Rave Run!

So, I've been in Ireland for almost 2 weeks now and I'm gradually getting used to being here. But, the best way for me to put down roots is to go running, and I've gone outside several times, when I'm not using my automatic gym membership. I've gotten my bearings for some of the area around Castletroy, but I'm more of a trail runner myself. I wasn't looking forward to 4 months of dodging traffic and feeling concrete sidewalk under my runners(what they call running shoes over here-I love it!). Then, I saw people running behind the greenhouse-not college students, either, they were community people. The greenhouse is in Kilmurry Village, so I figured I would go behind the village reception building on Fridy and see what I could find.
I think I've found my Irish Wells Woods. It's beautiful--there are miles of trail and I've yet to find an ending to it. I went left and ended up running through fields and then I ran past an abandoned castle wall! When I ran in the opposite direction, there's a great path that runs all the Limerick, but it's 4 or 5 miles away and I'm not trying to run 10 miles yet, so I haven't gone all the way. The trail follows the river, making it really easy to slow down and admire the Irish countryside. Most of the trees are covered with vines (which makes me think they are an invasive species, but I'm not sure yet), and if you run with the river on one side and a high, grown-over bank on the other, it feels like you're in Middle Earth. I found out that there are a lot of swans in this area, too! I was so excited when I saw the first ones; they're so beautiful! I'll try to post some pictures.
This lets me bring up another subject. Irish people and their dogs. In Eau Claire, I'm used to having to slow down when I pass someone with a dog, because their pet will either a)try to bite/bark at me or b)run with/after me. Over here, half the dogs are off leash, which made me a little nervous, but the dogs over here are extremely well-behaved. Most of them barely acknowledged my existence; they just followed their owner. It was impressive--I need to find out how they train their dogs over here. That's all I've got for now!