Irish Way Comes to an end

Wednesday July 18, 2007

Last day of classes! The formal teaching portion finished today with books packed up and boards wiped down. The syllabus on the last day of classes covered as usual, a broad range of topics. Some include the role of the media in Ireland –Irish Studies, Frank O’Connor –Irish literature and the 1916 Rising –Irish history. Irish-American History Teacher, Kevin Mason, described the experience in saying that “the caliber of students was very high, we generated a lot of relevant discussion as well as Irish-American affairs, past and present. There was particularly good insight on the British occupation of Northern Ireland.”. The students equally enjoyed Kevin’s class, “Kevin is very enthusiastic about his work; you can tell he’s a really good teacher,” said Sean Roberts. As well, Meghan Butler said, “I really, really enjoyed the classes; the last day was bittersweet because it meant that our time together and the program was coming to a close!”

The afternoon was packed with workshops, beginning with ‘Songs of Resistance’ led by Kevin. This was a huge crowd pleaser! “It was great, we analyzed songs and drew pictures showing our interpretation of the lyrics and music” said Sean Roberts. Nici McCrary who chose the song ‘Roddy McCorey’ added, “I just can’t wait to get the CD we made! I’d never heard the actual song, though I’d heard of it in conjunction with the culture”. Later, the rugby workshop was led by Brendan MacCauley a past coordinator for the Irish Way who seemingly can’t get enough! He found his way back to us and spent the day at King’s Hospital. Thankfully the rain held out and the fields were dry enough to unleash some of the true Rugger Buggers at heart. It was a fierce game and once the rules and basic skills were mastered the competition was top notch. Mike Blatti may now be a superfan for life, “I loved the workshop –anything with sports and me always works. There’s a semi-pro team at home, I think I’ll try and play!”

Riverdance at last! Dressed to the nines we loaded the coaches and headed into the city center for the evening’s entertainment. Shown in the Gaiety, an old Victorian theater at the top of Grafton Street the night was a real treat and it exceeded any and all expectations, “I don’t think words exist in the human language to try and describe the experience of Riverdance! I loved the mix of traditional and world dance, it really showed the impact of dance, Irish dance throughout the world” said Nicholas Comeaux. The show chronicled the life and times of the Irish people and touched upon a number of topics, events, myths and truths about Ireland through the ages. Adrian Cole said, “It was great music, I really got into it! The funny part is that I’m convinced we listened to the same song for two hours –but it never got old!” Many had seen the show before but there is always something fresh about it. In the years since it began as a ten minute piece filling time in the intermission of the Eurovision Song Contest it has had a huge impact on the art of Irish dance and its place in the world. Michelle Rickley was especially enthusiastic upon leaving the theater, “Riverdance was sick! We got to sit in a box! I loved the hip hop, I think I fell in love with the one wearing white, they were so funky! It reminded me of home and NYC”. Thanks to Corinna’s dance lessons the students had a level of knowledge which made it even more impressive. Katlin Van Vorst said, “I was overwhelmed with excitement; my dance teacher was the star! And we had box seats, it totally set the mood”. One quote from the narrative sums up the theme of the show: “With song and dance we gift and mourn our children, we send them across the ocean with song and dance”. And the city was buzzing as we headed back to the bus, there was loads of excitement in seeing Dublin all lit up!


Thursday, July 19th 2007

A long awaited free day in Dublin was enjoyed by everyone! We all spent hours exploring what the city has to offer, museums, castles, cathedrals, and shops of course! For most the first order of business was a stop at an internet café. And once the emails were checked and Facebooks were updated it was off to discover The Big Smoke. “I really like Dublin! I’d been there once before when I was younger so it was really nice to see it again. We had a great day and had time to read in the park; even though it rained a little it was great!” said Amalia Herasme. Dublin has been described as “delightful, decadent and totally down to earth” but it is also known that what makes this place is the people. Keegan Wallace picked up on their wit and sarcasm straight away and could pass for a local at this point! “Today was my favorite day! I had an ice cream at an outdoor café –it was delectable! The people are really friendly, but don’t ask for directions!” said Keegan. Getting the time to see the details Elizabeth Borah explored a few of the parks as well, “I was so excited to see the Oscar Wilde statue, he is my favorite; ‘The Importance of being Earnest’ is just the best!” The night concluded with a disco back at King’s Hospital along with the Italian, Spanish and Irish students also staying on the campus. A bunch of the girls went retro and were dressed to impress in their throwback garb, “we requested 80s music and Maureen did our makeup!” said Katlin Van Vorst. Fun!


