Today marks my second day in Dublin, and we’re off to a great start! Before coming on this trip, I knew a little bit of Irish culture and landscapes, but certainly not a lot; most information I had came from television shows I have watched and fictional books I have read. I came into this trip pretty open-minded, not really knowing what to expect. I knew that Ireland has breathtaking scenery and that the tech industry is skyrocketing, but I lacked in understanding the culture. I think what has surprised me the most thus far is the scarcity of housing and the cost of living. I know that many business employees are flocking to the city for work, but its impact on housing hadn’t crossed my mind. After talking to locals about the rising expenses of rent and the tough process of finding apartments and houses, I am interested to hopefully learn a bit about any possible plans Dublin has in mind to combat this. Another thing that I hadn’t anticipated is the amount of history that exists in the heart of Dublin. Before coming, I kind of thought that much of Ireland’s historical sites would lie outside of the city, and would be concentrated in more rural areas. I think because Dublin is expanding so rapidly in the tech and pharmaceutical industry, I have been focusing on the idea of what is in store for Dublin’s future versus its past. Walking around the neighborhood and seeing locations such as Christ Church and Dublin Castle has reminded me how rich Dublin’s history is, and how this location played a pivotal role in shaping Ireland. I look forward to interacting with locals and getting a better understanding of day-to-day life in Dublin as the trip progresses.
Today, we took part in a walking tour of Dublin, as well as a bus tour. We were immersed in hundreds of years of Ireland’s history through the stories and events our tour guides relayed to our group. Through our conversations, it became clear how important a general understanding of Ireland’s history, and its influence on relations, is in order to conduct business. Listening to Ireland’s complex relationship with Great Britain was very interesting to me, especially with the separation of Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. Trade between Ireland and the UK can be finicky, with brief hold on the exportation of Guinness in the past as an example. Possessing a general sense of the history that exists between Ireland and Great Britain would be useful to anticipate what sort of agreements and partnerships to approach, and which may be best to avoid. Additionally, understanding the role that religion has occupied in the history of Ireland is beneficial for business consultants. Catholicism and Protestantism both are intertwined in Ireland’s history and identity. Religion has had implications in many areas of society, even education; for example, until 1970, the Catholic Church forbade attendance at Trinity College and students were Protestant. Keeping in mind the importance of religion for the Irish, and how religious beliefs may conflict amongst Irish citizens, may be of assistance when conducting business.
