Week 2: Class and Connemara

This past week was full of firsts, as I’m sure many weeks will be as I study abroad. Last Monday marked the start of classes at NUIG (National University of Ireland Galway). The university has over 17,000 students, and most lecture halls can seat over 200 people. This is quite different from the classrooms I have grown accustomed to at MLC. I am taking five classes here at NUIG and in each, I am learning about literature, Irish culture, and history. I can already tell that my homework will involve much reading in coffee shops. Aside from school, I also had my first days with my new soccer team. NUIG Ladies Soccer is very accommodating to us ‘Yanks.’ They seem almost as excited to have a few new Americans on the team as I am to play with them. On Thursday we had a charity event against the NUIG Gaelic Football team. We played soccer the first half and Gaelic Football (a popular national sport) the second half. Any MLC student would quickly call Gaelic Football “Speedball,” but I can teach you the slight differences when I return. Below is a picture of the ladies soccer team from Thursday. I am very excited to play my favorite sport in a new country with new friends.

On Saturday my ISA group took a day trip to the rural beauty of Connemara. We left our little urban city to see the classic rolling hills of the picturesque Irish countryside. The first stop was at Ross Errilly Friary, a ruin of the largest Irish friary (monastery) built in the 1300’s. It was absolutely beautiful, even with the rain falling on us. I learned that monks in the 1300’s must have been very short because even I had to duck in order to fit through the doors! It is incredible that such an ancient piece of history can still be standing for me to explore.

From there we traveled to Kylemore Abbey to see the beautiful gardens and the gorgeous mansion that Mitchell Henry built for his wife in the late 1800s. However, I found the trip there even more interesting than the destination. As we traveled our bus driver told us the history of western Ireland. Here you can still see the effects of the Potato Famine of 1845-1852. The picture below shows a famine house. These ruins are scattered all over the countryside, the leftover stones from houses of people who abandoned their homes to seek food and life anywhere but the desolate and diseased Ireland. The bus driver pointed out the potato fields running down the hills and mountains that are still visible over a hundred years later. Being able to physically see and touch Ireland’s history has led me to care even more about this beautiful land that is my home for the next few months.

And of course, the trip showed me the majesty of God’s creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1 “The mountains and hills will burst into song before you.” Isaiah 55:12 God surely has created a masterpiece on the west coast of Ireland, and here are some pictures to prove it! Have a wonderful week and God’s blessings!