I began my second work placement in Northern Ireland on Tuesday June 12th at the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) located in Belfast. I was really, REALLY excited to begin my placement with the IEF because part of the whole reason that I wanted to come to Northern Ireland was so that I would be able to study integrated education. I am a certified teacher and I have some experience in education policy and non-profit management, so the organization itself is fascinating to me.
As noted on its website, "The Integrated Education Fund aims to make integration, not separation,
the norm in (the Northern Irish) education system. The Fund supports the continued growth
of integrated school places and encourages all schools to provide their
pupils with the opportunity to engage meaningfully with children from
different cultural and religious backgrounds".
Currently in Northern Ireland, only about 7% of the school-aged population attends integrated schools where there are near even balances of Catholics and Protestants present. Only 7 percent! That means that 93 percent of children in Ireland attend schools that are extremely homogeneous where nearly everyone practices the same religion. Inclusion is limited. The Integrated Education Fund seeks to change that by funding schools where children of all faiths and backgrounds can learn together. I am mainly an observer of Northern Irish politics and culture and I certainly do not want to claim to know anything about mending relations in Northern Ireland, but I will say that I think integrated education will play an important role in the healing process here and anywhere else in the world where there has been segregation. In order for people to understand and tolerate each other, I think that people need a common meeting ground where they can get to know and appreciate each other and often schools provide that forum.
Anyway - onto the actual details of my day!
I was very warmly received at the IEF and the staff were so wonderful from the beginning. As soon as I walked in the door, I was asked if I wanted anything to eat or drink and although I initially declined, I eventually gave in and drank lots and lots of coffee! They also brought me plenty of candy bars (or "sweeties" as they call them here) even though it was 10am! Everyone here loves to eat candy, cookies and other sugary treats from morning till dusk.
The first people I met were Michael, the fundraising officer; Chris, the community engagement officer; and Brian, the fundraising manager. I talked to Michael and Brian for a long time about the current state of affairs in Northern Ireland, about the school system here, and about all of the different things that IEF does. It is interesting because in Northern Ireland, all of the Catholic schools are free and public as are the state-run schools and parents can choose to send their children wherever they would like. It's not like in the U.S. where you need to go to the school that it is closest to your residence. The IEF has had a difficult time getting integrated schools up and running because for a long time the Catholic church and schools were against it (and still are to a certain extent). It must be difficult to convince people to send their children to a mixed school when their priests are telling them not to do it!
After talking with Brian and Michael, I met Paul who is the Campaign Director. Paul shared a lot of his own experiences with integrated education with me - he and his wife are from different faiths and their sons today all attend integrated schools. He seems so passionate about the mission of the organization, so it was really refreshing to hear from him.
Then, I met Sara, who is the Grants Manager. The IEF provides so many really great grants to current integrated schools and to schools that would like to explore integrated options. Transformation grants, which allow schools to begin the transformation to integrated schools, are big - schools can receive up to 30,000 pounds!
After learning a ton about integrated education, I actually had a chance to hop in the car with Brian to visit an integrated school right near where I live in Downpatrick called Blackwater Integrated College (secondary schools in Ireland are known as "colleges").
The whole reason we went to visit Blackwater was because about 70 parishioners from a church in Texas actually came all the way to Northern Ireland to do some mission work revitalizing the school. Most of the volunteers were around 15-16 years old and helped to paint and do some landscaping. Blackwater is a terrific school but was in need of some renovations! The teenage volunteers were also learning about reconciliation here and formed fast bonds with the children at Blackwater.
It was a good first day learning so much about integrated education and getting the chance to see an actual school!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Stormont VIPs, Tour, Belfast Dinner (Day 10)
On Monday June 11th, our whole group headed up to Stormont for an afternoon dedicated to meeting all of the important people involved in Northern Ireland's political scene.
We began the afternoon by meeting Ian Paisley Jr, a member of Parliament and the Northern Irish Assembly, and of course also the son of Ian Paisley who founded the Democratic Unionist Party. We were only able to shake hands and meet with him for a few minutes before some quick photo ops, but it was still pretty neat.
After our brief meeting, we went inside Stormont and we were able to meet the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William Hay. He is the first elected speaker to the Assembly (the previous two had been appointed) and everyone there seemed to think that he was doing a pretty good job! In his role, he is required to remain impartial and to chair plenary sessions of the Assembly.
Finally, we were able to meet two of the best-known political figures - First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. In the picture below Martin McGuinness is on the left and Peter Robinson is to the right. Martin McGuinness is fairly well known throughout the world because he is a former IRA leader. Today he represents Sinn Fein and Peter Robinson represents the Democratic Unionist Party.
After meeting all of the VIPs of Stormont, we went on a short tour and we were able to sit in on an Assembly session which was pretty interesting.
Once we finished up at Stormont, the Young Ambassadors all headed into Belfast for some dinner. We ended up eating at a hotel restaurant and the place was absolutely terrible in terms of food and service - we should have looked for a place where all of the locals are eating; an empty restaurant is always a bad sign! Still, we had fun together.
