Ireland thus far

I arrived in Ireland two weeks ago Saturday morning about 7 here, more or less 1 Central Standard Time. Thus far, I've read a lot, walked a lot, worshipped in a church dedicated in 1382, visited Kylemore Abbey at Connemara and seen the Atlantic Ocean from Galway Bay. The weather has mostly been cooperative and I found a comfortable place to live during my stay. Next Tuesday, I take the train to Dublin to see the Irish Museum and hopefuly catch a play of some sort--I'm hoping for Shakespeare.
What strikes me primarily is how the Irish economy is growing. Building is going on everywhere and people walk the streets, "mobile" phone in hand, apparently conducting business transactions or something vitally important--to them anyway. The level of sheer movement reminds of an Obi Wan Kenobi line about Anakin Skywalker in Episode III: "Always on the move." I felt rather foolish in not knowing about what folks have come to call "The Celtic Tiger." It's roaring and evidently has been so since the early 1990s.
The people I've encountered are courteous, helpful and tolerant of my undoubted "American" ways, including my accent (which I'm hoping isn't as pronounced as I fear it is). When I ordered an "Irish coffee without the whiskey" last night, however, I thought the waitress was going to call the Mental Hospital or at least recommend me for psychological observation. I have enjoyed, in any case, seeing Diet Cokes dispensed in bottles, even if they are of the 6 ounce variety.
I realize as well--I think anyway--that Irish people by and large do not eat as much as Americans. I'm not saying, of course, that everyone here is thin and within their recommended weight range, but the size of a given serving coupled with the walking everyone seems to do seems to equate with my general observation of more people being proportionate than otherwise. I've noticed myself thinning somewhat, which is a good result of eating, walking and drinking water, coffee and Diet Coke in fairly large quantities.
I'll be here for several more weeks with trips to Germany and England (Coriolanus in Stratford on March 2--if I can keep from levitating onto the stage!!) planned before my return home. I notice that North Carolina's men team is--well--rather good. It's good to know that some things never change.