From Boarding Gates to Castle Gates


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 of the International Office building at Mary Immaculate College

The highlight of the afternoon was a self-guided tour of King John’s Castle, where we stepped back in time and learned about Limerick’s rich history. Afterward, we had the evening free to continue discovering the city on our own or simply rest after a very full travel day.

From the moment we landed, we were immersed in new cultural and geographical elements as they relate to sports tourism. Learning about the local history at King John's Castle provided insight into how tourism intersects with storytelling and heritage preservation, two critical components in developing engaging tourism experiences. Understanding these stories is very important as we begin exploring how Ireland markets its culture, sites, and sports experiences to travelers worldwide.

Here are a few quotes & impressions from our first full day: 

“Being able to see the mountains from the top of the castle was a great experience, definitely one to remember!” - Sunshine C. 


“I’m so excited for the next two weeks here! I can’t wait to learn more about the Irish culture and athletics that are offered.” - Jess O. 


“McKillop, we gotta get on the plane or we’re going to miss it.” - Mark



Written by: Skylar & Shannon

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to our Journey: Salve Sports Tourism in Ireland

Image
  Welcome to the official blog for Salve Regina University’s Sports Tourism in Ireland program! Over the next few weeks, we invite you to follow along as our students dive into the rich cultural and economic world of sports tourism - all while traveling through one of the most beautiful and historically vibrant countries in the world. This faculty-led academic program brings together 18 students from diverse academic backgrounds to explore how sports shape national identity, tourism development, and international perceptions. Along the way, we’ll have the opportunity to: Attend the Joe McDonagh Cup and the Leinster Hurling Final at Croke Park  Explore the GAA Museum in Dublin   Meet a member of the Limerick City Council who will discuss plans for the Ryder Cup coming to Limerick in 2027   Visit the Cliffs of Moher Learn from the Head of Tourism for County Cork Explore the famous Bunratty Castle  Surf in Lahinch of County Clare And visit many local organi...
Read more

Learning and Trying Gaelic Games

Image
  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...
Read more