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Academics : International Education Study Abroad

Study Abroad, Ireland

2005-06 Study abroad program, Ireland

The following is from students, who wrote from Ireland:

As our journey comes to an end, we made one of our last stays on the Dingle Peninsula which is located on the southwest corner of Ireland. From far off you can just make out the image of Schellig Michael on the horizon that still stands almost a millennium and a half after its creation. There, Gaelic is commonly seen on the signs of the shops and heard spoken in town. The Mass we attended this morning was also in Gaelic, and even though we understood very little of what was happening, the sounds of Gaelic hymns being sung around us brought an abundance of soothing energy to the service.

Afterwards, we strolled down to the beaches to witness a horse race called the Raiseanna Bheal Ben, which can be translated as the “Race of the White Strip.” Although we waited in the rain for the race to begin, it was a sight to see watching thirteen-year-old jockeys race powerful Arabian thoroughbred horses up and down the beaches.

Back at the house which is right next to the small town of Dunquin, we overlook the Blasket Islands, which are the islands Tomas O’Crohan depicts in the story "The Islandman." The story records life was on the islands. We sat by the fire tonight and many read while we prepare for our journey back home on Wednesday.

Kevin Geiger
May 1, 2006

 

Now we are out west as the days flit by and our departure grows near. Some of us, myself included, are staying at a cottage owned by the mother of an NMH alum perched at the base of Eagle Mountain and overlooking the Blasket Islands. The cliffs are about one hundred yards from the front door and a small road curls down to a beach. In 1969 this strip of sand was the main location for the filming of Ryan’s Daughter. Apart from the road, there is no way save rappelling to reach the water. The cliffs here have seen their share of shipwrecks.

As I wrung out my hat after a walk, an older woman with a towel wrapped about her head and shoulders hailed me. She inquired about our trip and related some local history. In the '70s, a liner of some sort had run aground just off the beach, trapped on the rocks. She laughed as she revealed how it had been stripped of its furniture by the people of the coastline and had lain rotting for years. As her towel indicated, she was among the few brave souls who dared the riptides of the Atlantic in the face of “No Swimming” signs. Her eyes lit up as she leaned toward me and implored me to “promise to go.” (Alas, common sense of the form of Mr. Kennedy has prevailed on that front.) I did wander down to the water. Sea spray mixed with soaked wool and corduroy, a tangy scent, laced the evening breeze. As I stood in the sand, a dusting of rain passed to the northwest, and for the remaining hours before dark, blue specks danced through booming surfs.

Gabriel Costa
May 1, 2006

 

Saturday we left Portmagee Harbor early on two small boats for the Skelligs, 11 kilometres off shore. The trip was amazing: The sun was shining and the rock islands were visible several miles out. As we got closer I saw that the Little Skellig was surrounded by thousands of birds, and it appeared to be plastered white. It was plastered white with bird droppings!

It took about an hour to reach Skellig Michael. We took a winding road, then climbed 600 steps hewn from solid rock by monks who lived in seclusion there from the 6th century to the 12th century. On the way up the stairs, the ocean got smaller and smaller, and it became apparent that it was important not to trip. No guardrails. We finally reached the top, where there were 10 beehive huts, their foundations uniquely rectangular, not circular, as well as the ruins of an oratory and an outhouse. Inside the beehive huts it was dark except for the light from a small window. Monks intent on solitude built these huts in the 7th century. Like most other places we’ve visited in Ireland, the view was amazing, especially after we jumped a fence and climbed to the highest point. After exploring and hearing a site report, we worked our way carefully back down.

On board again we circled the Little Skellig. Flying over basking seals were enough nesting gannets to dim the sunlight. Then we headed toward the harbor, full of wind and sun and salt and amazement.

Jake Edson
May 1, 2006

 

Yesterday we arrived in Dunquin, a small village outside Dingle. The area is very quiet, much like the other places we’ve stayed, but among the most beautiful. So far I’ve really enjoyed my stay in the Dunquin hostel.

This morning we attended Mass in St. Vincent’s in Ballyferriter, a nearby town. Then we went to the Raissanna Beal Ban, the horse races on the Ballyferriter shore. It was very cold and rainy, but that didn’t stop us from watching two races, both of which got off really late. Despite the weather and wait, I enjoyed it immensely—the cheering crowd, the colourful silks, the pounding, slapping hooves. Instead of swimmers and bathers, beautiful, swift horses flew by. Not something you see everyday on beaches.

Monica Panwar
April 30, 2006

 

Click here for information on the 2005-06 study abroad programs.