We landed in Dublin after a three-hour flight from Vienna. Despite minor delays, we were able to get to our host families safely. We met with our teachers from the Babel Academy of English, where we were scheduled to take lessons for the next twelve days. Our itinerary started off with a walking tour of Dublin with our guide Paul. We saw picturesque sites and learned some interesting historical facts about the city along the way. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to do a bit of independent exploration!  

During our trip, we visited multiple museums and learned a lot about the history of Ireland. We drove two hours from Dublin to Belfast to visit the Titanic Museum, where we watched short video clips of people who experienced the accident and how safety regulations have changed since then. During our drive to Belfast, we crossed the “Peace Line,” which separates the Irish Republicans from British Unionists.  

At EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, we took part in an interactive walk that provided information and background on the famine of Ireland. We explored the history of emigration in Dublin when people had to flee the country because of the famine. With very little space, all travellers survived their journey across the Atlantic on the Jeannie Johnston, also known as the “Miracle Ship.”  

In addition to the historical contexts, the breath-taking sights along our journey were noteworthy! We spent a day in Howth, an outer suburb of Dublin. There we did a cliff walk, where we enjoyed beautiful views.  

Another highlight of our trip was that we got to immerse ourselves in the local cultures by interacting with our host families and participating in local events. Our leaders in Ireland took us to a sports center to play some traditional Gaelic sports, such as hurling and Gaelic football. Furthermore, we attended an Irish dance party, enjoying astonishing performances and even learning a short choreography with rhythmic footsteps. Of course, we had to visit an Irish pub during our stay in Ireland! We had a great time singing and clapping to the sound of traditional Irish music, and it was a memorable experience!  

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side; it was rainy for the majority of the trip. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time and will forever cherish the friendships and memories we have made along our journey!  

7A & 7B 

(Anja Rosskogler, Anja Hochörtler, Katharina Hölbling und Xaver Schneller)