Upon arriving in Dublin, on a Sunday afternoon, the first thing on our itinerary was a lesson of Irish dancing in a traditional pub. The practice of Irish dancing, dating back to the 18th century, passed down by the Druids and Celts, is especially known for its fast complex footwork and limited upper-body movement. After a very entertaining performance and even trying out some dance moves ourselves, we headed over to the Temple bar district and walked through one of the most historical parts of Dublin.
We started the next day with a visit to Trinity College which is the highest-ranking university in Ireland and also ranks under the top fifty in Europe. The college was established in 1592 and is home to over 20,000 students. Being guided through campus by one of the students, we learned about the Celtic mythology that is closely connected to the college history.
Afterwards, we took a quick break and enjoyed the famous “Leo Burdock” fish and chips, before continuing our day in the Irish parliament. There we were introduced to Irish politics and the running of the parliament in a very informative workshop. The House of Oireachtas was established in 1937 and consists of two political chambers, as well as the president of Ireland. The old parliament, however, was already established on June 18th 1264. On our guided tour we walked through the same halls as famous US Presidents like John F. Kennedy and current President, Joe Biden.
We discovered Dublin’s other most famous sights during a challenging city rally. Passing by multiple cathedrals, we also came across the General Post Office, where the famous Easter Rising took place in 1916 which laid the foundation for the nation’s independence in 1921.
On the third day of our Ireland trip, we went on a grand hike on the Howth peninsula, just a short train ride from Dublin. We enjoyed the great views along the Irish coastline looking out onto Baily Lighthouse.
Reaching the midpoint of our Dublin trip, on the fourth day, after three days of glorious weather, we had our first rain shower, but then it wouldn’t be the real Irish experience without some rain! ???? We visited the Book of Kells museum which displays an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels of the Christian New Testament and the famous Long Room, one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The origin of the Book of Kells is not fully known, but it is believed to have been created around 800AD. It serves as an example of the medieval Celtic art and a testament to the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Ireland. Later on, we continued over to the famous St Stephen’s Green Park, where there are statues honouring famous Irish literary figures, such as W. B. Yeats, and did some poetry reading there.
On the following day, we explored the Guinness Storehouse which has been home to the Guinness brewery since 1759. The tour of the museum helps you get a closer look into the making of the most popular Irish beer which has been refined for centuries and ends with a tasting in the famous gravity bar on the rooftop. Since this was the last day of our Dublin trip, we all got together in a traditional Irish pub in the evening and enjoyed fisherman’s pie and Irish stew. The morning of our departure, we had a delicious traditional Irish breakfast before leaving for the airport.
As our class trip in Dublin came to an end, the city left a lasting impression on us. With memories filled with laughter and many new experiences, Dublin will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Xenia Bretthauer, Tobias Zöllner & Leo Fretwurst, Profil 1