GAA and IPA: Having Fun While Learning About Irish Culture

 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 sport back at home, I have to pursue it!"

After the Gaelic football demonstration we made our was down to Treaty City Brewery. Treaty City is a local brewery located on Kings Island, Limerick, an island that is riddled with rich history and culture. Being located at the end of the Shannon river, the soil within the island is some of the richest and most farmable in the world, making it a hotspot for life for thousands of years. This location also meant that almost any ships wishing to travel within the island, including vikings and pirates, had to travel within the gates of King John's Castle, located on Kings Island. More then just the history lesson we learned about the island, we also learned most of details about the process of brewing small batch beer. Treaty city has a strict No BS policy with there beer, only adding ingredients that they need to, which come from local farms, creating a pure and delicious product! I asked one of my close friends, James Minotti, what he thought about the beer at Treaty City, and this is what he had to say: ”While I’m more of a seltzer guy myself, I really took a liking to their house brewed beers, especially the stought. Knowing what goes into the process of making the beer and the history behind it definitely makes it sweeter!”

After the brewery lesson and tasting, we had some free time to explore the city and a few friends and I spent time walking around the city and exploring more neighborhoods. However, we shortly found ourselves back at the dorm. Still exhausted from the long weekend in Dublin, we were down for the count. Time to get rested up for a day of exciting lectures tomorrow, with speakers such as a GAA referee and one of the country's top Camogie players!

Author: Jack Joyce - Student Leader Day 8

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