Belfast & the Antrim Coast: Northern Ireland

Also last month, my program organized a trip for us to the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast. It feels even bigger than Dublin. It is one divided city, you can feel the tension in the air. We sat in on a background lecture on the famous murals of Belfast that portray the two sides to the story: that of the militant loyalist unionists (usually Protestants), the Ulster Freedom Fighters or Ulster Volunteer Army, and that of the militant republicans (often Catholics), the IRA (Irish Republican Army). Much like Derry, each side used the city as their canvas and billboard to sway the public in their direction, either identifying themselves as British or Irish is usually what it came down to. And it is far from over. Up until this trip, I had only studied about the Two Irelands without understanding just how different they are.

Catholics and Protestants are housed in separate areas of the city and Peace Walls run between them. These walls, although built in some of the most dangerous areas of Belfast and Northern Ireland in general, have been covered in modern murals by peace activists striving for resolution and understanding. Thousands of visitors to the walls have left behind a small wish for peace: their signature. Pleas for peace all over the world are also given wall space, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was a very moving day and interesting as our tour guide was a devout Protestant Brit and our bus driver was a devout Catholic Irishman.. The lines between terrorist and martyr became hazy.

We also traveled to the beautiful Antrim coast, the Northernmost part of the Irish island. The Giant's Causeway is a natural rock formation there said to have been built by the Irish giant Finn McCool in order to cross the small strait to Scotland to fight another giant. It was believed to have been giant-made because the rocks are a perfect hexagonal shape.












It feels like such a long time since I took this trip but it sticks out in my mind as one of the most physically beautiful trips I've ever taken.

More to come on my life-changing trip to Paris, my horrible St. Patrick's Day, and exciting summer news..

MWAH!

Irish Language Homestay

Dia duit! (Hello!)

It has been far too long and I am drowning under a pile of posts to share! I cannot believe I have posted so little and here it is March and I have one week left of classes..

So much has happened and I am forever changed by this semester in Ireland. Luckily, so many adventures still to be had!

Back in February I had the privilege of going to the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking region) of Conomara which is very near to Galway for my Irish language course for the weekend. No one in my program was on the trip and it was a wonderful opportunity to meet other NUIG students.. even if they all were Americans like me pathetically attempting to learn this difficult language!

It was one of my favorite weekends ever. The people I stayed with were so kind, the challenge of using a new language was fun, and experiencing such a small Irish community was a blessing. We took classes every day, but we also took a kaylee dancing class which reminded me very much of folk dancing nights at Aldersgate camp.. Afterwards we went to the one pub in the town and requested one of the songs we had learned a dance to called "The Donkey", and the in house band played it! Imagine fifty giddy Americans dancing a traditional dance in this tiny Irish pub surrounded by several local spectators. It was amazing.

Let's just hope some of the Irish stuck! My final is on my 21st birthday, April 11th and my sister will be here for a full week before then.. :/

Slan! (Bye!)