Day 5

May 1, 2023May 15, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Our day began with breakfast at the Bentley and meeting up with Hazel Scott and a few International Education students from New College Lanarkshire who will be coming to visit in late May. Our group took the train into Edinburgh and hailing a few cabs to Prestonfield House. This living monument was built by the King’s architect Sir William Bruce for the Sir James Dick. It was the Dick family private residence until 1958 when it became a hotel. It was purchased in 2003 by restaurateur James Thomson who has spent two decades restoring it to its former glory. His unique, eloquent, and opulent style can be seen throughout the hotel.

Our visit began with a Master Floral class taught by Prestonfield House’s resident florist. An experienced and creative designer, he took us through the steps to create central floral arrangements using flowers that are found locally and in-season.

After our class was complete, the owner of the Prestonfield House, James Thomson greeted us at our adorned table. He spent a great deal of time telling us about the history Prestonfield House and his journey with the property, since acquiring it in 2003. After our initial discussion, Mr. Thomson lead us around the grounds discussing the property, its history, and its future.

This former horse stable has played host to 100s of different events throughout the last two decades. Besides the weddings that one would expect to host here, The Stables has played host to Royal Teas, Ambassador socials, rock concerts, plays, and recitals.

This tea house was constructed to the Queen Mother could enjoy her tea in the garden and stay out of the rainy, cool weather that Scotland is so famous for

After our historical tour of the grounds, our table set for tea awaited us. What an amazing treat.

The company was good. The atmosphere was opulent. The food was incredible! The menu was not only seasonal but all ingredients from within the region. A host and a meal never to be forgotten.

What an experience we had at the Prestonfield House! James Thomson was a gracious and humble host to our group. Unfortunately, we couldn’t afford the room rates for an overnight, so we caught our evening train back to Motherwell to rest our heads during last night in Scotland.

Day 11

May 7, 2023May 16, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

To Dublin we go.

The date is May the seventh, 2023–our last full day of our study abroad trip. A trip, which

has been in a state of purgatory for the last 4 or so, years. Everyday has consisted of new

adventures and history and today was no different.

The morning began with a fine array of breakfast delicacies—cured meats and cheeses to

pastries. Once we ate our fill, we embarked upon our cross-country journey.

Not long after our departure we made a stop to admire the statue of Constance Markievicz.

An Irish politician, revolutionary, nationalist, suffragist, socialist, and the first woman elected to

Parliament.

From there we ventured forth—seeing mountain highs and valley lows, shaded with the most

vibrant spring shades of green and yellow. Passing networks of fields speckled with lambs of

white and grey.

As we approached the peak of our journey we learn of a landmark shrouded in historical significance, whose anthem is a solemn song, recited by our guide. (see right) Dr. Hamill recited the final lines to this (in)famous poem to remind of us all the children who suffer when society turns its back on those in need. She reflected on the people we learned about during our time here and the places in history that are still part of the fabric of Ireland.

We walk along a tree-lined trail, meeting a creek guiding us to the main event: The Yeats, or

Glencar, waterfall. The sound of rushing waters filled the air alongside birdsong and a warm

wind ruffling the leaves above. It was a truly mesmerizing site.

But time stands still for no one, so we took to our 4-wheeled steed and embarked once

more. But on our last leg we departed from our faithful guide, Dr. Niamh Hamill and into Dublin we go!

Loosely connected countryside cottages turned to tight knots of suburbs, which increased in

steps becoming towers towering far beyond our heads.

And there we were, our final frontier. We said goodbye to our trusty driver and checked in.

From there exploration commenced.

Ali, whom I trusted as a guide to the shopping district—took us in the complete opposite

direction. But to quote Bob Ross: “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents.” And the streets

were lively, with people singing, talking, laughing, so what’s not to enjoy?

The Stolen Child

W. B. Yeats – 1865-1939

Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats;
There we’ve hid our faery vats,
Full of berrys
And of reddest stolen cherries.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim gray sands with light,
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,
Weaving olden dances
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And anxious in its sleep.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car,
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star,
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams;
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Over the young streams.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.

Away with us he’s going,
The solemn-eyed:
He’ll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast,
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest.
For he comes, the human child,
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping than he can understand.

Much of the group took to their own devices, so I cannot speak for them, but I alongside,

Elaine, Chinedu, Ali, Melody, Ariel, Colleen, and Anel had dinner at The Old Storehouse which

completed our day.

A wonderful cap to a wonderful trip, I’d say. I’ve had a great time throughout it all, and am

grateful for the many unlikely friendships I would have otherwise never made. Thanks to you all

for the kindness you’ve shown me!

