Dublin Spring Seminar 2023

Today was centered around immigration. After a learning some Gaelic with Mr. Broderick at Belvedere, we went to a replica of the Jeanie Johnston, a “miracle ship” that carried Irish people emigrating mostly to Canada during the Great Potato Famine. Then we went to the EPIC Museum, which told a broader story about Irish immigrants and culture. The Jeanie Johnston made me curious about how my grandparents came to America. They did not immigrate during the Great Potato Famine, but it still makes me wonder about their story. Today we visited many museums and art exhibits. Starting out on a tour of the only boat to have zero casualties during the Great Potato Famine. We visited EPIC Irish Emigration Museum and the Book of Kells at Trinity College. After over 7 miles of walking, we were exhausted and excited to go back to our host families. A great way to continue onto the first few days of being in Ireland. 

  Coleman Williams:   The sun was starting to shine as the BC High students  arrived at Belvedere College SJ today. It was a very interesting experience commuting to school on the bus and learning how the other boys commute. After a welcome breakfast we got to tour Belvedere College where they have many cool features like a swimming pool and a rooftop garden. Speaking of the rooftop garden, we learned how Belvedere students grow their own fruits and vegetables on the rooftop gardens. They also keep bee hives (the yellow boxes in the photo above.)  After lunch at school, we went on a wonderful walking tour of Dublin where we got to see Dublin Castle.  It was a busy and interesting way to start off the exchange program.   Frank Shediac: It was strange to see how similar Belvedere College is to BC High. The student body and the environment just has the same energy as BC High. It was also a bit strange to see that Dublin is very similar to Boston. Beside ...

View of Bono’s house from the beach.  Me and my host-brother Thomas at the beach in Dalkey.  Gregory Matthews:  I was fortunate to spend my family time on Sunday walking around the towns of Dalkey and Kilkenny with my host mother and brother. Dalkey and Kilkenny are suburbs south of the city of Dublin and are known for the beaches and the beach houses around the area. Dalkey reminded me so much of Cape Cod , that while I was Walking around Dalkey center and on the beach it really felt like I was walking around downtown Falmouth. Dalkey is especially known for is the fact that Bono, the lead singer for the famous Irish rock band U2, lives there. This trip was kind of a full circle experience for me because in the stone ages, when my mom was a college student, she spent a semester abroad studying at Trinity college in Dublin (which we visited the day I’m writing this!) and her host-family lived in Dalkey. Not only that, but my Mom is pr...

Sunday was a beautiful and sunny day in Dublin. Some students and host brothers met up this morning at CLG Na Fianna, the Gaelic Athletic Association Club in Glasnevin, Northside Dublin for some sport and community building.  Everyone is looking forward to our first school day at Belvedere College, S.J. on Monday morning.

Matthew Escobar Cedeno:  We a rrived early on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. Dublin time, but that was 3:30 p.m. Boston time. The jet  lag was hitting me but it was still very exciting to be able to see my host brother again.  I met his parents and they were delightful. It has been a nice stay so far. My host brother and I have been out and about exploring the city. Here are a few photos of the scenery in Dublin. Frank Shediac:  When we landed in Dublin, we were warmly greeted by our host families immediately after passing customs. Although we were all very tired from a long flight, we were excited to finally meet our host brother’s family, and to see where they lived. It was very strange having to get used to driving on the left side of the road. It is an eye opening experience to be living in a new country, with a new family for the next two weeks!    

      Everyone arrived on time at Logan Airport and said heartfelt goodbyes to their families.  Suitcases were packed to the brim, and maybe even a little beyond. The notoriously difficult lines at the airport were absent, and we were quickly at the Aer Lingus gate.  Most of us then went in search of food, eventually landing on the genuine Boston experience of Wahlburgers, with the general consensus being positive, and our praises sent to Marky Mark and his family. Our group boarded the plane and the BC High boys were scattered amongst strangers on the plane. We lifted off at 9:30 p.m. - on time. The flight brought easy sleep for some, and a restless six hours for others whom would be met with jet lag and headaches upon arrival.   The excitement for the trip was in the air from the moment we said goodbye to our parents; and an exciting two weeks of adventure and discovery lay ahead.