Following dinner, the rest of the group stayed out in Belfast and went out to some of the pubs there, but I wasn't feeling well so I caught a bus back to Downpatrick on my own. Once I was in Downpatrick, I waited for about an hour for the bus that was supposed to take me the rest of the way to our house but it never came. The good news is that the Irish are very friendly, and so a lady who was also waiting for the bus at the station let me come along in a cab with her and I made it home just fine. :)
We began the afternoon by meeting Ian Paisley Jr, a member of Parliament and the Northern Irish Assembly, and of course also the son of Ian Paisley who founded the Democratic Unionist Party. We were only able to shake hands and meet with him for a few minutes before some quick photo ops, but it was still pretty neat.
After our brief meeting, we went inside Stormont and we were able to meet the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William Hay. He is the first elected speaker to the Assembly (the previous two had been appointed) and everyone there seemed to think that he was doing a pretty good job! In his role, he is required to remain impartial and to chair plenary sessions of the Assembly.
Finally, we were able to meet two of the best-known political figures - First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. In the picture below Martin McGuinness is on the left and Peter Robinson is to the right. Martin McGuinness is fairly well known throughout the world because he is a former IRA leader. Today he represents Sinn Fein and Peter Robinson represents the Democratic Unionist Party.
After meeting all of the VIPs of Stormont, we went on a short tour and we were able to sit in on an Assembly session which was pretty interesting.
Once we finished up at Stormont, the Young Ambassadors all headed into Belfast for some dinner. We ended up eating at a hotel restaurant and the place was absolutely terrible in terms of food and service - we should have looked for a place where all of the locals are eating; an empty restaurant is always a bad sign! Still, we had fun together.
Following dinner, the rest of the group stayed out in Belfast and went out to some of the pubs there, but I wasn't feeling well so I caught a bus back to Downpatrick on my own. Once I was in Downpatrick, I waited for about an hour for the bus that was supposed to take me the rest of the way to our house but it never came. The good news is that the Irish are very friendly, and so a lady who was also waiting for the bus at the station let me come along in a cab with her and I made it home just fine. :)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Carnlough, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Giant's Causeway (Day 9)
Sunday June 10th was an AMAZING sightseeing day that began with a traditional fry at our house. Our Irish friend Fiona had slept over the night before and prepared a "fry" for us in the morning. The house smelled wonderful as she was cooking. She fried up potato bread and soda bread, sausages, bacon and eggs.
Tim picked up us in a van around half ten (everyone says "half ten" here rather than ten thirty) and we headed out on the Causeway Coastal Route. Tim's wife, Gail, also came along with us. For much of the day, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the ride to the Giant's Causeway.
After an hour or so, we stopped at a town called Carnlough. Carnlough was yet another gorgeous seaside town - see for yourself:
In Carnlough, we also stopped at a place called Mauds to get ice cream. Mauds is pretty popular in Northern Ireland. All of us got a flavor called "Poor Bear" (although Tim and many others call it "Pooh Bear"). It has this candy called honeycomb in it, and it was really good!
After Carnlough, we drove through a different town that had a goat as its mascot. I hopped out of the car and took some pictures with it (I love goats):
After some driving, we made it to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Antrim. The bridge is located over a chasm that fisherman used to cross to check on their nets. Today, its just the site of a beautiful park and a scary-yet-exhilarating rope bridge that isn't for the faint of heart:
We all conquered the rope bridge which was impressive - the bridge shook like crazy from the wind!
Next, we were onto the Giant's Causeway. The Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage Site that has columns of layered basalt that were created during a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. Overall, the site just looks really cool!
Luckily, we had a beautiful day at the Causeway.
Tim picked up us in a van around half ten (everyone says "half ten" here rather than ten thirty) and we headed out on the Causeway Coastal Route. Tim's wife, Gail, also came along with us. For much of the day, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the ride to the Giant's Causeway.
After an hour or so, we stopped at a town called Carnlough. Carnlough was yet another gorgeous seaside town - see for yourself:
In Carnlough, we also stopped at a place called Mauds to get ice cream. Mauds is pretty popular in Northern Ireland. All of us got a flavor called "Poor Bear" (although Tim and many others call it "Pooh Bear"). It has this candy called honeycomb in it, and it was really good!
After Carnlough, we drove through a different town that had a goat as its mascot. I hopped out of the car and took some pictures with it (I love goats):
After some driving, we made it to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Antrim. The bridge is located over a chasm that fisherman used to cross to check on their nets. Today, its just the site of a beautiful park and a scary-yet-exhilarating rope bridge that isn't for the faint of heart:
We all conquered the rope bridge which was impressive - the bridge shook like crazy from the wind!
Next, we were onto the Giant's Causeway. The Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage Site that has columns of layered basalt that were created during a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. Overall, the site just looks really cool!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Belfast, Carrickfergus Castle, Titanic Museum (Day 8)
Saturday June 9th was spent exploring some of the best sites in and around Belfast. Tim picked us up mid-morning and we began with a tour of West Belfast, the neighborhoods that were the most greatly affected during the Troubles. I was able to snap some more shots of the murals that can be seen all over town. So many stories are told through the murals - its history and various perspectives brought to life in vivid color.
After viewing the murals, half of our group stayed in Belfast for a bit of shopping, while the other half that I was with went to visit Carrickfergus Castle. Carrickfergus Castle is one of the best preserved castles in all of Ireland, and has been under siege many times throughout its history. On the day that we were in Carrickfergus, a big parade was going on - I think it was to celebrate William of Orange.