P.S.

To-Do list:

-Watch Super Troopers and Varsity Blues.

-Go to Frank’s Diner in Kenosha

-Join International club

Day10

May 6, 2023May 16, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Social justice, Empathy, and Global Citizenship: Darry & the Bloody Sunday museum.

Today we started the day with the lecture of Social Justice, Empathy and Global Citizenship. We went over the civil rights movements of Ireland and America, learning that Ireland’s movement for Catholic rights was inspired by America’s non-violent movement for racial civil rights. We learned about Bloody Sunday and that the people who were lost got justified in the end, after a lengthy investigation, which found British troops fired into the crowd and caused violence during the peaceable protest.

The Orphan Girls Famine Memorial was erected in 2014 by family members of the 19 girls who were sent to Sydney, Australia to help populate the newly founded country. There legacy was kept alive through their family members who know the sacrifice that was made by their exportation from Ireland.

Ballyshannon abandoned workhouse. In use until the 1930s

The famine pot in the middle of The Orphan Girl Famine Memorial. Famine pots were communal feed pots where all those who were able contributed to the meal. These pots were responsible for countless deaths by spreading typhoid fever and numerous other infectious diseases from unsanitary conditions.

Before we went to Darry, we stopped in Ballyshannon to see the Orphan Girl Famine memorial, learn about Famine Pots, and view an abandoned workhouse. Workhouses were built to house, and only house, the poor during the great famines. These places were created to be as uncomfortable as possible, so the poor would be motivated to work and leave. These places were deathtraps and the famine pots of communal food, for those who could contribute, threw in their meager food to create a thin stew. These pots, and the unhygienic accommodation of the workhouses, spread typhoid and other infection throughout the workhouse population. This was a miserable existence and an example of how the poor were viewed and treated by the larger society.

There were very few options for the poor and destitute who were starving because of the potato famine; emigrate to America as cargo in the hold of ships or face the workhouses, the appalling conditions, disease, and continued starvation of a society that did not care about the poor.

Dr. Niamh Hamill explains the significance of the Bogside murals throughout free Darry.

Next, we were on our way to Derry. To see all the places that we went over in our lecture. We visited the Bogside Murals along with the Museum of Free Derry as a group.

The museum was very heartfelt, and you can feel what the family’s went through during the Civil Rights movement and Bloody Sunday. Bloody Sunday occurred Sunday, January 30 1972, when 14 lost their lives and another 17 harmed when British troops fired into a crowd of Catholic Civil Rights protesters. The period after came to be known as “The Troubles”. A time during which non-violent resistance and protest was replaced with premilitary style domestic terrorism in an effort to gain Catholic civil rights.

The victims of the Bloody Sunday massacre were only cleared of criminal charges 38 years later when the Saville report was read in 2010. This 12-year investigation into the shootings found that British troops shot into the crowd and then murdered those who injured or helping the injured on the street. Prime Minister David Cameron apologized for the actions of the military saying, “What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong.”

The cannons still stand as a reminder of the divide between the British majority and the Catholic minority.

It was a somber day meant for reflection and learning. The struggle for civil rights is a subject that is near and dear to the United States and to Ireland. Subjugation of anyone, regardless of the reason, can not be tolerated. It was not until April 10th, 1998, until the Good Friday Agreement was signed, that the terrorism of the Troubles came to an end. This accord was only made possible by the continued dialogue between unionist parties, the political wings of both the UVF and UDA, Sinn Fein and the British Government. The agreement created a plan for a power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly and outlined plans for future relationships between Ireland and Britain.

Day 9

May 5, 2023May 16, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

A day of adventure, exploring, and new experiences.

A panorama of the majestic and dynamic beauty of Ireland; Sliabh Liag Cliffs.

An experience of a lifetime. Bundoran is known worldwide for its surfing culture. Students chose to don wetsuits and catch the waves of the cold Atlantic.

For those who didn’t want to climb aboard a surfboard in the freezing Atlantic Ocean, riding the sand dunes was a great second choice.

The rain cleared up and this magnificent view was ours to drink in. The day was perfect!

It looks more terrifying than it appears.

Day 8

May 4, 2023May 16, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Irish language, legends, mythology, and folklore.

Today for class we discussed Irish language further in the fact that their alphabet has less letters and because they don’t have certain letters certain combinations of letters create the sound of a letter they don’t have or can cause a letter to be silent. We also learned a few greetings.

The focus of today’s class was about legends, mythology, and folklore of Ireland. There were times during lecture that I could see parallels to other legends and myths from other cultures. Always keep in mind that a story has some truth to it, because it had to come from somewhere!

