Our trip to Ireland: 12th – 19th July 2010

Our trip to Ireland began early in the morning of the 12th July 2010 around 06.15 a.m. at the Mannheimer central station. Almost everybody was tired and irritated from the train journey to the Frankfurter Airport, but after a relaxed flight to Dublin, everybody was sure that it was going to be a great field excursion.
After we had prepared on our rooms, the excursion began with a city guidance in Dublin. First we visited the "Christian Church Cathedral", a famous place of interest which was built in the year 1172.
Afterwards we went to the „Trinity College “, the famous University of Dublin. It was established 1592 and in the beginning only protestant students could enroll at this university. Only for some years it was possible for students who are not protestant to join the university, too .Another specific feature in this college is that there is a special building for the elite students. These elite students must be able to fulfill special settlements, for instance they have to speak the Irish language „Gaolainn“. Yearly only 16 students are chosen, although there are several thousand applicants.
Consequently we visited "Dublin Castle" which is close to "Dame Street". It was built in the 13th century and is used even today, for example for the inauguration of a new president. Directly in Dublin Castle we were not able to come in, but at least in the "Chapel Royal“. Afterwards we had spare time and could spend the remaining day as we wanted to. Most of us went in the evening to a pub, as for example the Temple bar or the Hard Rock Cafe, and drank one or maybe two Guinness.
During the next day we went on a longer bus ride to the peninsula "Howth" east of Dublin. We visited the harbor and „Irelands Eye“. Then of course we did some hiking around the island which took us 2 ½ hours quite long and was also a little bit strenuous, but, nevertheless, in hindsight it was worthwhile, because we had some wonderful views of the cliffs. After that we went by bus back to Dublin. Back in Dublin we had spare time again and we could do what we want. Till then it was a cool field excursion.

Sebastian Jaskolka, 12

The third day of our field excursion was a day of discovering one part of the countryside of South Ireland. At first we were driven by bus to the coast; After the short presentation of different types of coasts in Ireland, we could choose between two options: either we visit the town or we go on a „cliff walk“.
After we had finished this, our tour through South Ireland went on, our next, and last, station was Gwendaloch, an old abbey. There we got a guide through the area and saw the ancient ruins of the abbey.
The evening was free of program, so we could do, what we wanted.
The fourth day was the first day with the theme: Ireland and its history. In the morning we could choose between different types of discovering the history of Ireland:
The first option was a trip to the barrows in the near of Dublin, the second offer was a visiting of a book, called „book of Celts“ at the Trinity University, the third and last one was visiting of Dublin in a different way as usual.
In the afternoon we visited the „Old Jameson Distillery“ and went inside the „Guinness Storehouse“.
In the evening we had free time again, and for our requirements, in which way ever.
The last day was the 2nd day with the historical theme, because after we had packed our bags, we visited the national Museum of Modern History and Arts.
After this, we were driven to the airport and travelled by air to Frankfurt Airport afterwards by train to our (beloved?) home in Mannheim, where we arrived at 10.25 p.m. local time.

Marcel Helleberg, 12