Today was the day I had been anticipating the most this entire trip… our visit to the Cliffs of Moher! We boarded a bus early this morning and headed three hours west. On our way, we stopped by Barack Obama Plaza of all places. Obama has Irish heritage, and I assume the area where the gas station was is where his lineage traces back to? It was such a silly thing, but it’s something I’ll definitely remember long after I return home. We had an hour at the cliffs, and I don’t even think I can put the view into words. I’ve attached photos, but I’m not sure they can do justice! It was so peaceful on the paths, and while I know the water was rough and choppy below, the cliffs felt very serene. Reflecting at the cliffs reminded me how lucky I am to be participating in a program like this, and how I have had so many unique opportunities during this trip. There was some cattle at the cliffs, too, and I have found it cute seeing heard after heard of cows or sheep as we drove through the countryside. Afterwards, we stopped in Galway for a bit, where we had lunch and meandered around the streets a little.

During my time here, I have tried to experience as much as I can in Dublin, which includes many tourist-y excursions and tours. From the Little Museum and Trinity Library, to a tour of Croke Park and the Guinness Storefront, there are so many industries that are supported through tourism on the island. What I have noticed is that many of the smaller tourist locations stay up and running from the traffic they receive and through ticket sales. It appears that tourism in Ireland makes preserving the arts and history feasible, and that current tourism provides these sites with opportunities to preserve and expand upon what they offer for future tourists to be able to learn about the culture and past of Ireland. I have been impressed by how much of Ireland’s history continues to be widely available and detailed for tourists to learn from, such as our walking and bus tours of Dublin on our second day. I think that tourists can easily see the passion Irish people feel for this country, and I think tourism and the ability to share Irish tradition and customs strengthens that aspect of their culture. I have had some great conversations with locals, always kind and welcoming, and as they have exposed me to pieces of their culture, I have also been able to share my experiences back home in Pittsburgh. I think tourism in Ireland provides the Irish the chance to leave impressions that influence people’s perspective of this country of those who have not even been here, such as our families who will hear us retell stories of our time here and our interactions with locals, for example.

I think if I were to create a sales pitch for Ireland, my two main highlights would be the rich history and Ireland’s scenery. As I mentioned, all I have seen is extreme emotion and pride from the Irish when they talk about this country. Their energy is contagious, and I know that I was easily sucked into the tales they share. Ireland’s history is full of resilience and grit, which can be inspiring to almost anyone. Additionally, after talking to other students on this trip, something that seems to have the biggest impact on our experience here is the landscapes of Ireland. From views of Dublin from taller buildings in the city, to the expansive and vividly green hillsides, and everything in between, the sights of Ireland are unforgettable and can easily be appreciated by anyone; this country’s environments are highly impressionable. I believe that these two components are very compelling on behalf of Ireland.