Some of the myths and folklore we learned about was The Salmon of Knowledge (two different versions of this story), The Turaiocht Diarmaid and Grainne, Cuchuallin and Maebdh. Also discussed was that it is bad luck to use the term fairy instead of The Good People or The Little People (there are a few other terms that can be used as well) and where the folklore originated from.

We then set off to Belleek which is a pottery store and is world renowned for what they do. They have been in business for 166 years! This company has won multiple awards for their work. Each piece is handmade can be shipped anywhere in the world. You can see their signature basket weave porcelain design that recognizable around the world. If any piece is not made to the standard of perfection it is destroyed, so it does not dishonor the craftsmanship and standard of quality that Belleek has built over the last 166 years.

Next, we headed over to the Queen Maeve Trail and Cairn. A long and hard climb was what was called for, but worth every hard step. At the summit we discussed queen Maeve further and her story, during which a breathtaking view was admired. One student had a very touching and emotional connection and moment as she got to the summit. This experience and journey is different for each and every student.

The journey is part of the experience. To walk with path and reflect on the legend of Queen Maeve and the significance she has played in the generations of Irish is humbling.

The site will never be excavated because it does not matter if the Queen was a real figure in history because her legend looms large over the region and the country.

Dr. Niamh Hamill explaining the cultural significance of Queen Maeve.

We then finished off our day with a nice stop at Mammie Johnston’s Ice Cream Shop and Café where we all were able to sit outside and admire the Atlantic Ocean while eating our goodies.

At the end of the day, we need to remember that this trip holds different meaning and value for each and every person. None of us should walk away the same. We should take this opportunity as change something in us that will cause us to grow and appreciate more. This journey is one step at a time, for some this is a life changing experience. Keep folklore alive and stories, don’t allow them to die out, because if we do, we will lose part of ourselves and our culture.

Day 7

May 3, 2023May 16, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Shared naratives

Dr. Niamh Hamill, our instructor, drew parallels to the fate of the Native Americans in the US. They were removed, replaced, places were renamed, and the Native Americans were pushed westward to less valuable lands.

Today’s lesson was about Shared Narratives between the US and Ireland. We started the day in class learning about the geography and culture of the early Celts, the British colonization by Plantation, and the parallels in our shared history. We learned how Henry VIII and Elizabeth I began the colonization of Ireland by removing the ruling families, replacing them with Anglo-Scot families, banning the Irish language, renaming towns, and changing the architecture. The Irish ruling families and the Irish people were systematically pushed west to the coast and, in the words of Oliver Cromwell, “To hell or to Connacht”. Connacht is the most western area of Ireland with non-farmable land. This resulted in many people being forced to leave Ireland or die of starvation.

After our in-class lecture, we visited Assaroe Abbey in Ballyshannon to learn the story of Red Hugh O’Donnell, who was the chieftain in the Donegal area. He resisted the colonization of the British to the best of his ability but was eventually run out as well. During his reign, he built monasteries and abbeys in the area.

We visited two important religious sites. One was Catsby Cave, a secret cave where Catholic priests said mass when it was prohibited. The other was a shrine to St. Patrick next to a holy well and a wishing tree. We learned how the ancient religions were blended and incorporated into Christianity to convert the Irish.

Next, we visited Donegal Castle. This was an important landmark to demonstrate the colonization process. The Irish family, the O’Donnells, were removed from their castle and an Anglo-Scottish family was installed. The families that were installed were ordered to tear down or rebuild the castle to make it look English. The O’Donnell castle kept its original tower, but added an English addition. Dr. Hamill pointed out all the changes that were made to send the message that the English culture was replacing Irish culture.

Surprisingly, in the castle, there was a painting and a display dedicated to the Native American Choctaw Nation. In the 1860’s the Choctaw heard the story of how the Irish were being driven from their land, and they felt a connection to them as the same thing was happening to them. They took up a collection and sent money to Ireland to help. Since then, there has been an ongoing friendship with the Choctaw Nation.

We finished our day by exploring Donegal town. It was built by the British with a market square in the middle. There are no alleys. This was to make sure that all trade was in plain sight and taxes could be collected on all transactions.

It was a very interesting and eye-opening day. We all learned to see things we hadn’t seen before!

A statue of Red Hugh O’Donnell at the seaside in Donegal Town

Day 6

May 2, 2023May 16, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Good bye Scotland, hello Ireland!