The Irish really know how to celebrate - besides from the parade, there was a whole carnival going on! It was also such a beautiful seaside town and looked like it would be a great place to vacation.
Before seeing the castle, we stopped in at a local place for lunch. I had a "traditional roast" which was roast turkey and ham with all of the trimmings - stuffing, champ (which is mashed potatoes with scallions mixed in) cranberry sauce and veggies. It was tasty!
After lunch, we were able to take a quick walk around the castle which was really neat.
We finished up in the town of Carrickfergus around 3pm and had to rush back to Belfast to pick up the rest of the group so we could visit the Titanic Museum! For those of you who don't know, the Titanic was constructed in Belfast beginning in 1909. The Titanic Museum includes exhibits that explain life in Belfast in the 20th century, how the Titanic was constructed, what happened during the fateful journey, and the aftermath. There was even a little ride that showed you what the shipyard would have been like! One exhibit showed what different rooms would have looked like on the Titanic (first class, third class, etc.), which I thought was pretty cool.
After viewing the murals, half of our group stayed in Belfast for a bit of shopping, while the other half that I was with went to visit Carrickfergus Castle. Carrickfergus Castle is one of the best preserved castles in all of Ireland, and has been under siege many times throughout its history. On the day that we were in Carrickfergus, a big parade was going on - I think it was to celebrate William of Orange.
Before seeing the castle, we stopped in at a local place for lunch. I had a "traditional roast" which was roast turkey and ham with all of the trimmings - stuffing, champ (which is mashed potatoes with scallions mixed in) cranberry sauce and veggies. It was tasty!
After lunch, we were able to take a quick walk around the castle which was really neat.
We finished up in the town of Carrickfergus around 3pm and had to rush back to Belfast to pick up the rest of the group so we could visit the Titanic Museum! For those of you who don't know, the Titanic was constructed in Belfast beginning in 1909. The Titanic Museum includes exhibits that explain life in Belfast in the 20th century, how the Titanic was constructed, what happened during the fateful journey, and the aftermath. There was even a little ride that showed you what the shipyard would have been like! One exhibit showed what different rooms would have looked like on the Titanic (first class, third class, etc.), which I thought was pretty cool.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Stormont, Assembly Educational Service (Day 7)
During my final placement day at Stormont on Friday it was absolutely pouring rain and after navigating the bus system, my housemate and I had to climb the mile long drive leading up to Stormont's front doors.
Although the view from the beginning of the drive is nothing short of spectacular, the cold weather, wind and rain made the walk seem extra long!
After we arrived, we met one of the staff from the Assembly Education Service who brought us on a tour with a group of primary school children. The children were representatives from the student council at their school, and the students were given the opportunity to host a student council meeting in the senate chambers. The issues they were discussing were so funny and cute - some of the hot issues were, "How can we make our school more colorful?," "How can we make sure the toilets are clean?," and "What advice can we give next year's student council?"
Following the student council meeting, the staff brought us upstairs to see the Assembly Education Service's office. We were given lots of materials that are used by the staff members to teach school children - they even have two different comic books to explain how the Northern Ireland Assembly works to kids! The staff also showed us their website, which includes some of the most phenomenal government-related resources for children that I have ever seen. On the website there are tons of kid-friendly games, videos and graphics. You can check it out here:
http://education.niassembly.gov.uk/
Finally, we made our way back home to 12 Lake Road in Ballydugan. The bus ride was long and once we made our way back a giant puddle stood in our way on our walk home. The puddle was so huge that I had to take off my shoes to wade through it and the water came up past my ankles! Once home we lit a fire and spent the rest of the night drying our shoes and clothing and sipping tea by the fire.
Although the view from the beginning of the drive is nothing short of spectacular, the cold weather, wind and rain made the walk seem extra long!
After we arrived, we met one of the staff from the Assembly Education Service who brought us on a tour with a group of primary school children. The children were representatives from the student council at their school, and the students were given the opportunity to host a student council meeting in the senate chambers. The issues they were discussing were so funny and cute - some of the hot issues were, "How can we make our school more colorful?," "How can we make sure the toilets are clean?," and "What advice can we give next year's student council?"
Following the student council meeting, the staff brought us upstairs to see the Assembly Education Service's office. We were given lots of materials that are used by the staff members to teach school children - they even have two different comic books to explain how the Northern Ireland Assembly works to kids! The staff also showed us their website, which includes some of the most phenomenal government-related resources for children that I have ever seen. On the website there are tons of kid-friendly games, videos and graphics. You can check it out here:
http://education.niassembly.gov.uk/
Finally, we made our way back home to 12 Lake Road in Ballydugan. The bus ride was long and once we made our way back a giant puddle stood in our way on our walk home. The puddle was so huge that I had to take off my shoes to wade through it and the water came up past my ankles! Once home we lit a fire and spent the rest of the night drying our shoes and clothing and sipping tea by the fire.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Stormont, Northern Irish Political Parties (Day 6)
My first true day at Stormont began on Thursday, June 7th. After making the 1.5 hour hike up to Belfast, Basil McCrea picked us up once again and brought us from the Europa bus station in Belfast to the main building at Stormont. Interesting side note - the Europa Hotel in Belfast is known as the most bombed hotel in Europe as the building was bombed several times during the Troubles.
