birthdayand she and the others gave me a lovely tea party means to work in peace for a whole month. I amcomplete with delicious French apple tarte tatin.Monaco itself was a revelation, there is so much happy to say that I have completed my book andmore to it than the casino, expensive shops and fastthat it is now with the publishers and will be outcars.Therearecharmingmuseumsandgalleries,wonderful old buildings and churches, markets and later in 2014.funny little old fashioned shops. The place is steepedinhistoryandcultureifyouknowwheretolook for it.connect2014 | 103'