Traveling is so many things. It is waking up at dawn to catch your cab, so you can arrive at the airport and wait for the gate to open. Traveling is waiting at the check-in desk for a half an hour while the luggage belt gets fixed. Traveling is anticipating what is to come, while cultivating patience and finding the best snacks to prevent hanger. Never the less, we made the jump from Glasgow to Dublin. We were met at the airport by John O’Connell, one of our partners from the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland.

After organizing ourselves, we jumped met our bus driver for the week, Karl, and he invited to jump on the bus and settle in for our scenic drive through the green country of Ireland to our destination Bundoran. Along the way, we made a brief stop to climb the Hills of the Witches and see the Cairns of Loughcrew. Cairns are Neolithic burial sites. These cairns in particular are covered with covered with megalithic art that dates to 4000 BCE. During the spring and autumn equinox, the sun shines into the central cairn entrance. People still gather annually to experience this event.

The welcome center at Loughcrew features some of the best coffee I had since leaving the United States and the apple pie was almost a taste of home. These buildings not only function as a resting point for travels, but one is still stands as an example of the family home it was until the 1930’s.

The climb was worth the 360 degree view of the County Meath. We took our time, taking in the beauty of our surroundings.

The Witches Chair sits to watch over Cairn T

megalithic drawings adorn the entrance of Cairn T

What a refreshing stop on our journey and a chance to get in touch with the deep roots that Ireland has with its past. The slow descent to the bus allowed us ask John questions about the area and get a feel for our surroundings. A few hours and we will be to our destination, but first a stop at the Fairy Bridges to make a few wishes.

It was one of those times that you’ve seen the picture a thousand times and realize that a picture will never do justice to what is experienced. The famous The Fairy Bridges and Wishing Chair of Ireland is a bucket list must see! John explained that the ocean was very calm and usually the wave spray is crashing up through the opening of the fairy bridge. You can see the pink Sea Thrift cling to life and coloring the landscape throughout the rocky edges.

Many a wish was made upon the wishing chair.

Time to settle into our accommodations, Atlantic Apartotel, located right on Main Street in Bundoran. These comfortable little apartment style hotel rooms give everyone a little more privacy with separate rooms but also the flexibility to prepare and keep food in the rooms.

We had a welcome dinner at McGarrigles Restaurant right across the street from Atlantic Apartotel, featuring authentic Irish fair. What a HUGE day we had. With Scotland only 14 hours behind us, we settled in for dinner and talked with excitement about the days to come.

Tomorrow will bring learning and new adventures! We look forward to the days to come in Ireland.

Day 4

April 30, 2023May 15, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Sunday April 30th, 2023, today’s activities go as follows. We met outside the Bentley hotel at 8:30. Walk to the nearby train station. Took the train from Motherwell to Glasgow. Got off the train and walked through the downtown area into the next station which would take us to Edinburgh. While walking we saw amazing architecture and smelled delicious street food.

Once in Edinburgh, we made a small pit stop in the bathrooms and then headed out to Edinburgh Castle. The walk was quite an experience. You walk uphill the entire way. It takes your breath away, not just the climb, but seeing all the beautiful buildings below you.

The entrance to the castle was at 1230. We depart and start seeing right away all the history the Castle has to offer, from the crown jewels to the prisoner’s room.

Met after by the entrance gate and went to Victoria Street. This street is known to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rawling. All of us ventured off in groups to explore what the city had to offer. I of course being a huge fan of Harry Potter, I had to go in the stores themed after the books.

When I got my fill, I headed with Melody to Maggie’s Dickinson pub for some food. We sat and enjoyed a nice hot meal plus a refreshing drink.

After lunch, Melody and I walked the Royal Mile. We made a few stops at some stores and bought a few things. We then headed back to our meeting point to reunite with everyone else.

At our meeting point, we waited to go and tour the underground vaults of the city. We walked through the royal mile once again, but this time learning about the history of the city from our guide. The guide mentioned the vaults were underground but in the current city scape, they are in between the buildings. Walking in the vaults is an unforgettable experience. They are cold, dark, and dank. This is where people hiding from the law or those society found undesirable, made their homes.

On a sad note, our day in Edinburgh ended. We gathered in the light of day, walked back to the train station, grabbed something for the road, and made our way back to Motherwell.

Day 3

April 29, 2023May 15, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Started with an early breakfast at the Bentley hotel. We boarded the Rabbie tour van by 9 AM and were on our way to the Scottish Highlands.

Our first stop was Stirling Castle, which was key to the kingdom of Scotland. The castle is set on top of volcanic rock above the Forth river, set between the Lowlands and the Highlands of Scotland. During the civil wars in Scotland and during the time they struggled with England the castle changed hands eight times in 50 years.