At Stormont, we began by eating breakfast down at the canteen. Stormont is always incredibly busy and it was interesting to be down at the canteen because people from all different levels of government - administrators, MLPs, etc. - all stop in there to eat.
Soon thereafter, my housemate and I met Peter Hall, the Head of Outreach and Education for the Northern Ireland Assembly. He chatted with us over tea about our lives back home and about future career plans. Peter introduced us to a really nice woman at Stormont who gave us a tour of the building and who showed us the Senate Chamber and the Assembly Chamber. The Senate Chamber is currently just used for committee meetings (as there is no senate). There were two historic paintings in the room, and the more recent painting is a portrait of all the MLPs painted by Noel Murphy. The painting is from a few years back, but it was fun to take a look at the painting and to try to pick out the MLPs that we recognized.
It was also pretty neat to see the Assembly Chamber, where all of the big decisions are made today!
After the tour, my housemate and I were invited to sit in on a presentation that was given by the Assembly Education Service to law students who had come from Duquesne University in the US. The presentation was focused on instructing the audience on the differences between the 6 political parties in Northern Ireland. Leaders from each of the political parties actually came in and gave a summary of what was important to their party and at the end of each talk there was a brief Q and A period. It was an amazing learning opportunity for us because I had been a bit confused on the differences between the political parties in Northern Ireland, but hearing information directly from the political parties really cleared a lot of that up!
Just in case you're wondering, the 6 political parties are: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fein, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Alliance Party, and the Green Party. The Democratic Unionist Party is the largest and Sinn Fein isn't too far behind. Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic Labour Party both are nationalist parties. The Alliance Party is really interesting because it advocates for cooperation between nationalist and unionist communities.
The presentation was just so eye opening and the Assembly Education Service did a really effective job in my opinion of presenting bias-free information to the public and in making the presentation easy for a lay person to understand.
At Stormont, we began by eating breakfast down at the canteen. Stormont is always incredibly busy and it was interesting to be down at the canteen because people from all different levels of government - administrators, MLPs, etc. - all stop in there to eat.
Soon thereafter, my housemate and I met Peter Hall, the Head of Outreach and Education for the Northern Ireland Assembly. He chatted with us over tea about our lives back home and about future career plans. Peter introduced us to a really nice woman at Stormont who gave us a tour of the building and who showed us the Senate Chamber and the Assembly Chamber. The Senate Chamber is currently just used for committee meetings (as there is no senate). There were two historic paintings in the room, and the more recent painting is a portrait of all the MLPs painted by Noel Murphy. The painting is from a few years back, but it was fun to take a look at the painting and to try to pick out the MLPs that we recognized.
It was also pretty neat to see the Assembly Chamber, where all of the big decisions are made today!
After the tour, my housemate and I were invited to sit in on a presentation that was given by the Assembly Education Service to law students who had come from Duquesne University in the US. The presentation was focused on instructing the audience on the differences between the 6 political parties in Northern Ireland. Leaders from each of the political parties actually came in and gave a summary of what was important to their party and at the end of each talk there was a brief Q and A period. It was an amazing learning opportunity for us because I had been a bit confused on the differences between the political parties in Northern Ireland, but hearing information directly from the political parties really cleared a lot of that up!
Just in case you're wondering, the 6 political parties are: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fein, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Alliance Party, and the Green Party. The Democratic Unionist Party is the largest and Sinn Fein isn't too far behind. Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic Labour Party both are nationalist parties. The Alliance Party is really interesting because it advocates for cooperation between nationalist and unionist communities.
The presentation was just so eye opening and the Assembly Education Service did a really effective job in my opinion of presenting bias-free information to the public and in making the presentation easy for a lay person to understand.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Placement at Stormont, Adventures with Basil, and the Olympic Torch! (Day 5)
As part of the Friends of Saint Patrick program, each Young Ambassador is placed at an organization to learn more about Northern Irish politics and culture. While I am here, I'll be completing my first three placement days with the Assembly Education Service in Stormont and my second placement with the Integrated Education Fund.
Wednesday June 6th, our 5th day in Northern Ireland was my first placement day at Stormont. Getting to Stormont in itself was quite a challenge and an adventure. The whole journey begins by taking a bus ride from our home in the countryside to the town of Downpatrick. Then, we board a bus to Belfast. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get to Belfast, so it isn't the easiest commute but its really scenic and the bus drivers have all been so accommodating and wonderful in helping us to get to where we need to go.
Once we arrived at the Europa bus station in Belfast, our good friend Basil McCrea picked us up in his car. It took us awhile to find Basil so by the time we found him we were running a bit late. Basil was in a real rush to get to a committee meeting about an hour out of Belfast, so he decided to bring us along and he rang Stormont to say he would drop us off after lunch.
The committee meeting was at an aerospace manufacturing facility. We toured the facility, and I am not a "science person" so it was a little bit dry for me. Afterwards though, Basil and his committee spoke with the head people at the facility about how the government might better prepare Northern Ireland's young people for entering the industry, and it was really interesting to sit in on that part of the conversation.
After the meeting we had intended to return to Stormont, but instead Basil took us on a really wonderful tour of part of the country. We had some really peaceful moments watching the tide roll into the bays, looking at all the hills and marshes.
