The trip began with a visit to Trinity College, Dublin, and its illuminated manuscript, The Book of Kells.  Visits to the National Museum and the Hugh Lane Art Gallery later in the week allowed them see the artefacts and paintings they had studied during their Global Issues research projects. 

A guided visit of Ireland’s National Theatre, The Abbey, allowed students handle objects from the set of Marina Carr’s Audrey or Sorrow,  a modern ghost story.   This enhanced the students’ enjoyment of the performance later that day.   

They left Dublin City to visit the magnificent 6th century monastic settlement of  Glendalough. Half the group went on a robust hike that brought them up into the Wicklow Hills with magnificent views of the lakes, while the others walked to the Mining Village at the end of the lakes. 

A highlight of the week was spending a day in our partner school, The Donahies CS, where they had lessons in the Irish language and an introduction to Ireland’s national sport, hurling.

The trip allowed our students to immerse themselves in Irish family life, discover treasures of Irish civilisation, imagine themselves studying in  Trinity College, Dublin, one day spend a day in an Irish secondary school with young people their own age.

The cost of the trip was considerably reduced by a grant from the Erasmus+ project, which provides European funding thanks to the Lycée International Montebello’s obtention of the Erasmus+ label.