In mid September, the Champlain Dublin students geared up and traveled 3 hours westward to the vibrant city of Galway. Although the train ride was long, and many students were seen nodding off, the energy sparked right back up upon arrival. Galway is famous for its history, festivals, and overall gorgeous scenery amidst the pubs, landmarks, and greenery. Students arrived at their hostel and set their bags down before making their ways to nearby restaurants and pubs for a quick bite. Then, we all met up at Eyre Square for a historical tour of the local area. After the tour, we went back to the hostel to finally settle in and debrief. Some took naps, some shopped in the nearby stores, and some went out for a walk around town to see the sights. By 6pm, all the students reunited again to enjoy a nice dinner at Monroe’s Tavern with staff members Stephen and Tony.
The next day, we enjoyed a little breakfast and caught up with their peers and other members of the hostel in the shared kitchen. We were told to prepare for a ferry ride to the Aran Island of Inis Mór, as conditions were looking a little bleak on the trip over. Although there were some, let’s say, sick moments on the ferry ride, students arrived safe and sound to the lush but overcast and rainy island. A little rain never hurt anybody, and Champlain Dublin students made the absolute most out of their time on the island. Some visited the Dun Aonghasa, a fort located on a 100-meter-high cliff. Not one, not two, but THREE of the students were bold enough to jump into the frigid water off the coast. They were a lot quicker to get out of the icy water than jumping in.
After the time spent on the island, we sailed off by ferry once again to see the Cliffs of Moher. I’ll leave out the details, but the boat ride was quite a bit more choppy than the first ride, so things got… sicker. The islands were viewed from a distance for just a few minutes, but it was enough to take a quick picture or two, or even just marvel at them. When students finally returned back to the mainland, many looked as if they could kiss the steady ground. Even though students took their time to recuperate, by the night, they were back on their feet. Some students, including myself, took it upon themselves to get involved with the true culture: going to the local pubs! Quite a few students also grabbed food together and enjoyed their night once again in Galway.
After a lengthy train ride the following day, our next destination was to Connemara, a middle-of-nowhere town with stunning views. Within this town is the Joyce Country Sheepdogs, along with the most adorable puppies (and a baby goat) that the students had ever seen, and held! During the demonstration, we all were amazed at the intellect of these dogs, and had a great time taking photos of the dogs and sheep while they were running around. Although the visit felt too short – I’m sure we could all hold that baby goat for hours – there are hundreds of pictures and memories from it. Getting back onto the bus, we headed towards Westport, another fun town to explore. Students had two hours to grab some food as well as stock up on snacks and drinks for the rest of the journey back to Dublin.
Students have had great highlights from their abroad experience so far, and many of them are from our Galway trip. The memories exploring this beautiful city are vast, from a night out in the only club in Galway to the harsh seas our little ferry traversed. There have even been quite a few who have already returned with friends or family, and I look forward to visiting it once more.