We then drove through the town of Portaferry and decided to stop for lunch at the Portaferry Hotel. The inside of the hotel was so warm and cozy and the food was amazing. I ordered the seafood chowder, which was the freshest chowder I had ever had in my life! It was full of big bites of salmon and other seafood. My housemate had the mussels and Basil had some fried shrimp. The chef also sent fried fish skins topped with chips to our table, which was really good! We even had to take pictures of the food since it was so delicious.
After lunch, we took the car ferry over to the other side. It was freezing cold and pouring rain but the views were still beautiful.
One of the best parts of the day was the tour of West Belfast that we took with Basil. He showed us the peace walls and the Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods, where the homes flew either Union Jacks or the tricolor flag depending upon their loyalty. We were able to take pictures of lots of the murals up on the walls that are still there today. Being there was a sobering but fascinating experience.
Towards the end of the day, the rest of our group joined us in Belfast. Basil got us VIP tickets to the Olympic torch celebration and concert in Belfast. We were able to actually see the torch during its final day in Northern Ireland which was such a unique experience. After the ceremony came the best part. We went into City Hall for a special reception. At the reception, we met the Lord Mayor of Belfast (he's only 28 - so young). We also saw a great band called Sontas at the reception. The band included bagpipes and was one of the highlights of the night. We also met Mary Peters, who won a gold metal for Northern Ireland in 1972. I never thought I would meet a gold metal Olympian!
We had a fantastic day and a extraordinary night.
Wednesday June 6th, our 5th day in Northern Ireland was my first placement day at Stormont. Getting to Stormont in itself was quite a challenge and an adventure. The whole journey begins by taking a bus ride from our home in the countryside to the town of Downpatrick. Then, we board a bus to Belfast. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get to Belfast, so it isn't the easiest commute but its really scenic and the bus drivers have all been so accommodating and wonderful in helping us to get to where we need to go.
Once we arrived at the Europa bus station in Belfast, our good friend Basil McCrea picked us up in his car. It took us awhile to find Basil so by the time we found him we were running a bit late. Basil was in a real rush to get to a committee meeting about an hour out of Belfast, so he decided to bring us along and he rang Stormont to say he would drop us off after lunch.
The committee meeting was at an aerospace manufacturing facility. We toured the facility, and I am not a "science person" so it was a little bit dry for me. Afterwards though, Basil and his committee spoke with the head people at the facility about how the government might better prepare Northern Ireland's young people for entering the industry, and it was really interesting to sit in on that part of the conversation.
After the meeting we had intended to return to Stormont, but instead Basil took us on a really wonderful tour of part of the country. We had some really peaceful moments watching the tide roll into the bays, looking at all the hills and marshes.
We then drove through the town of Portaferry and decided to stop for lunch at the Portaferry Hotel. The inside of the hotel was so warm and cozy and the food was amazing. I ordered the seafood chowder, which was the freshest chowder I had ever had in my life! It was full of big bites of salmon and other seafood. My housemate had the mussels and Basil had some fried shrimp. The chef also sent fried fish skins topped with chips to our table, which was really good! We even had to take pictures of the food since it was so delicious.
After lunch, we took the car ferry over to the other side. It was freezing cold and pouring rain but the views were still beautiful.
One of the best parts of the day was the tour of West Belfast that we took with Basil. He showed us the peace walls and the Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods, where the homes flew either Union Jacks or the tricolor flag depending upon their loyalty. We were able to take pictures of lots of the murals up on the walls that are still there today. Being there was a sobering but fascinating experience.
Towards the end of the day, the rest of our group joined us in Belfast. Basil got us VIP tickets to the Olympic torch celebration and concert in Belfast. We were able to actually see the torch during its final day in Northern Ireland which was such a unique experience. After the ceremony came the best part. We went into City Hall for a special reception. At the reception, we met the Lord Mayor of Belfast (he's only 28 - so young). We also saw a great band called Sontas at the reception. The band included bagpipes and was one of the highlights of the night. We also met Mary Peters, who won a gold metal for Northern Ireland in 1972. I never thought I would meet a gold metal Olympian!
We had a fantastic day and a extraordinary night.
Relaxing Day and Denvir's (Day 4)
On the fourth day of the trip, we had a bit of a rest in our house. We all needed some time to unwind after a long first few days!
Later in the afternoon, we headed over to Denvir's, a local pub in Downpatrick. It was a really old hotel and pub - the first records of Denvir's hotel date back to 1642! The staff at Denvir's were all wonderful and I was finally able to get myself a Guinness. I also had some tomato basil soup which really hit the spot since it has been raining so much here!
After our outing, we headed back to the house to enjoy the fire and turn in for a good night's sleep.
Later in the afternoon, we headed over to Denvir's, a local pub in Downpatrick. It was a really old hotel and pub - the first records of Denvir's hotel date back to 1642! The staff at Denvir's were all wonderful and I was finally able to get myself a Guinness. I also had some tomato basil soup which really hit the spot since it has been raining so much here!
After our outing, we headed back to the house to enjoy the fire and turn in for a good night's sleep.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
St. Patrick, Saul, Stormont and Ulster-Scots (Day 3)
The third day of our trip was incredibly busy, and luck was with the Young Ambassadors as it was an absolutely gorgeous day.
