An Unforgettable Week of Craic and Culture!
You are probably under the impression that Ireland is full of green meadows, sheep, redheads, Guinness and bad weather. If so, you have only scratched the surface. Ireland impresses not only with its picturesque landscape and the Irish’s kind hospitality, but also with its cultural heritage. From Dalkey Castle and the vibrant city of Dublin, to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher and the charming streets of Galway – Ireland offers culture all across the country. It is impossible to put all our experiences in this article, so here are our buaicphointi (peak moments):
Thursday, 12th June:
After our arrival in Bray the night before, we started our first day under the most stereotypical Irish weather conditions: pouring rain and harsh winds, which was fantastic as we had our orientation tour through Bray scheduled for that very day. Our guide took us to Main Street, the promenade and beach, the train station, the bowling alley… and two hours later, we arrived soaking wet back at the language school. We had actually planned on going to Dublin later that day, but luckily our teachers postponed this activity to Saturday to prevent us from catching a cold on the second day of the trip. Instead, we went to the cinema in Dun Laoghaire, where we relived a childhood memory by watching How to Train Your Dragon.
Friday, 13th June:
Just like every other day during our language week, we went to school in the morning. Fortunately, the teachers kept the lessons relaxed by encouraging us to engage in creative speaking activities.
Although it was Friday the thirteenth, we were blessed with sunshine and visited one of the most famous castles in Ireland: Dalkey Castle. Midway through the tour we were startled by some guy dressed up as a medieval archer jumping out from behind an ancient wall, and then vividly describing the events that had once taken place in and around the castle. Several other performers impersonated historical figures such as a maid or a barber from that same era. It was, however, not only this theatrical element that made the tour pretty memorable. We also found out about the origin of some common words and phrases still used in the English language today. The trip you take after a wedding, for example, is called honeymoon, because in medieval Ireland, friends of the newlywed couple would give them enough honey mead for the first lunar month (cycle of the moon) of their marriage.
After the insightful visit to the Dalkey Castle, we headed to a nearby beach to enjoy the fresh breeze and take advantage of the warm weather – a few students were even brave enough to go for a swim in the thirteen-degree cold Atlantic Ocean.
Saturday, 14th June:
We had all been looking forward to this day with great anticipation. Dublin. A city of poets and musicians, whose literary and musical works can be read and heard in both, local pubs and cafés as well as in the bustling streets and green parks. According to the weather forecast, it would rain heavily again. So, equipped with colourful raincoats and umbrellas, we made our way to the Dart station and hopped on a train, straight to the capital. Two local guides showed us the most important sights of the city: the General Post Office, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the statues of Daniel O’Connell and Molly Malone, the National Gallery, Grafton Street, (now some students’ future dream university) Trinity College with its beautiful library and the famous Book of Kells,… Fun fact: As our guide at Trinity College was still waiting for some of her exam results, we avoided walking under the bell tower, since legend has it that if a student walks under the campanile while the bell is ringing, he or she will fail all their exams.
Sunday, 15th June:
Finally, the day of our long-awaited trip to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. The four-hour bus drive was absolutely worth it. Photos don't do justice to just how enormous and magnificent the steep cliffs are in real life. Standing at the edge of the 150-meter-high rockface was an experience in itself.
We continued our way to Galway, a beautiful coastal town (yes, the very town Ed Sheeran took inspiration from for his song Galway Girl). It was the Latin Quarter in particular which made us stay for a while and enjoy the sound of the tunes by the countless buskers (talented street performers), who drew crowds with fiddles and guitars.
Monday, 16th June:
Believe it or not, we actually had the opportunity to see Dublin while the sun was out! All of us were tremendously grateful for the opportunity to experience the city’s charm in all its beauty. The weather was perfect for the guided tour we had booked on the Jeanie Johnston, a replica of the ship that helped save so many lives in the 1840s, when the so-called Great Famine held Ireland in a firm grasp. The guide was recounting the tragic history with such passion that the visit to the ship has left a lasting impression on all of us.
In the evening (and under the watchful eyes of our teachers) we went to J.R. Mahon’s, a pub close to the River Liffey, where we enjoyed some delicious finger food and non-alcoholic drinks. The unique rustic atmosphere (wooden beams, exposed bricks, vintage furnishings) felt very Irish to us.
Tuesday, 17th June:
We spent the afternoon in and around Bray, but the real highlight of the day was the Irish dance night that evening. The dance lesson was filled with Irish music, positive energy, lots of laughter, and – towards the end – exhaustion. Thanks to our sweet and patient teacher Amy we all had a good time as we tried to memorise the steps and enjoyed dancing together.
Thank you!
Looking back at this unforgettable and eventful week, it is safe to say that our time in Ireland will forever remain a cherished memory. We did not only speak lot of English and learned quite a bit about the Irish culture, but we’ve also grown closer as a group and gained valuable insights that will surely prove useful in our future lives. With that in mind, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this trip so special.
Anica Hem Sok (6A), Viktoria Sperrer (6A), Anna-Lena Bauer (6B), Victoria Schnell (6B)
