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A Family Visit Abroad

Throughout my four months abroad in Dublin, it was inevitable that I would feel a little homesick. Luckily, my friends became a second family to me. But, as the holidays rolled around the corner, my family could no longer hold back from visiting me for the first time in months. My parents gathered the troops (my big brother and little sister), and hopped on a red-eye from Boston to Dublin.

Family Photo in Howth

Upon their arrival, and a brief period of insurmountable jet-lag, my family was ready for me to show them around Ireland… and I could not disappoint. 

I began by bringing them to Howth, a coastal town in Co. Dublin, just a little under an hour bus ride from the city center. This Howth cliff walk is a perfect way to feel the ocean breeze, take a hike with a beautiful view, and explore the quaint town center (with some of the best Fish and Chips). 

It wouldn’t have been right if I didn’t at least show them a bit of Irish history, so we also went to the Trinity Library to see the Book of Kells! 

My little sister in the Trinity Library

After giving them their taste of Celtic history and relaying some information I learned from my Dublin: It’s Museums and Collections class at University College of Dublin, they were ready to embark inwards to the Temple Bar area. (They made sure to get their classic photo-ops). 

Temple Bar

We then took a scenic train ride down to the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland: Cork. Since my Grandma’s side of the family has its roots in Cork, it was a “must-do” on our list. Of course we stopped by Blarney Castle, where we were absolutely blown away by its beauty, but we also stopped in Cobh.

Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic, formerly known as Queenstown. It was also the home of the first migrant to pass through Ellis Island. Her name was Annie Moore. 

We made our way back to Dublin, and flitted around trying new foods and adventures, and soon they made their way back to the USA. I was absolutely elated to get to see my family while I was still in Dublin, and though it gave me a taste of home, I was even more excited to continue traveling throughout Ireland for another month. 

Thank you for reading! I can’t wait to share more.
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A Trip Up North!

 

Belfast City Hall decorated with Christmas lights for the Christmas markets
Belfast City Hall

I’ve been studying at the University College of Dublin for about 3 months now! I’ve loaded up on my Irish literature, art, and history modules, so while I may not be the most knowledgeable person on Irish history- I’d like to think I’m almost there!

Dublin has been absolutely phenomenal, and is of course vital to major Irish historical events, but what better way to gain a deeper understanding than to take a train up to Northern Ireland? Fellow friends and I studying at UCD (University College of Dublin) from Holy Cross went all the way up to Belfast. Because the Titanic was built and launched here in Belfast, we of course went to the Titanic museum where we learned a lot about the process of making the boat as well as the aftermath of its sinking. 

After that, we went on the infamous Black Cab tour where we drove around Belfast and its different neighborhoods. Ireland has a rich and complex history with religion. Tension arising from British Imperial rule has taken the form of religious unrest for centuries, and because of this, there has been a major divide between Irish Catholics and Protestants. This divide still remains in Belfast, and the tour brings you through the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods which are still to this day divided by walls with hundreds of murals between them. 

From Belfast we took an all-day bus tour up to the Giant’s Causeway! This coastal route brought us through the most beautiful views of the Irish Sea and was close enough to see Scotland. On the way to the Causeway we went to the Dark Hedges, which any Game of Thrones fan may recognize. The Causeway was absolutely beautiful, but a bit difficult to walk on since the stones are very unique and uniform. 

I’ll be writing more about Dublin, and the excursions I’ve been on here. My semester in Dublin has already been one of the best experiences of my life, so be sure to check out my blog if you’re interested!