We began by visiting Saint Patrick's grave which was located just up the hill from the Saint Patrick Centre. His grave is marked by a really large boulder. It's a really unique experience to be able to know that you're walking on the same grounds that a saint would have once walked on. The cemetery also contained several other graves, and Tim noted that the centre continues to find bodies each time it renovates the cathedral or digs within the grounds.
After visiting Saint Patrick's grave and the cathedral once again, we drove over to Saul. Saul is thought to be the first place that Saint Patrick began a parish, and where Saint Patrick converted the local chieftain (Dichu) and was given a barn to be used as his first church. Today there is a commemorative church as the site that was built in 1932, and it's so beautiful and peaceful.
After Saul, we stopped by Killgleah Castle, a pretty castle which is actually a private home that is occupied - unfortunately, that meant no tours! Then we headed to Stormont, Northern Ireland's Parliament buildings. Stormont hosted a "Family Fun Day" while we were there. Families from all over Northern Ireland were invited to come take tours of Stormont and there were rides, games and exhibits all along about a mile stretch of grass, sidewalk and road leading up to the main building. We bought savory crepes from a food vendor (I had mango chicken), which were delicious!
At Stormont we also met Basil McCrea for the first time. Basil is an MLA (member of the legislative assembly) and a member of the Ulster Unionist Party. He was absolutely charismatic and so friendly! He gave us a private tour of Stormont and brought us back to his office for tea and sweets. He also introduced us to two of his wonderful staff members, Karen and Jamie.
After a really informative and fun afternoon at Stormont, we traveled to a town called Kilkeel to attend a fair celebrating the Queen's Jubilee. We heard some great bands and saw traditional Scottish dancing. We also met Maynard Hana of the Ulster Scots Agency. He was also a really nice guy who brought us into his sons house to warm up and enjoy some treats. It was a cold night!
We did not get home till nearly 11:30pm, but we had a great and really jam packed day.
We began by visiting Saint Patrick's grave which was located just up the hill from the Saint Patrick Centre. His grave is marked by a really large boulder. It's a really unique experience to be able to know that you're walking on the same grounds that a saint would have once walked on. The cemetery also contained several other graves, and Tim noted that the centre continues to find bodies each time it renovates the cathedral or digs within the grounds.
After visiting Saint Patrick's grave and the cathedral once again, we drove over to Saul. Saul is thought to be the first place that Saint Patrick began a parish, and where Saint Patrick converted the local chieftain (Dichu) and was given a barn to be used as his first church. Today there is a commemorative church as the site that was built in 1932, and it's so beautiful and peaceful.
After Saul, we stopped by Killgleah Castle, a pretty castle which is actually a private home that is occupied - unfortunately, that meant no tours! Then we headed to Stormont, Northern Ireland's Parliament buildings. Stormont hosted a "Family Fun Day" while we were there. Families from all over Northern Ireland were invited to come take tours of Stormont and there were rides, games and exhibits all along about a mile stretch of grass, sidewalk and road leading up to the main building. We bought savory crepes from a food vendor (I had mango chicken), which were delicious!
At Stormont we also met Basil McCrea for the first time. Basil is an MLA (member of the legislative assembly) and a member of the Ulster Unionist Party. He was absolutely charismatic and so friendly! He gave us a private tour of Stormont and brought us back to his office for tea and sweets. He also introduced us to two of his wonderful staff members, Karen and Jamie.
After a really informative and fun afternoon at Stormont, we traveled to a town called Kilkeel to attend a fair celebrating the Queen's Jubilee. We heard some great bands and saw traditional Scottish dancing. We also met Maynard Hana of the Ulster Scots Agency. He was also a really nice guy who brought us into his sons house to warm up and enjoy some treats. It was a cold night!
We did not get home till nearly 11:30pm, but we had a great and really jam packed day.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Hospitals, Fish and "Chip" and the Saint Patrick Centre (Day 2)
On my first full day in Northern Ireland, I was able to get the full Northern Irish healthcare experience - I visited Downe Hospital in Downpatrick as a patient!
Before I first arrived in Northern Ireland, I had come down with a fever and flu-like symptoms in New York. I visited my doctor and later a hospital in New York, and the hospital had diagnosed me as having the flu. I was cleared to travel and be around other people. Once I was in Northern Ireland, however, I became sicker - my lungs felt like they were full of fluid and I began coughing constantly - and I came down with a fever again! So, I decided that I had better get checked out at the hospital.
The director of the center, Tim, brought me to the hospital on a rainy Sunday morning. The hospital was much smaller than what I am used to in the United States, but I was very impressed by it. At first, I was really concerned about having to pay a hospital bill, but Tim reassured me that my healthcare would be fully covered. That's one of the most wonderful things about Northern Ireland and many other European countries - the health care is free and completely covered for each patient. Of course, the Northern Irish actually pay through their tax contributions. When you're really sick though, I'm sure it is nice to not have to worry about medical bills!
My wait was relatively short compared to the time one typically has to wait in a US hospital, and the doctor was very nice. I am on a course of antibiotics now so hopefully I will be better soon!
