IRELAND TRAVEL COURSE
MARCH 12-20, 2010
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Explore
the rich history and culture of Ireland. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
will offer an Ireland travel course during the Spring Break of March 2010. The
course will acquaint students with Ireland's history, culture, and society by
visiting historical sites, museums, vibrant cities, and the beautiful Irish countryside.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To deepen the understanding of the diverse
cultural traditions learned in Tier II Human Heritage courses; to examine the
historical, social, economic, and political issues of Ireland critically and
comparatively; to illustrate the interplay between tradition and history in the
context of modern Irish society; to produce a report/project using texts and
first-hand observations.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Prior
to and after the trip, students will have weekly meetings with Professor
Anthony Daly, the faculty leader of the trip, to discuss issues relating to Irish
history, culture and society. Students will be required to finish assigned
readings and submit assignments. During the trip, Professor Daly and other
guides will give on-site talks and tours, and students will be required to keep
a journal. After the trip, students will present a project based on their
knowledge of and experience in Ireland.
GRADING AND
EVALUATION
Students
will be evaluated on the following: attendance at class meetings, participation
in discussions, in-class presentations, written assignments on course readings,
a final reflective project on the knowledge and experience gained in the
course, and behavior on the travel portion of the course.
DESTINATION
INTRODUCTION
Belfast
Belfast
is a beautiful city with stunning buildings from the nineteenth century, and
streets that date back to the 1600s. On our guided tours of the city, we will
see reminders of the conflicts from past years, but also the transformation of
a newly confident city and its friendly people.
Derry
After
a drive through the Irish countryside, we will arrive in Derry, one of the most
well-preserved walled cities in Europe, and we will have a local guide to help
us explore it, taking in city murals, cathedrals, and museums. We will take a
trip from Derry to visit the Giant's Causeway, recognized by the United Nations
as a World Heritage Site. This natural marvel of 55 million year-old hexagonal
columns is situated on the rugged and scenic Irish coast, where green fields
meet the sea.
On
our way to Dublin, we will stop at the Hill of Tara, a site of immense
importance in Irish history, as it was home to the druids and the high kings of
ancient Ireland.
Dublin
Dublin
is the capital of the Republic of Ireland and is drenched in history and culture.
Wonderfully walkable, the city offers visitors famous sights such as Trinity
College, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and of course the Georgian architecture of the 18th century. Side by side with these landmarks
are the green parks, bustling streets, and hip neighborhoods of modern Dublin,
one of Europe's most vibrant capitals. This is a city made famous by writers and
poets such as James Joyce, Jonathan Swift, and W.B. Yeats, but we will also
experience the history of Dublin, with visits to Kilmainham Jail, which held so
many Irish patriots in past centuries, and the National Museum.
One
of the highlights of our time in Dublin will be a day trip through the green
hills of Wicklow to experience Glendalough. The name means "Valley of the Two
Lakes" in the Irish language, and it is one of the most beautiful spots in Ireland,
with the remains of a monastery, founded in the sixth century, set in great
natural beauty, a valley of lakes and forest.
TRIP PARTICULARS
Approximate
cost: $2, 600 per person (Subject to change)
All
inclusive features include:
• Flights from Albany to Belfast and
Dublin to Albany and ground transportation in Ireland
• All hotels (triple or quadruple occupancy with
private bathrooms)
• Breakfast and dinner every day
• Guided sightseeing tours of
Belfast, Derry, and Dublin
• Admission to these attractions: Tower
Museum, Ulster-American Folk Park, Hill of Tara, Kilmainham Jail, National
Museum
• Three upper-level credits for
students enrolled at MCLA
ITINERARY, MARCH 12-20,
2010
Friday,
March 12--Albany to Belfast
Saturday,
March 13-Belfast
Sunday,
March 14-Belfast to Derry
Monday,
March 15-Derry
Tuesday,
March 16-Derry to Dublin
Wednesday,
March 17-Dublin
Thursday,
March 18-Dublin
Friday,
March 19-Dublin
Saturday,
March 20-Dublin to Albany
For
more information, please contact:
Dr.
Anthony Daly
Department
of History
Massachusetts
College of Liberal Arts
375
Church Street
North
Adams, MA 01247
Phone:
413-662-5478
Email:
anthony.daly@mcla.edu
Images courtesy of Tourism Ireland
