The SHL May Trip to Ireland

Kylemore Abbey

by Dr. Bob O’Halloran, Director, School of Hospitality Leadership

Twelve students and two faculty members from the College’s School of Hospitality Leadership had another great summer study abroad program while visiting Ireland this past May.

The SHL group arrived in Dublin, Ireland Tuesday, May 14. The group gathered and immediately set off for Galway. En route, the group visited the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise in County Offaly dating from the sixth century.

The day closed with a welcome dinner at the Hotel Connacht in Galway.

Below recaps the rest of our visit.

May 15

We visited the Mayo Institute of Technology and met with tourism and hospitality professor and department head, Diarmuid Ó Conghaile. He provided a local and national perspective of Ireland’s sustainable tourism industry. Later that afternoon, the group went on a walking tour of the Galway City, including Eyre Square, St Nicholas’ Cathedral and the Spanish Arch.

May 16

We traveled to the Irish speaking region of Connemara, which is known for its natural beauty and wilderness. It is home to soaring mountain ranges, placid lakes and idyllic villages.

That afternoon, the group ended up at Kylemore Abbey. The Abbey and its Victorian-walled garden were built in the late 19th century and are now owned by the Benedictine community. Returning to Galway in the evening, the group stopped at the ocean village of Spiddal for dinner.

May 17

A visit to Derry in Northern Ireland was up next. En route, we visited the lively town of Sligo and then visited the village of Drumcliff, County Sligo. Sligo is the final resting place of one of Ireland’s most famous literary giants, WB Yeats. He is buried at the foot of Ben Bulben, a dramatic mountain in the Dartry mountain range. A local expert met the group to discuss Yeats’ work and life.

May 18

We had a rainy, walking tour of Derry, where we learned about the city’s history and how tourism is growing there after the “Troubles.”

Later that same morning, the group departed for county Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and visited the village of Crolly. The group had lunch in Leo’s Tavern, which is owned and managed by the family of Irish singer and songwriter, Enya. The group also was treated to traditional music and songs from the owners of the pub, who are members of Irish group Clannad.

After lunch, the group visited Ireland’s second-largest national park, Glenveagh. They enjoyed a guided tour of Glenveagh Castle, explored the gardens, hiked through some of the wilderness and took in the park’s dramatic landscape.

Glenveagh

May 19

We set out for Belfast, but not before stopping at the World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway along the Antrim Coast. Legend has it that the Giant’s Causeway was created by Fionn Mac Cumhaill, a hero in Irish mythology. After the Giant’s Causeway, the group visited the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge where spectacular views of the Causeway Coast were enjoyed.

The group also visited craft brewery startup Lacada Brewery, a cooperative in Portrush on the north coast of Ireland. The owner hosted the group and discussed the business model he used to start his business. He initially sold 100,000 shares to supporters and investors and now has a board of investors to advise him.

May 20

The group had a Black Taxi Tour through different areas of Belfast. Some of these areas were severely affected during the Troubles, which is depicted on the murals that still decorate the walls throughout the town. During this tour, the drivers talked about Belfast’s recent history and how tourism has been growing in the last few years. That afternoon the group had free time to explore Belfast. Many visited the Titanic Belfast Experience.

May 21

Our visit to Dublin included a stop at Monasterboice, an early Christian settlement in County Louth. Monasterboice is known for its well-preserved high cross and round tower. The group continued to Brú na Bóinne, an ancient settlement that is over 5,000 years old and is home to one of Europe’s largest collections of prehistoric megalithic art.

May 22

Still in Dublin, we visited the Book of Kells and the Long Room at Trinity College Dublin. The Book of Kells is one of the world’s most famous medieval manuscripts. Written in Latin, it is an elaborate illustration of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Long Room is the largest single-chamber library in the world.

The group walked to the Guinness Storehouse, which is the No. 1 tourist attraction in Ireland. Finally, the group finished the day meeting several members of the Irish Hotels Federation, including its president and CEO. They learned about the importance of the hotel industry to the Irish economy and the unique challenges faced by Dublin hoteliers in delivering hotel space to the market.

May 23

Our final full day in Ireland included the group taking a trip to Glendalough and the picturesque villages of County Wicklow. In the Wicklow Mountains National Park, the grouped toured Glendalough, a sixth-century monastic site located in the heart of the park. Closing out the trip, the group participated in a farewell dinner at the Old Spot before preparing for the trip home the next morning.

This year’s trip to Ireland was a full program, and students engaged in a variety of activities that focused on natural attractions, humanmade attractions and cultural tourism throughout the program. Participating students are currently enrolled in one to two courses this summer. They were responsible for keeping a daily journal of their experiences.

The group is now working on their projects examining a cross section of topics which ranged from sustainable tourism in Ireland vs. the USA, national park management, craft beer companies, and much more. Student participants included: Avery Wilson, Boris Escalona, Brynna Moran, Chad Baker, Chris Thomas, Janna Sager, Lily Redick, McKenna Ruby, Molly Roth, Nicholas Roberts, Phillip McClement, and Sara Phelps. The program leaders were Dr. Cynthia Deale and Dr. Robert O’Halloran, faculty of the School of Hospitality Leadership.