After the hospital, a staff member from the Saint Patrick Centre picked me up and brought me back to the centre. I caught up with the rest of the group and we viewed an exhibit on Saint Patrick. The exhibit was really amazing, and I think it was effective because it presented information in so many different ways. You could read about Saint Patrick, use a portable device to listen to stories about his life, and there were tons of videos, pictures and sculptures. It was truly an audio-visual experience! I had already known a lot about Saint Patrick's life, but the experience was still really enriching and added so many details to the knowledge that I already had. I could tell that the exhibit would be a phenomenal place for families, too - towards the end, there are several different computer games that guests can play. The games feature information about Saint Patrick, druid life, and much more.
After viewing the exhibit, we had a chat with Tim about the Saint Patrick Centre and its work. The centre does some great work informing the public about Saint Patrick and his work and in promoting tourism in Downpatrick, but I also learned that the centre does a lot more for the community. For example, in the past the centre has facilitated reconciliation programs. Currently, the centre's cafe employs adults who have disabilities. As someone who has worked with people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation in the states, I think it is a really wonderful program!
Tim was also very candid with us and let us know that the 2012 set of Young Ambassadors would be very important to the centre. Due to the current economic climate, the Saint Patrick Centre has been struggling to remain open and to continue to provide all of the services that it offers. I am hoping that myself and the other Young Ambassadors will be able to come up with a solution in order to help Tim and the Centre!
After our talk, we all went over to grab some fish and chip from a shop nearby. The term "chip" in the U.K. refers to french fries. While I think a lot of people in the U.S. are familiar with the term, it was interesting to know that the Northern Irish refer to an entire order of fries as a "chip" and not as "chips." When I've been to England in the past, it has always seemed like people call them chips (plural).
Our lunch was delicious! After lunch, we headed to the local grocery store to buy provisions for our house and then we headed home to rest. We lit a fire in our sitting room and relaxed for a bit after turning in for the evening.
Before I first arrived in Northern Ireland, I had come down with a fever and flu-like symptoms in New York. I visited my doctor and later a hospital in New York, and the hospital had diagnosed me as having the flu. I was cleared to travel and be around other people. Once I was in Northern Ireland, however, I became sicker - my lungs felt like they were full of fluid and I began coughing constantly - and I came down with a fever again! So, I decided that I had better get checked out at the hospital.
The director of the center, Tim, brought me to the hospital on a rainy Sunday morning. The hospital was much smaller than what I am used to in the United States, but I was very impressed by it. At first, I was really concerned about having to pay a hospital bill, but Tim reassured me that my healthcare would be fully covered. That's one of the most wonderful things about Northern Ireland and many other European countries - the health care is free and completely covered for each patient. Of course, the Northern Irish actually pay through their tax contributions. When you're really sick though, I'm sure it is nice to not have to worry about medical bills!
My wait was relatively short compared to the time one typically has to wait in a US hospital, and the doctor was very nice. I am on a course of antibiotics now so hopefully I will be better soon!
After the hospital, a staff member from the Saint Patrick Centre picked me up and brought me back to the centre. I caught up with the rest of the group and we viewed an exhibit on Saint Patrick. The exhibit was really amazing, and I think it was effective because it presented information in so many different ways. You could read about Saint Patrick, use a portable device to listen to stories about his life, and there were tons of videos, pictures and sculptures. It was truly an audio-visual experience! I had already known a lot about Saint Patrick's life, but the experience was still really enriching and added so many details to the knowledge that I already had. I could tell that the exhibit would be a phenomenal place for families, too - towards the end, there are several different computer games that guests can play. The games feature information about Saint Patrick, druid life, and much more.
After viewing the exhibit, we had a chat with Tim about the Saint Patrick Centre and its work. The centre does some great work informing the public about Saint Patrick and his work and in promoting tourism in Downpatrick, but I also learned that the centre does a lot more for the community. For example, in the past the centre has facilitated reconciliation programs. Currently, the centre's cafe employs adults who have disabilities. As someone who has worked with people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation in the states, I think it is a really wonderful program!
Tim was also very candid with us and let us know that the 2012 set of Young Ambassadors would be very important to the centre. Due to the current economic climate, the Saint Patrick Centre has been struggling to remain open and to continue to provide all of the services that it offers. I am hoping that myself and the other Young Ambassadors will be able to come up with a solution in order to help Tim and the Centre!
After our talk, we all went over to grab some fish and chip from a shop nearby. The term "chip" in the U.K. refers to french fries. While I think a lot of people in the U.S. are familiar with the term, it was interesting to know that the Northern Irish refer to an entire order of fries as a "chip" and not as "chips." When I've been to England in the past, it has always seemed like people call them chips (plural).
Our lunch was delicious! After lunch, we headed to the local grocery store to buy provisions for our house and then we headed home to rest. We lit a fire in our sitting room and relaxed for a bit after turning in for the evening.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Arriving in Northern Ireland (Day 1)
Greetings from Northern Ireland! The following blog will act as a record of my adventures in Northern Ireland as a Friends of Saint Patrick Young Ambassador.
Preface:
As a Young Ambassador, I will be learning about Northern Irish culture, politics and history and specifically information about the Downpatrick area. The aim of the Young Ambassador program is to educate Americans and Canadians about Northern Ireland and to have the Young Ambassadors share their information and enthusiasm for the country with people back at home.
