Today was our first full day in Ireland! We took two tours (one walking and one on a bus) where we got to learn more about the history of Dublin and Ireland and see some of the sights within the city center and the suburbs. Though I knew that Dublin was a small city, I was surprised at just how small it was. It reminded me a lot of Pittsburgh and how we have many different neighborhoods which all feel urban but aren’t necessarily right in the center of the city or downtown. This makes it extremely walkable and there are easy forms of transportation to the outskirts of the city and along the coast and I am excited to spend more time exploring.   

Ireland has a long history of fighting for their independence and rights. This is important to know when doing business and consulting with different companies within the country because it allows for a better understanding of the types of people you are working with. Irish people seem to be very proud of their history and their culture and it is important to acknowledge this when working with them. They have fought very hard to gain their independence from Britain (mostly) and overcome the extremely long-lasting effects of the Potato Famine. Knowing that they are only now starting to grow back some of their population after the famine and their economic boom has only recently begun is also important to understand and gives more context to the business industry. Ireland is in a prosperous time which allows for many opportunities in the business world. Knowing how to navigate this business environment while also acknowledging Ireland’s history will make us more educated and informed consultants to help these companies make the most of their opportunities.

Though we learned a great deal of interesting history on both tours that we took, the most interesting (and surprising) thing that I learned was a fun fact related to sightseeing. On our bus tour we drove through a fishing town called Howth. It is centered around a harbor and full of restaurants, shops, and a view of the Irish sea. Nearby are cliffs that has a hike to the top and our guide told us that on a clear day, you can see the United Kingdom. He had joked about seeing the U.S. from his home in Galway but seemed pretty serious about seeing the UK!