Gateway Technical College Summer 2023
We welcomed summer AND our first summer visitors the first week of May! Lovely students and faculty from Gateway Technical College in Wisconsin joined us on May 3 where we first introduced them to the magical and fantastic experience that is the Fairy Bridges and Wishing Chair. The next day took us to Ballyshannon where our friends posed for a photo on a beautiful bridge (check it out below!). Lecture took us way back to the great O’Donnell Chieftains, the flight of the Earls, and the colonisation of Ireland in the 17th century. To make this history come to life, we visited Assaroe Abbey and St. Patrick’s Well, then hopped over to the O’Donnell Castle and Abbey in Donegal town. Next, we dove into the world of Irish mythology. The Ulster Cycle, Cú Chulainn, and Queen Meabh – oh my! Our field trip took us to Queen Meabh’s Cairn, where the wind nearly blew us away (no, really)! We introduced the group (and their adorable mascot stuffy) to the Sliabh Liag cliffs the following day, and then popped into Killybegs, a small fishing village with the best, (yes, THE best) fish ‘n chips you could ever hope for. A visit to Ireland isn’t complete without a visit to Killybegs Seafood Shack. Rain or shine, these fresh fish ‘n chips is worth any sacrifice, and this group absolutes believes that now! As if Sliabh Liag wasn’t a big enough bucket list item for one day, our Gateway pals were then able to have a great surfing lesson with the Bundoran Surf Co at Tullan Strand. On our final evening together, the oceanside offered up a beautiful, glorious sunset – a going away gift to our lovely Gateway Technical College friends. Thanks for visiting — and we can’t wait to see you again!