There are Friends of Saint Patrick chapters located in Northern Ireland and the US. The chapters promote Northern Ireland as the home of Saint Patrick and support the Saint Patrick centre. I applied to become a Young Ambassador through the Albany, NY chapter; our chapter is just beginning, and I am the first Young Ambassador from New York!
Trip Details!:
On June 1st, I left from JFK for Dublin and arrived one June 2nd around 9:30am. Dr.Tim Campbell, the director of the Saint Patrick Centre, warmly greeted me at the airport and introduced me to some of the other Young Ambassadors. Tim drove us around the suburbs of Dublin for awhile and we were able to see the beautiful Irish sea. After picking up a final Young Ambassador at the airport, we began to make the two hour drive from Dublin to Downpatrick in Northern Ireland.
The drive was hair-raising at times; the roads were narrow and winding! The countryside was beautiful, but all of the Young Ambassadors began to doze off in the van. In nearly no time at all, Tim announced, "We are now crossing into Northern Ireland." There's no formal border, so crossing into the country is no different than crossing over into New Jersey to New York, for example. As we got closer to Downpatrick, we could see the Mourne mountains rising in the distance.
We all arrived at the Saint Patrick Centre where we had to perform a quick costume change and put on our khaki pants and Friends of Saint Patrick polo shirts. From the centre, we took a walk up to the Down Cathedral to attend a mass celebrating the Queen of England's Diamond Jubilee. Tons of people packed into the beautiful cathedral to honor 60 years of the Queen's reign. The choir sang several songs, and we all commented on how it was the most beautiful choir we had ever heard. Several prayers were said and speeches were given. I think that the most interesting part of the celebration was when three people shared first-hand stories from when they had seen the Queen's coronation back on June 2nd 1953. They were each fantastic storytellers - I really felt like I was standing there in Trafalgar Square in London, watching the Queen's carriage pass as the rain poured down from above. I am quickly learning that many people in Northern Ireland are terrific orators.
After the celebration, we headed over to see our accommodations for the first time. We are living in a huge 4 bedroom home in Ballydugan. We have a gorgeous living room with a fireplace and sweeping views of a little lake - and lots of cows!
A short amount of time passed before we were swept away to a barbecue at the Saint Patrick centre. The weather kind of spoiled our barbecue so we had to eat inside. We met a lot of local people as well as Margaret Richie, MP for South Down. We didn't actually get around to eating until 9pm or so and did not get back to the house until 10:30pm, so we were exhausted for sure!
Overall, an interesting start.
Preface:
As a Young Ambassador, I will be learning about Northern Irish culture, politics and history and specifically information about the Downpatrick area. The aim of the Young Ambassador program is to educate Americans and Canadians about Northern Ireland and to have the Young Ambassadors share their information and enthusiasm for the country with people back at home.
There are Friends of Saint Patrick chapters located in Northern Ireland and the US. The chapters promote Northern Ireland as the home of Saint Patrick and support the Saint Patrick centre. I applied to become a Young Ambassador through the Albany, NY chapter; our chapter is just beginning, and I am the first Young Ambassador from New York!
Trip Details!:
On June 1st, I left from JFK for Dublin and arrived one June 2nd around 9:30am. Dr.Tim Campbell, the director of the Saint Patrick Centre, warmly greeted me at the airport and introduced me to some of the other Young Ambassadors. Tim drove us around the suburbs of Dublin for awhile and we were able to see the beautiful Irish sea. After picking up a final Young Ambassador at the airport, we began to make the two hour drive from Dublin to Downpatrick in Northern Ireland.
The drive was hair-raising at times; the roads were narrow and winding! The countryside was beautiful, but all of the Young Ambassadors began to doze off in the van. In nearly no time at all, Tim announced, "We are now crossing into Northern Ireland." There's no formal border, so crossing into the country is no different than crossing over into New Jersey to New York, for example. As we got closer to Downpatrick, we could see the Mourne mountains rising in the distance.
We all arrived at the Saint Patrick Centre where we had to perform a quick costume change and put on our khaki pants and Friends of Saint Patrick polo shirts. From the centre, we took a walk up to the Down Cathedral to attend a mass celebrating the Queen of England's Diamond Jubilee. Tons of people packed into the beautiful cathedral to honor 60 years of the Queen's reign. The choir sang several songs, and we all commented on how it was the most beautiful choir we had ever heard. Several prayers were said and speeches were given. I think that the most interesting part of the celebration was when three people shared first-hand stories from when they had seen the Queen's coronation back on June 2nd 1953. They were each fantastic storytellers - I really felt like I was standing there in Trafalgar Square in London, watching the Queen's carriage pass as the rain poured down from above. I am quickly learning that many people in Northern Ireland are terrific orators.
After the celebration, we headed over to see our accommodations for the first time. We are living in a huge 4 bedroom home in Ballydugan. We have a gorgeous living room with a fireplace and sweeping views of a little lake - and lots of cows!
A short amount of time passed before we were swept away to a barbecue at the Saint Patrick centre. The weather kind of spoiled our barbecue so we had to eat inside. We met a lot of local people as well as Margaret Richie, MP for South Down. We didn't actually get around to eating until 9pm or so and did not get back to the house until 10:30pm, so we were exhausted for sure!
Overall, an interesting start.
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