Friday, July 20th 2007

The drama groups went from preparation to presentation and spent the day rehearsing and finalizing the last of the props and skits. The skits were varied in format and content but entertaining nonetheless! Most importantly everyone had a laugh, “by the last day we all just let it hang loose, everybody was having fun so it didn’t matter about being silly up on stage!” Moreover we all got to learn a little bit more about a few of the icons in Irish mythology and history, ancient and contemporary. The winning group who presented James Joyce will be treated to a night of music next week during the Galway Arts Festival!


Saturday July 21st

Arrived in Galway! Mick Kavanagh and Brian Farrell will be guiding us about the west of Ireland for the next few days and have loads of excitement in store! We will miss Dublin but there is huge anticipation for the good times in store in Galway! “It’s a great day to be Irish!” says Mick our coach driver.


Sunday, July 21st cliffs of Moher, Burren

Galway city has always attracted a creative crowd and we fit right in! We are lucky to be in Galway now as this week is the annual Arts Festival. Mike Brown gives the city his approval, “although Dublin wasn’t exactly what I was expecting I enjoyed it. But Galway is great! I find it ironic as a city –it’s just so chill and laid back! There are so many street performers!” And in general, the landscape is becoming more and more familiar; it seems we are all getting used to the Irish land, “I want a cow in my front yard! I live in the city, it’ll be so weird going home and not seeing any grass” said Katlin Van Vorst.

The first day of tours brought us out to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, both in County Clare. The Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland’s most famous sights recognized the world over on postcards or in frames. The day was spectacular, clear and stayed dry while we were at the cliffs (for the most part!). From the top we were able to see Connemara and the Aran Islands, two of our future destinations. What a great view! As described by Ginny Halpin, “the cliffs were reflecting in the crystal blue waters, they got into my soul”. “This is my favorite place in the whole world! I was here four years ago and it was even better this time, my second time around” said Katlin Van Vorst. Shea Connell loved the cliffs and said “they had the best ice cream ever!” On another note Julia Burns added, “It was the stuff postcards are made of! I got goose bumps looking over the edge. The water crashing against the cliff walls –it looked like a romance novel… the only thing missing was Fabio!”

Before we got soaked on the way to the bus we had loads of time to settle into the Burren. The Irish term ‘Boireann’ literally means rocky place, quite the understatement! “The expanse of grey limestone whispered the sounds of past travelers, the whole place is just eerie!” said Maureen McNulty. The region stretches across northern Clare and its acres of silvery limestone were the site of ancient burial chambers. Burke Kearney sees the Burren as “quite an amazing geological phenomenon –and it made for a comfortable seat!”

Everyone had free time this evening and it was another mission to the supermarket. The townhouse style flats (recently refurbished!) in Gort na Corrib are self-catering and so meals have been something of an adventure. Dinners have been lavish and the culinary skills are very impressive!


Monday, July 22nd

Day two of tours! Connemara is immediately northwest of Galway city and is a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) region. It is perhaps the most stunning of landscapes characterized by a patchwork of “rusty bogs, lonely valleys, pare grey mountains and small black lakes that shimmer in the sun”. Coach drivers Mick and Brian are well practiced in the area and did as much justice to the area as is possible. From the rows of the two coaches we had 85 of the best seats in the house, as Britney Weimar, “at one point on the journey I looked out the windows and realized, oh my gosh, there are mountains on all sides of me!” Mike Brown added, “I remember waking up at one point when we were on the bus and all of a sudden I woke up looking at a mountain and a lake and I just thought… wow”. We stopped off for lunch in Connemara National Park and had loads of time to wander about. Katlin Van Vorst said, “The best place was the National Park, we went on a hike and posed by an abandoned cottage –it was so artsy!” Cara Scriven described it saying, “Connemara is really pretty and green and the mountains were breathtaking, it left me in awe!”

