Month: December 2023

When we’re not exploring Cork (and going to class, of course). Being in County Cork affords excellent opportunities to visit great nearby sites! The three sites I discuss in this issue are Blarney Castle, Kinsale, and Cobh!

Let’s start with Blarney! A 12-minute drive from Cork (by bus or car) lies Blarney Castle in Blarney! Blarney Castle has acres of forest and gardens that are great for a stroll or light hike. The grounds are home to both Blarney Castle and Blarney House. Blarney Castle is a medieval relic from the McCarthy line and holds the famous Blarney Stone, known for the lore of the “gift of the gab.” During my time in Cork, I visited Blarney Castle three times between going with friends in Cork and visiting friends. Each time was a time to remember! In addition to the castle, Blarney Village is home to the Blarney Wollen Mills, a massive store filled with Irish goods, a few other cute stores, and a very delicious pub for a great lunch!

Next, let’s discuss Kinsale! Just 30 minutes south of Cork, Kinsale is the Newport, RI, USA of Ireland. In fact, Kinsale and Newport are sister cities! Kinsale has cute stores and restaurants amongst its colorful buildings and nautical culture. Boats are found everywhere, and the beach is a short walk away! A few of my friends and I had a beach day there in early September for a lovely day trip. We had a lobster roll lunch and ice cream to end our day on the beach. (See, just like Newport!) I went back to Kinsale when a friend visited, and we checked out the Old Head of Kinsale, one of the southernmost points in Ireland. With beautiful cliff views, it is definitely a sight to be seen! The headland is also the nearest point of land to where the Lusitania sunk! With lots to do, Kinsale is a top recommendation for a day trip!

Finally, let’s end with Cobh. Just a 25-minute train ride from Cork, the little village of Cobh holds a lot of fame. Known to be the last port of call before the Titanic sank, an immersive experience at the Titanic museum is a fun way to begin the day! Cobh is filled with cute stores, cafes, and restaurants to browse. Cobh is also known for the famous “Deck of Cards Houses” view in front of St. Colman’s Cathedral. A look around the stunning Cathedral and a trip to the viewpoint are highly recommended.

These sites are only a few great areas accessible right from Cork! And they are definitely worth the trip!

In this issue, let’s discuss the UCC Early Start Program!

You must take the Early Start Program at UCC when attending the Cork program. The Early Start Program is a visiting student-only program consisting of your first three weeks in Cork. You’ll have class every day with only other visiting students before the semester classes begin. These programs are packed with field trips, as there are about five within the three weeks of the program. These classes generally consist of other American study abroad students as the other global students do not partake in the Early Start Program under the Erasmus exchange program. At UCC, there are three topic options to choose from: Archaeology, English, and History. I took the archaeology program; you’ll learn a little about my experience!

In the class, we learned about the history of Ireland through the lens of Archaeology. We learned about the Celts, the Pagans, Medival Ireland, the growth of cities, architecture, and so much more. We discovered an insane amount in three weeks; however, my favorite part was the field trips.

Our first field trip was to West County Cork, where we visited the Ballinacarriega Castle, a Ringfort, and the Drombeg Stone Circle, sights from early Medieval and pagan times in Ireland. We visited County Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula on the second field trip. We visited sights such as the Gallarus Oratory, Kilmalkedar Church, and Dingle. We got to take a harbor tour of Dingle and see the beautiful sights of the surrounding areas. We visited the Labbacalle Wedge Tomb on the third field trip, the Mitchelstown Caves, and the Rock of Cashel. On our fourth trip, we visited Dublin, where we visited the National Museum of Ireland and Christ Church Cathedral. On our fifth and final trip (my favorite one!), we had an overnight trip to County Clare, where we visited the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and many other sites. We stayed the night in Galway and explored the city before heading to the Aran Islands the next day. We had a private tour of Inis Mór (the largest of the three islands) and visited Dún Aonghasa. Overall, the program afforded a fantastic opportunity to explore inaccessible parts of Ireland and fully immerse ourselves in the culture from the get-go!

August brought lots of transition into studying abroad, but the archaeology program was a highlight. In addition to the program, I took trips with my friends to Kinsale, Blarney Castle, and Dublin while also exploring Cork! We explored the city while trying new restaurants and pubs all over the city!

August was a month to remember!