State Central Community College District Summer 2022

A big Céad Míle Fáilte to our study group from State Center Community College District who just arrived into Dublin, enjoyed a yummy meal at The Gasworks Bar, a lovely night’s rest at Grand Canal Hotel & then off to #Bundoran in the morning! First visit for Margaret, Julio and Deborah and their great group from sunny California.  We  left Dublin for Donegal, via Tara & the Fairy Bridges…

We continued  our study of  Ireland at the beginning- Ireland’s mythology and ancient history. Nowhere better than Knocknarea Mountain, where Queen Maeve of Connacht is believed to be buried, standing under the great cairn, facing her enemies in Ulster! ‘Bull’, you say…. well, exactly! We also stopped off at the great Creevykeel Court Cairn. Majestic views from the royal mountain, and look at those blue skies! Almost Californian!  Ok- it rained on some days…. A lot. Luckily, our lovely Californian  students did not whinge, most of them saying that the soft Irish day just enhanced the intense green gorgeousness of the Ballyshannon Abbey Ruins, the Abbey Well and the Catsby Cave. We visited these sites today as part of our studies on early Christian Ireland,

A visit to Donegal Castle is always part of our trips- the HQ of the O’Donnell dynasty pre-Flight of the Earls, and a monument to Colonialism from the first floor up – there is THAT fireplace, and of course, Gary Whitedeer’s magnificent Choctaw painting, commemorating the donation of the Choctaw Nation during the Great Hunger – and Colm Cille’s infamous copied text, that saw him commit that great sin of plagiarism!

Then there’s  feeling when you come to Ireland from California, and try surfing for the very first time! Thanks Bundoran Surf Co for giving our State Center Community College District group a great experience. We also hiked up on the Appalachian trail (the Irish part of it) at Sliabh Liag, we climbed, we posed, then we returned to Killybegs for a yummy feed of fresh fish and chips at the Killybegs Seafood Shack, and some refreshments and tunes on the jukebox in the Harbour Bar.

Some great community service work done  thanks to SCCCD. We managed to get all the planters planted and some weeding done . We finished the morning off at Bundoran Community Development CLG with some lovely snacks sponsored by Cosgrove’s SuperValu Bundoran

‘Off you go and find your own dinner’ we said, and they did! A great afternoon at @tattiehoakerorganicfarm and our students from @scccd Thanks Dr. Aga and team

Beautiful Arranmore Island is one of our favourite field trips. Our students are amazed by the beautiful Beaver Island memorial in the lake, linking the emigrants of one island to their destination island – we love the crazy lighthouse steps, Kevin our great island bus driver, and the best island pub, Early’s of Arranmore, where not only do you get the freshest and yummiest lunch, but a musical performance from the proprietor, Gerry. Turas an-suimiúil ar fad! Earlys Bar, Arranmore Arranmore Ferry State Center Community College District SCCCD International Education Central Georgia Technical College #studyabroadireland

A visit to Derry is a must-do,  a tour of the Bogside Murals, an audience with the inspirational John Kelly at the Museum of Free Derry, a ramble up on the walls and a (little bit of ) shopping! #legenderry

Our classes also covered the history of the Irish language, and an overview of the play ‘Translations’ by Brian Friel, which our students planned to see in the Abbey at the weekend. To follow that up with a field trip, there was only one place to go- An Ghaeltacht. We went to beautiful Glencolmcille to visit the folk park, in particular, the hedge school & the schoolroom. Go raibh maith agaibh, Margaret agus do chairde. The boots had to come off for this ramble at Glencolmcille – it was worth it to cross the strand and visit the 9th century pillar cross beside the church. The Glen was absolutely blooming at the moment, with fields of yellow flag, foxglove,and fuschia, and even this damp rainy day didn’t lessen its beauty- perhaps it makes it even better! Is áit chiúin galanta é.

A final feast at Stakes Restaurant, #Bundoran, and our #StateCentral group will depart Donegal Slán agus GRMA you lovely bunch