The next stop was the Dan O’Hara Farm. The tour guide Martin was a classic character and he showed us the ropes as we piled into two tractors for a tour of the area. Up the mountain we explored the bogs and learned all about the process. Patrick Hayes said, “I was so captivated by the tractor ride that the horse dung didn’t even bother me!” And Julia Burns added, “I was entranced by the reenactment of a man bogging for peat; it was so nifty touching something that is 2000 years old!” We were able to go into the cottage and Martin relayed all the information painting a picture of the Famine and its effect on the area. Then it was all about the traditional outdoor activities of the time: tug of war and horseshoe tosses! Let’s just say we got down and dirty.

Staff counselor Adrienne Reuss said it was one of her very favorite days, “just when you think there couldn’t be anything else as breathtaking as what you’ve already seen, something else comes along to sweep you off your feet once again and you are humbled even more”. On the journey home the microphone on one of the coaches was captured by a rascal student, Fiona Rada. The singsong came to a halt as Fiona entertained, Patrick Hayes said, “Mick and Fiona are the perfect team! I’m glad I stayed away from the mic though, she was brutal on the interviews!” Laugh a minute!

Back at the ranch in time for some free time in the city, again the main destination was the supermarket! We are all loving Gort na Corrib and as our time comes to a close the self-titled sister rooms are trying to squeeze the fun out of every hour possible, “sleeping feels like a waste of time!”


Tuesday, July 24th 2007

We were competing for the worms this morning as we rose for a 9am departure to the Aran Islands! We sailed on a 10am ferry out to Inishmor, the largest of the three islands. A short ferry ride threw us back in time as we arrived on the sublime island; we collected our bikes straight away, packed lunches and bathing suits in toe! Inishmor is an extension of the same limestone that forms the Burren and it is surely evident. The winding roads made for quite the workout as we cycled through and around the island! The students had the chance to put their Irish into practice as Inishmor is a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) region. “We learned a few new words from the students camping in the Irish college” Maureen McNulty. The paths brought us through small pastures and fields lined with rocky stone walls and peppered with limestone; there was even something friendly about the horses! “We went on a horse drawn cart and Sean our driver was the best! He brought us nearly all around the island; we could see the Cliffs of Moher across the water! He was hilarious and just such fun!” Kara Erb. The black sand beaches were magnificent; a bunch of us braved the cold Atlantic! Admittedly it took a running start and a lot of revving up. Mainland Ireland and the Connemara mountains across the water was the perfect backdrop for fun at the beach.

A main destination is out on the western side of the island where the dramatic cliffs are perfectly vertical and you can get right up to the edge! Just there is a stone fort called Dun Aengus which is one of the oldest archeological remains in Ireland and arguably the most amazing archaeological site. Any of us could have stayed out there all day listening to the Atlantic crashing against the cliff walls but we had to catch the last ferry back to Rossaveal in Galway. The bicycles took us out, around and back again, such fun but tiring! The journey home was a quiet one, windswept hair and pink shoulders, we were exhausted!

It was a perfect day to end the tours. D’Arcy Hearn said, “Biking around the island was really amazing! We met the cutest little old man, he was so nice! And he had a basket of potatoes on the front of his bike!” Everyone enjoyed the afternoon on the Aran Islands and we lucked out with the weather once again! Emily Drennan said, “It was so beautiful! We were biking along with the beaches on one side and farms on the other…” and Deirdre Engel added that “the beaches on the island had the best seashells in the whole world!”


July 25th 2007

The last full day of Irish Way 2007 was reserved as a free day in Galway city! Students were up and down the High Street combing the length and breadth of the city for that last gift to bring back home. There was background music coming from the street performing ‘buskers’ and a rich history built up from the cobbles. Everyone enjoyed their day in the city center, but arriving back in Gort na Corrib meant tying up loose ends, cleaning and packing up before the final banquet!

We were all decked out as we climbed up the steps of the coaches. Escorted to our final banquet by Mick and Brian, legendary coach drivers, there was a different kind of buzz in the air. And en route to our destination for a night of dinner and dancing Ryan Raines summed up our shared experience, “As all journeys come to an end, there is always that chance, that one chance that we’ll all come back here and see each other again. All the counselors taught us great things during our time in Ireland, even though it was short. But all of us have learned so much in the great experience that we will now take forward, from being on this trip. We realized that there is a real world out there…”