Yesterday was our second (and unfortunately our last) day excursion. We started off bright and early on a guided tour bus with the same driver who took us to the Cliffs of Moher just a few days ago. After driving for awhile, we reached our first stop at KilKenny! It was highly suggested that we dedicate part of our limited time to exploring St. Canice’s Cathedral so that’s exactly what we did. We made our way through the small town full of coffee shops and boutiques where we finally reached the Cathedral after about 20 minutes of walking.
Other than exploring the Cathedral itself, we wanted to climb up into the tower which consisted of 121 steps and was said to provide a pretty amazing view at the top. I was honestly really nervous as we climbed up the tower since there was a hand rail on only one side of the steps and the space was extremely limited. Once we got to the top, we had to squeeze together on the small platform and struggle to hold onto all our belongings through the strong wind. The view wasn’t as amazing as the Cliffs of Moher, but it was still really cool to experience!
After Kilkenny, we headed to the Wicklow Mountains which were absolutely stunning! I did, however, notice that there was an abundance of tour busses on the extremely narrow roads. It definitely felt more touristy and commercialized than the Cliffs of Moher. Along the way, we had the opportunity to stop and climb around on some rocks before heading down towards the visitor center. This day excursion reminded me again about just how small and insignificant some of my worries are in this huge world. I often spend far too much time stressing about the little things and experiences like this definitely help to put everything into perspective.
Through all this, we have quickly learned that Ireland has a great focus on their exports. As students and travelers, however, we are imports into the Irish economy. Culture is Ireland’s number one resource to attract travelers and to maintain a sustainable society. Other factors that help to contribute to Ireland’s competitive advantage include the tax rates, the technological advances and the fact that Ireland will soon be the only English speaking country in the EU. Some of Ireland’s challenges relative to other destinations in attracting tourists is the rainy weather and the relaxed culture which those who are more inclined to be timely and prompt may not enjoy.
Side note: I really could not have asked for more perfect weather. Our group has been so incredibly lucky with the warmth and clear blue skies!! I expected rainy days nearly every day coming into this trip, but we’ve only briefly seen rain twice. Our last two days are primarily dedicated to group presentations reflecting on the site visits from these past 12 days. I can’t even begin to explain how amazing this experience has been and I can’t wait to explore just a bit more before we fly home!