Salve Sports Tourism Abroad

Day 9 On today's trip, we learned a lot about Irish tradition as it relates to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), and we also took in some views of the beautiful coast along County Clare. Our group began at the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre . This site honors Michael Cusack , who was a key part of the revival of the Gaelic games and teh founder of the GAA. We learned about his belief in using the Gaelic games to preserve and promote Irish heritage throughout the country. We walked the grounds of the center and spent some time in the small hut that he lived in while growing up. We also got a short presentation on his life and legacy. The idea that the GAA was not just about the games but about Irish heritage was reinforced to us by our guides. After our time there, we departed on the bus for Doolin , a small coastal town. In Doolin, we enjoyed lunch and some shopping as we took in the gorgeous views of the cliffs and the ocean. On our way out of town, we stopped at the pier ...

  Day 8 Today while it was a very interesting day, we didn't have much travel. We had four lectures, the lectures consisted of Rory McGann who is a lecturer at MIC, but also has heavy involvement in the GAA through refereeing the games. We also had Evan from Witness Ireland who came to talk about how he started his tourism business and what the ins and out look like. It was a very insightful talk. He runs a student-focused tourism operation and now wants to branch out to try to get more people to come from the states to take his tours across Ireland. Our third lecture was with the one and only Doctor Varao . In that discussion, we talked about the pros and cons of tourism, primarily in relation to the economy and the environment. Lastly we talk to Caoimhe Costelloe who is an elite camogie player with her club, school (MIC), and for her county.   This picture is from when Rory McGann came to talk about referring for the GAA. He brought along with him all  the referrin...

  Day 7   Today way more of a relaxing day. After an exciting long weekend in Dublin, the gang needed to catch up on some sleep, so we finally had a day to sleep in! Even though we didn’t have as busy of a schedule as usual, there was no lack of culture and experience shared with us today. Our first event started at 2 o’clock, when we made our way down the street to meet one of our Mary Immaculate instructors, who gave us an interactive crash course on Gaelic football ! Gaelic football is sort of a mix of soccer and rugby, while also containing some elements of basketball. While it took a while to get adjusted to the mechanics and movements, being in a group of star studded athletes, we were able to pick it up pretty quickly. One student who really shined during this was Class of 27, Jason Fisher. When talking about it later, he said "Yeah I had never really played anything like it before, but it just seemed so natural to me and so so fun. If I get a chance to continue this sp...

  Day 6 Today we got a real taste of Irish sports culture as we headed to Croke Park for the Leinster Senior Hurling Final between Kilkenny and Galway. We started the morning with some free time to explore Dublin and grab breakfast. Everywhere we went, the streets were full of fans repping their team colors—Kilkenny’s black and amber, and Galway’s maroon. It felt like the whole city was getting ready for the match. Once we arrived at Croke Park, the energy inside was even more intense. Before the main game started, we caught the end of the Joe McDonagh Cup final match between Cill Dara and Laois, which ended with a win for Cill Dara. Then came the team parade, with players marching around the field while the Artane Band played. That tradition really set the tone and gave us a sense of how much this sport means to people here. The Kilkenny vs. Galway match did not disappoint. Kilkenny had the upper hand from the start, leading by three points at halftime and e...

  Day 5 Today we toured the General Post Office Museum of Dublin. This is a significant historical landmark in Ireland. Our tour guide explained that the GPO symbolizes Irish independence from Britain. During the tour we saw the famous bullet holes at the front of the building. The bullet holes are from the 1916 Easter Rising where Irish soldiers gathered in the GPO and British soldiers attacked. After our tour guide taught us about the GPO’s history we went on a self-guided tour of the GPO museum. The museum was very detailed with information about Ireland’s revolution. While walking through the museum my classmate, Shannon, said, “I love how interactive the museum is.” The museum includes hands-on activities, such as listening to old radio and phone calls.   The class then had free time to explore Dublin for the rest of the day. Students did various activities such as trying restaurants, shopping, and visiting tourist destinations. We've learned that tourists visiting souv...

Day 4 After leaving Limerick in the morning, we made our way to Dublin to visit the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Croke Park . Most of us had heard of it, but we did not realize how important it is to Irish culture until we were standing inside the 82,300-capacity venue. This was not just a tour of a sports venue. It was an experience that gave us a deeper look at Ireland’s national pride and identity surrounding traditional GAA sports (hurling, camogie, and Gaelic football). We started with the skyline tour, which is a fenced-in path on the roof of the stadium overlooking Dublin and Croke Park. Some people in the group, including Dr. Varao and “I hate heights” ~Miles Kaplan, have a fear of heights. However, they were brave enough to do the overlook (pictured below) where the skyline tour stretches out from the roof and over the field. Toward the end of the Skyline Tour, a giant rain cloud attacked us to which Sarah, one of guides from Mary I sai...

  Day 3 Today wasn’t just a day of sightseeing, it was a deep dive into how sport, culture, and history shape the identity of a nation. We kicked off our morning with a visit to Thomond Park Stadium , the legendary home of Munster Rugby . By 9:30 AM, we were on the bus, ready to explore this iconic landmark, one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting venues. Once there, we had the rare opportunity to hold the Champions Cup trophy - a moment of pride and awe. Our tour took us through a small museum dedicated to the team, the locker rooms, media suites, and finally out onto the pitch. Standing where professional athletes compete brought our coursework to life. Our guide reminded us that in Ireland, sport isn’t just a game, it’s a lifeline for many communities. His message connected directly to our sports tourism lessons, emphasizing how sport fosters national pride and contributes to Ireland’s tourism economy. As my classmate, Sophie put it, “That speech was very inspiring, ...

  Day 2 On day 2 of our study abroad trip, we had multiple guest speakers visit and speak to us about the Ryder Cup coming to Limerick in 2027 and Gaelic sports. Our first session of the day focused on our itinerary for the duration of our stay. We learned that we'll be traveling to Galway, Dublin, and Doolin over the next two weeks. After this session, we had Elaine O’Connor, the Ryder Cup 2027 Coordinator for Limerick City Council, come speak to us about the logistics of the event. This is such a massive event, as they will bring tons of high-status people in attendance as well. There is one major challenge in organizing and setting this event up, she explained. It deals with setting up living accommodations and traveling plans for players, families, and high-status individuals. To help with this, O’Connor said she has gone to other prestigious golfing events locally to help understand what needs to be done and what needs to improve to make this the best Ryder Cup and leave an...

Day 1 (and a half)   Our trip began yesterday at Logan Airport in Boston, where the group gathered at 3:30 PM for our departure. After checking in with Professor McKillop and Dr. V, we went through TSA and made the most of our airport downtime.. grabbing snacks, exploring terminals, and meeting everyone. Once on board, we were offered dinner: chicken and mashed potatoes or vegetarian pasta. Afterward, many of us caught some much-needed sleep as we went across the Atlantic. Touching down at Shannon Airport around 4:30 AM local time, we made our way to our new home at Courtbrack, our residence for most of the trip. Despite the early arrival, we were welcomed by the friendly staff at Mary Immaculate College (Mary I). We got a chance to see our rooms and unwind before a campus tour to get our bearings straight and learn where to go for lectures. A group lunch at the Mary I cafeteria gave us time to recharge before we headed downtown to explore Limerick City. Our entire group in front o...