La Lumiere Students Explore Ireland for Spring Break
Over La Lumiere’s Spring Break, nine students and three chaperones explored Ireland and expanded their creative writing skills.
After a smooth trip to Ireland and an introduction to the Kylemore Global Centre from Director Lisa Caulfield, the La Lumiere group began their adventure with a hike up Doughruagh Mountain for a full panoramic view of the landscape. A scavenger hunt, a brief history lesson from Lisa, and a visit to the Victorian Walled Gardens on the property rounded out the first day in Ireland.
On the second day, the Lakers traveled by bus through Killary Fjord and out to Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, a pilgrimage mountain associated with the legends of St. Patrick of Ireland. The group climbed this iconic mountain, which towers 2,500 feet above Clew Bay and the beautiful coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. (The view was helped by the fact that it was the nicest day of weather Ireland has seen in months!)
On day three, the travelers were introduced to baking traditional Irish brown bread by Chef David Harrison at the Kylemore Global Centre. After the lesson, the group was able to enjoy cured lamb, blue cheese from County Tipperary, and chocolate and figs from the Kylemore Estate. After a trip to the cozy town of Clifden, the group returned to Kylemore for guided writing reflections and a little competitive Scrabble.
Our group stepped back in time on the fourth day of their trip and gained hands-on experience examining prehistoric sites, burial mounds, and church ruins with guidance from archaeologist Michael Gibbons, who taught the crew how to read the landscape of Omey Island. They even learned a bit about the local flora and fauna—and one lucky student volunteer had the chance to try a very fresh mussel. After Omey, they made their way back across the tidal beach and headed off to the Tom Nee Sheep Farm, which was a highlight of the week for many members of the group.
The travelers took a ferry out to the Aran Islands on the fifth day of their trip. With blue skies above and the inexhaustible wit and wisdom of their archaeologist friend, Michael Gibbons, the group could not have asked for a better day. While visiting Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, junior Liam Kruis was impacted by the dates and inscriptions found on tombstones in the graveyard at St. Ciaran’s Church. “Seeing some of the messages on the graves really put life into perspective for me,” Liam said. “Just this one trip showed me life is something that we should really cherish and that it is also good to remember the past and see what life might have been for them.” The crew enjoyed lunch at Dún Aonghasa, a 3,000 year-old stone fort on the side of a sea cliff, and hiked along the island to Poll na bPeist, or "the Wormhole," a naturally-formed rectangular pool in the rock that you have to see to believe.
On their final day in Ireland, the students bid goodbye to Kylemore and trekked toward the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher for one last adventure together. Once again, the weather was perfect, and Michael Gibbons guided them along the Cliffs and through the Burren with his brilliant insights on these iconic Irish landscape features. After a short stint in Dublin, they were on their way home the following day.
After returning stateside, senior Dayton Dec offered insight into the experience: “Thanks to this trip, I have now fortified my love for travel. I have always loved going to other countries and seeing the world, but this trip offered new insight. If I could offer any advice to students wanting to attend a Spring Break trip, it would be to just, ‘Go!’” With that encouragement in mind, we are already looking forward to the next travel opportunities for our Lakers.
