After visiting Ireland
and meeting “real Irishmen” it was evident that the Irish people hold their
history dear to them. As a group, we went on many tours and we were met with
the same charismatic, knowledgeable, and proud Irish person everywhere we went.
I think the Irish identity is something that has only gotten stronger with
time. The Irish are proud and resilient. Throughout history, the Irish have fought countless battles to secure the
rights of their people, and although they were often unsuccessful, the Irish
never gave up, they never wavered, and they always came back stronger than
before.
While in Dublin, the mark
left by the leaders of Easter Rising was shown almost everywhere. When we met
at the Spire, we stopped at the General Post Office which was the site the rebels declared
Ireland an independent republic. We were able to see the bullet holes on the pillars, and also the
proclamation.
Mural of Bloody Sunday |
Another event in history
that left its mark was Bloody Sunday. In
Northern Ireland, "The Troubles" were a turning point in their history and are
remembered across the city of Derry. As we were walking through the Bogside, we
were able to see the various murals on the sides of buildings depicting scenes
from Bloody Sunday. There were also various flags, plaques, and memorials to
commemorate the lives lost and battles fought.
In Derry, I could still feel a
divide between the people. There was an awkwardness to the community as if
everyone was walking on eggshells, but at the same time displaying their views
aggressively enough to warrant a similar behavior on the other side.
A reoccurring theme in
our class readings is that the Irish people are extremely hospitable, and I
definitely saw that in both Dublin and Derry. Even our servers at restaurants
were extremely kind even though they didn’t have to fake it just to get tips,
and the people at the stores we shopped in were welcoming and helpful.
I was
expecting people to not be so fond of Americans, but the whole time I was there,
I never encountered someone that treated me poorly. Robert Bell speaks of the Irish hospitality
in Document B when he says, “Such a visit, so far from being deemed an
intrusion, gave pleasure to every individual of the family, who were not only
impelled by their natural feelings, but conceived themselves bound by a kind of
sacred duty, to perform those acts of hospitality.”
Another personal example
of mine is when we hiked to the top of Killiney Hill and I managed to come into
contact with stinging nettle. I was honestly freaking out and so scared I was
about to have a major reaction to it, but then a local man offered his help.
He
stopped what he was doing and began to search through the brush for another type
of plant to help the pain. Instead of just pointing it out, he got me the plant
and helped me try to stop the burning. That just shows how kinds and selfless
the Irish are and how willing they are to lend a hand.
The thing that stuck me the most was the history. Our country is relatively young, so to be able to see buildings, churches, schools, and castles that date back 1000 years, it was amazing. We cant get that here.
When a few of u went into the church Christ cathedral, my jaw dropped as I stepped in. I’m not a very religious person, but the sheer beauty of the building and its contents was almost bringing me to tears. I’ve honesty never seen anything like it.
When a few of u went into the church Christ cathedral, my jaw dropped as I stepped in. I’m not a very religious person, but the sheer beauty of the building and its contents was almost bringing me to tears. I’ve honesty never seen anything like it.
Overall, I'm obsessed with
my experience on this trip and I have so much respect and love for Ireland and
its people. If I had a word of advice for future students going on this trip it
would be: Submit to Ireland, experience all it has to offer even if it scares
you. This trip has given me a gift that I will forever cherish. I was confined
to my American bubble, but now I feel more aware of the world we live in, not to mention I've made such wonderful friends.
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