Friday, March 28

After a gruelling eight-hour flight followed by a three-hour bus ride, we finally arrived at our first destination: Cork. During this day, we took a guided tour of the city, and although my memory of it has a foggy, 33-hours-sleep-deprived haze cast over it (cue the videos of me falling asleep at dinner), I can say with full confidence that the sights of Cork absolutely blew me away. We passed intricate architecture, historical sights, and glistening waterways, learning all about the city as we walked. One especially notable highlight was the English Market, a vibrant and elaborate covered market filled with fresh produce, bright flowers, and other goods. The dried apricots my friend got from here were some of the best I’ve ever tasted.

Saturday, March 29

Today began with a masterclass at the Cork School of Music, where we got feedback on some of our repertoire songs, before opening with our first performance in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral. The building was lovely to the eye, adorned with arches and architectural details, and I had a lot of fun singing with the amplifying acoustics of the space. Later, we visited the Blarney Castle, a 15th-century structure that contains the famous Blarney Stone, rumored to give the gift of eloquence to anyone who kisses it, which most of the choir did after learning it gets sanitized in between each person. Entering the castle was like travelling back in time, and my experience moving through the winding staircases and learning about each of the rooms was an absolute delight, and definitely one of the highlights of the trip overall.

Sunday, March 30

After an informative bus ride and a quick stop for shopping at a small town in County Kerry, we drove around the astonishing Ring of Kerry. This 111-mile scenic route offered picturesque views that made me understand the meaning of the word “breathtaking” for the first time in my life. From impressive mountains, March greenery just waking up, and flocks of sheep, this was hands down one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. Later, we had some free time to explore Killarney, which was not only perfectly lively and dynamic but full of cute shops to walk through as well.

Monday, March 31

Today, we left Killarney and took a bus and a ferry to the astounding Cliffs of Moher, one of the most famous destinations in all of Ireland. Being there was like a dream, with local musicians playing in the background as we looked out toward the mist-covered cliffs, along with many people from all over the world. Afterward, we visited a sheep farm and watched a farmer and his three sheepdogs demonstrate their ability to herd sheep. They performed several tasks for us, such as moving the herd of sheep through obstacles and keeping them all together. At the end, we had the opportunity to hold some of the lambs and pet the dogs, which was so adorable.

Tuesday, April 1

For the first half of today, we had a bit of free time to explore our third city destination: Galway. My friends and I first went on a walk along the shimmering, blue ocean and then headed toward the city for some shopping (and impromptu singing in random music shops). Many of us bought Claddagh rings, a traditional Irish ring that originated in Galway and represents love, loyalty, and friendship. Then, we met the community choir Voice of Galway for a combined rehearsal at the University of Galway, before performing with them later that evening. They were a fantastic group of singers as well as people, and I had such a good time working with them and hearing another choir perform.

Wednesday, April 2

This morning, we left Galway and set out for Dublin, the last city we would visit on our tour. Along the way, we stopped at the Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, a historic site on the banks of the River Shannon which featured ruins of a cathedral, churches, round towers, high crosses, and hundreds of graves from centuries ago. After arriving in Dublin, we visited Trinity College, where we were able to see the Book of Kells, a gospel manuscript from the 9th century rich with detailed medieval art. Additionally, we visited the Long Room, a nearly 213-foot-long library chamber featuring tall, arched windows, marble busts of many great thinkers throughout history, and about 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. Overall, I was enthralled by the experience. Today’s events taught me a lot about Irish history and culture, and allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the country, which I very much appreciated.

Thursday, April 3

We explored two beautiful Dublin religious institutions today: the Liberties of Christ Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Each was overflowing with extravagant details and profound history. Underneath the Liberties of Christ Church was a solemn crypt and museum, where plenty of historical objects from Ireland could be found. I was awestruck by the reverent atmosphere and intrigued by almost everything I saw here, from 17th-century Irish silver to medieval manuscripts. At St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we had our final performance of the trip. Since the cathedral was open for visitors while we were performing, we had our biggest audience here by far, and we definitely ended on a high note with it. In the afternoon, my friend and I walked through George’s Street Arcade—an 1881 mall considered to be one of Europe’s oldest shopping centers—during our free time. It sold a variety of products and presented ornate Victorian architecture everywhere I looked, which was so cool to see.

Friday, April 4

Today was our last glimpse of Ireland before heading back to the United States. My friend, chaperone, and I took a quick walk through one of Dublin’s serene parks in the morning, which convinced me that the grass might literally be greener on the other side of the Atlantic. Then, after checking out of our hotel, the whole choir took a last walk through Dublin. We stopped at the poignant Famine Memorial—haunting statues that commemorate the Great Hunger of the 1840s—and sang one of our repertoire songs titled “The Fields of Athenry,” which conveys the sheer tragedy of the event through its lyrics, while facing the memorial. Just before we left for the airport, we made a circle and shared our thoughts and appreciation for the trip, with many expressing how the trip helped them get to know more people in choir and made them laugh more than they had in a while, a sentiment I couldn’t agree more with.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Interior view of the English Market in Cork, Ireland, on March 28 (Flynn/LION).

Overall, this trip was one of the best I’ve ever been on. Being completely immersed in Irish culture and history helped me gain a new understanding and appreciation for different customs. After the trip, the choir feels a lot more connected as a whole, and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to talk with people I might never have gotten to know otherwise. This is definitely an experience I will never forget.