Travel study students experience the Emerald Isle

By Dan Sandiford
Collegian Editor
March 22, 2006

Over Spring Break, 47 La Salle students traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to Ireland. They traveled around the Southern and Western regions of the island nation and were exposed to Irish culture, history and language.

Students participating in Religion 360—The Religious History of Ireland and Irish 260—Irish Language and Culture, spent 10 days enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

The trip was organized and run by Dr. Geffrey Kelly, chair of the Religion Department, and Dr. John Buckley of the Foreign Languages Department.

“There is something enchanting about the spectacular scenery of the Emerald Isle,” Kelly said. “I always delight in seeing the happiness of my students, whether in learning something new or seeing a different kind of beauty, that of the landscape, of nature itself, and of a people whose culture is different from our own.”

Students had the opportunity to see a large portion of the Irish countryside, including the scenic locations of Achill Island, Innish Moore, Cloinmacnoise and Craugh Patrick. Many of these locations tied in to the spiritual and religious attitudes of the Irish people. Students also visited several major towns and cities, including Galway and Cork.

No trip to Ireland is complete without a trip to Blarney to kiss the Blarney Stone. Legend has it that anyone who travels to the Blarney Stone and kisses it will be given the gift to communicate effectively and eloquently.

“I am now one of four in my family to kiss the Blarney Stone,” sophomore Gerard Prodoehl said. “Overall, [the travel study] is an experience, not so much a visit or trip.”

“My favorite part of the trip was Achill Island,” sophomore Christie McQuiggan said. “It was like nothing I’ve seen before, with the cliffs and the water. Everything was so calm and peaceful.”

Kelly and Buckley have been organizing and running both travel study courses for several years and have put a great deal of effort into coordinating the courses. They plan an itinerary; recruit students and chaperones; make hotel and flight arrangements, and coordinate with various museums, companies and the Irish tour company Cronin’s of Cork. All of these tasks have to be carried out while staying within a budget.

The two professors create new itineraries for each trip as well.

“Every year, Dr. Buckley and I rework the itinerary, taking into consideration the evaluations of the students. For example, we have avoided Dublin because for two consecutive years the students downgraded the Dublin phase of the trip, some saying that they might have well visited New York,” Kelly said.

Sophomore Kim Crawford was particularly intrigued by the appreciation Irish people have for their land, and the simplicity of the country life in Ireland. She thought the trip was truly worthwhile.

“It allowed me to see a country distinctly different from the United States way of life,” Crawford said.

Students were also exposed to the pub life while in Ireland.

“Pub life is the center of socialization in Ireland, whether students, family, friends, business or just relaxation at the end of the day,” Kelly said. “For many students, pub life provides some lasting, lingering memories of their stay in Ireland. A visit to Ireland is not complete without experiencing pub life.”

“Pub life in Ireland is, apart from being vastly different from American drinking culture, almost like the only real way to see the culture. It really isn’t what you think it will be like,” junior Tim Engel said. “People think about pubs and assume it to be hardcore drinking and stuff, and that is not what it is at all.”

“It was, indeed, a delightful trip, one of the best learning experiences that La Salle University provides,” Kelly said. “Ireland is still a center of culture and education that is built into the people’s religious, linguistic and cultural history.”

sandifordd1@lasalle.edu