Ireland

It is hard to grapple with the reality that I have already been in Ireland for just over a month now, and consequently, I have to face that I only have about two months left. The time has simultaneously seemed to pass so fast and so slow. There is so much that I want to see and do that I often feel like I’m already running out of time to do them. But I’ve learned to slow myself down and appreciate the sight I’m seeing, or what I am doing, to make sure that I am present and that I am living the moment, that I am an active participant. I don’t want to end my study abroad journey reliant on remembering these experiences solely through the pictures I take. I want to be able to draw upon the physical memory in my mind and recall what exactly these experiences were like in the initial moment.

All that being said, I’ve learned to appreciate the little things around me. A big adventure isn’t absolutely necessary whenever I have the spare time. Sometimes just exploring the city around me is enough, and Cork City has a lot to offer.

Getting to know the city you live in, I feel, is a crucial part of the study abroad experience. It will teach you about the people you live with- students, locals, and tourists alike- and can put you in touch with the culture in a way that can be unique. Cork is different from Galway is different from Dublin. Cork, while a popular city, is less of a tourist destination than the other places I just mentioned, and therefore has given me a more unique, singular experience. Cork is a city of art and music and life in a way that feels genuinely authentic.

Cork By Day

Cork is a true city. There is something going on at all hours of the day, which surprised me at first. It seems like there are people running errands and going to the shops in the middle of the afternoon, even on weekdays. It’s not unusual to see entire families out, making a day of it.

There are so many food options, which I am constantly pleasantly surprised by. There are so many different restaurants and take-away spots that have their own unique personalities and feature a specific type of cultural cuisine: Italian, Indian, Chinese, French, etc. Cork is a melting pot city, after all, and there are so many great authentic spots if you’re ever in the mood for a specific type of cuisine. There are also several bakeries on each block, often just a storefront or two away from each other.

One of my favorite places in the city is Fitzgerald Park. It’s the perfect spot because it is so versatile- there are spaces within the park that feel different from one another. There are benches by the river in the shade, there are long stretches of grass lawn where you can sun yourself (when the sun decides to come out), and there is a lovely fountain that is the fixture of the park. There are benches set into carved alcoves surrounding the fountain, which makes it the perfect place to read. It’s also a great spot to people watch, if that entertains you.

Cork By Night

Night life- depending on the day of the week- can be a bit crazy. As UCC students tend to go home on the weekends, weeknights are usually very busy. Club culture is definitely a thing here, but in terms of the more laid-back scene, live music in the pubs is definitely a staple.

Our favorite spot is Dwyer’s, which has live trad (Irish traditional) music every Thursday night. I love listening to trad music because I feel like it helps me connect with the Irish culture. I’ve even started to recognize some of the songs in the universal repertoire, which makes the experience all the more genuine. The live music scene usually packs out the pub- to the point where it’s standing room only- but I’ve found that locals and tourists alike have no problem creating a dance floor from the small area before the band’s stage. The dancing feels like yet another mark of authenticity, and it creates an unforgettable atmosphere with the music. I already know that this will be a part of my experience that I am sorely going to miss once I get home.

Over this last month, I have met so many new people. Some have been from home, but a vast majority have come from all over the world: France, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Peru, Sweden, and Bulgaria, to just name a few. I have seen so many new things and travelled to new destinations. I have started to learn so much about Irish traditions- thanks to some of my classes- and what every-day life is like for the people who were born and raised here. I find myself feeling extremely fortunate- lucky- every single day, and I can’t wait for what the next month might have in store.

This past weekend, the day after returning from the Camino de Santiago, I boarded a plane and flew 3 hours to the city of Dublin, Ireland, and met up with some of my friends from the University of Denver. Coming from Alicante, a warm city along the coast, it was a wonderful change of pace to experience some cold weather.

Dublin is a large, spread out city with a wide variety of interesting experiences and a lot of intriguing graffiti murals. On the first day of our Dublin trip, my friends and I walked around and went to some art galleries and shops before taking a tour of the Guinness factory; which has a rich history that is very important to the country of Ireland. We got to see how the famous beer is brewed and everything that goes into the brewing process. On top of the Guinness factory, there is a circular room made out of glass panels that offer a beautiful 360° view of Dublin.

The following day, one of my friends and I awoke at 6:00am for a bus tour that we had scheduled. The bus would leave from the center of the city at 7:45 and take us to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. Dublin is located on the very East coast of Ireland, and the Cliffs are located on the very West coast of Ireland. Interestingly, it only took three and a half hours on a bus to travel across the entire country of Ireland. That is less time than it would take me to get from Kansas City to St. Louis.

After a very sleepy three and a half hour bus ride, we arrived at the Cliffs of Moher, and they were even bigger than we had expected. The cliffs stand at 700 feet tall, and had a somewhat eerie feel to them due to dark storm clouds and stories we had heard about individuals falling off due to large gusts of wind. That being said, they are one of the more beautiful spectacles I have ever witnessed in person. Viewing the white-capped waves crashing into the rigid, mossy cliffs from 700 feet above was truly aw-inspiring. We explored the cliffs for a little less than two hours before boarding our bus to return to civilization.

On our way home from the cliffs, we stopped in a small town called Doolin to try some local food and experience a rural farm town in Ireland. There, we learned that sheep outnumber humans four to one in the country of Ireland. It was really nice to travel from East to South coast by bus, because we got to see a lot of Ireland and what it looks like in the center.

Sadly, on day three, right before touring the Jameson factory, our trip was cut short due to hurricane Ophelia. Many of my friends flights got cancelled, so we had to go back to our Airbnb and book new flights. Mine happened to be in 2 hours from when we found out about the hurricane, so I raced to the airport and made it to my plane with 2 minutes to spare. Although our trip was cut short by a day, I am very happy I visited Ireland and hope to return someday.

Tag: Ireland

One Month on the Emerald Isle