The palace rooms were reconstructed and display the richness that once inhabited its royal walls, including James V, Mary of Guise and Mary Queen of Scots.

There are also the Stirling Heads, which are oak carvings created in 1500s for these ceilings. These heads were on display within cases for all to view their detail closely. There is also the Queen Anne Garden to give a softness and color to this huge stone castle.

The castle at one time had 250 stone sculptures adorning the outside including one of James V himself to show its grandness to all visitors. These sculptures are weather worn and deteriorated.

The palace is styled with ornate tapestries, stained glass windows and ceilings that were works of art.

Dinning Hall

Although the weather was less than desirable, we all enjoyed the tour and viewing an important piece of world history.

Next, we continued to drive through the highlands. Our tour guide Andrew pointed out spots of interest along the way, all while playing local music. We did not stop at all of them, we drove by and viewed. We did get to stop and feed the Scottish highland cows. Massive, long-hair cows with huge horns. One of the royals did not like the black and white cows sometime back in history, so that is why there are more of the rusty colored cows today.

We stopped to grab a quick bite to eat at the Scottish Wool Centre and headed on our way to the next stop. We headed to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, which is Scotland’s first national park, it was given this status back in 2002. While there we toured the Balloch Steam Slipway, walked along the water’s edge, and saw a few jet skiers, even with the chilly weather. After all the outdoor fun, we were on to our next scheduled part of the trip a distillery.

Auchentoshan Distillery was established in 1823, and is the only Triple Distilled Single Malt in Scotland. There are 3 ingredients, barley, water and yeast. They first make a beer, then triple distill it and then wait. Storing the whisky in matured casks that formerly held bourbon, sherry or fine wine. Their process is more time-consuming and expensive but is absolutely unique. Whisky is spelled differently here and is the main export of Scotland. Whisky means “water of life.” We toured each of the processing rooms, as well as the storage barns. Each room had its own smell, including fermenting barley and yeast and aging whisky in barrels.

We ended the evening with dinner where we chose, some in the hotel, and some out for take away. And then resting up in our rooms for a big day in Edinburgh.

Day 2

April 28, 2023May 15, 2023 scotlandireland2023Leave a comment

Gateway Students at New College Lanarshire – Motherwell Campus

Everyone in the group tried their hand at getting a good night’s rest; some more successfully than others. Luckily, our educational partners at New College Lanarkshire were kind enough to let us start the morning slowly. Hazel Scott, the International Activities Manager at New College Lanarkshire, waited until mid-morning to pick up our group from the Bentley Hotel and take us to New College Lanarkshire’s Motherwell Campus.

The New Lanarkshire – Mother Well Campus was built in 2009 on the site of the former Lanarkshire Steel Company that was closed by British Steel in 1979. Lanarkshire Steel Company was the third largest producer of steel girders in Europe after the second World War.

We were met with a warm welcome of tea, coffee, and local snacks by Dugald Craig, Director of International Education and Evalyn Waters, a faculty member in the hospitality and tourism department. Dugald gave a brief introduction about the college, its campuses, and areas of study. Evalyn filled us in on the rivalry of Glasgow and Edinburgh, the economic history of the Motherwell area, and the evolution of the college. It was easy to draw parallels between the regions. Like Gateway, the oldest technical college in the United States, New College Lanarkshire’s Coatbridge is the oldest Further Educational Institute in Great Britain. Evalyn was kind to suggest a walking tour of the city below the city of Edinburgh to experience the goosebumps from centuries of shoes that crossed the paths of the buried city. (Stay tuned for updates)

Hazel took the lead and gave the group a whistlestop tour of campus. We visited an automation lab that was being packed up to take on the road for industry consultation and training, to show small businesses the potential automation may have within their business.

We popped into the college gym where students were learning about lifestyle fitness. Lastly, we had a stopover with a group of healthcare professionals. Our nursing alumni and students commiserated with New Lanarkshire nursing students about the academic rigor and shared experiences of becoming a healthcare professional

By one o’clock we were famished and invited to the college fine dining hall. Here we met and shared a Scottish inspired luncheon with a Canadian group from Niagara College. The Niagara College group had been in Scotland for the past 10 days and were on their final day of travel. Both of our groups were treated to a Scottish inspired meal prepared and served by New Lanarkshire culinary student.

After lunch, Gateway students joined New College Lanarkshire culinary students as the culinary instructor from Niagara College, Scott Wild, presented on the international learning opportunities for culinary students at Niagara College.

Dinner and cosmic bowling was a great way to end the night! We could have used the bumpers.