40 Shades of Green ♣: Last TWO Archaeology Trips!

Okay WOW, have I been busy! So much has happened in the past week and a half, its crazy! I had to write my first essay for my Irish Archaeology class… that was definitely a good time, haha, and took up a LOT of my time. But it’s over, and so is the class (sadly) so all I have to worry about it the final in October. I start classes for the regular semester on Monday and still have no idea what I am taking. The system for picking classes over here is sooo much more stressful than at home (which is stressful enough, might I add). I had to get certain classes approved by UCC and also by UMaine to make sure they would transfer, and even though I’ve done that step, it’s still not guaranteed I’ll get into all my original requests. The academic walk-about was on Friday, which was supposed to be helpful and allow you to meet all the department heads, but by the time we got there everyone was packing up, so it wasn’t all that helpful. I did get approved for both psychology classes I wanted to take, though, so that’s good. I am also hoping to take an Irish history class, a music class, and of course the intro to Gaelic/Irish language class :)

In other news, I have to post some pics and tell you all about the last two field trips my early start class went on. Our professor is just SO awesome, we will all miss him so much. On Friday, September 11th we went to North Cork and South Tipperary counties. We saw Labbacallee wedge tomb, the largest wedge tomb in Ireland, the Mitchelstown Caves, and the Rock of Cashel. We lucked out with the weather that day it was b-e-a-u-tiful out—sun, blue skies, and even kinda warm! The wedge tomb was our first stop, and although it doesn’t look that exciting to anyone not in an archaeology class, it was fairly interesting to see. Our professor, Tomás (as he prefers to be called, he’s not actually considered a professor here, just a lecturer even though he has his doctorate in archaeology, crazy!) did a fabulous job tying in what we learned in class to what we saw on field trips. Our next stop was kind of a fun stop at what was called the Mitchelstown Caves. These are the biggest and best caves in Ireland supposedly, and they were SO COOL. I had never really been in a true cave before, so it was a little creepy, but definitely an awesome experience. The cave is made up mostly of limestone rock formations that were carved by what used to be an underground river. The river is obviously all dried up now, so visitors can tour the cave. We went down about 200 feet (pretty nerve-racking stair experience in the beginning! very steep…) and walked about a half a mile into the caves. I couldn’t take pictures inside unfortunately, but trust me, if you ever get to Ireland, it was a worthwhile experience. Some of the caverns were huuuge, and in one they even have concerts, religious ceremonies, etc. for 200+ people! Our last stop that day, besides a lunch stop for disgusting pureed vegetable soup and sandwiches with too much mayo (hey, it was free!), was the Rock of Cashel. This “castle”-looking monument is actually not a castle. Originally it was built for the kings of Munster during the early medieval period, but in 1101 it was given to the Church and the buildings remained completely ecclesiastical ever since. There is a 13th-century cathedral, Cormac’s Chapel—one of the earliest and finest Romanesque churches in Ireland according to Tomás, and a high cross that is barely there still, haha. This site was probably one of my favorites yet, check out how beautiful the pictures are! GO THERE if you are going to Ireland. It’s only €2 to get in!

Labbacallee wedge tomb

getting out of the wedge tomb!

picture of the caves from Mitchelstowncave.com website...

we saw REAL leprachauns on the street!!!

Rock of Cashel from the bottom of the hill

inside admissions, so pretty already!

the round tower and celtic cross :)

our glorious professor!

inside the beautiful cathedral

outside views!

sitting on the banks with some great friends!

Our last field trip took place last Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 16th and 17th. This was definitely the best field trip yet! We saw sooo much! Most of these sites are in an area known as the Burren, basically the desert of Ireland: Kilfenora Cathedral, Laemaneh Castle, Poulnabrone portal tomb (one of Ireland’s most famous for sure!), Corcomroe Cistercian Abbey, Cahercommaun Cashel, CLIFFS OF MOHER (ah-mayyy-zing!), quin Franciscan Friary, Moughaun Hillfort, and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Phew, quite a few sights in two days, right?

Obviously some sites just look like a pile of rocks to you, but to us archaeology students, it was definitely awesome. The Poulnabrone portal tomb is a tomb pictured on the front of the Irish Times apparently, it’s a burial place where 22 people were found to be buried there. Corcomroe Abbey was pretty cool—there were a lot of cross grave stones and a beautiful view of the mountains in the Burren. The best part of the first day, however was seeing the Cliffs of Moher! Obviously these are the most famous cliffs in Ireland, and they are about 650 feet tall. The country has set up certain viewing points, and no worries Mom, we weren’t allowed to cross those points during our field trip so I didn’t get too close to the edge (although I wanted to!). The views were something a camera could not capture, so seriously, everyone needs to put that on their “things-to-do-before-I-die” list. One of the most majestic and breath-taking places I have ever been. Later that night after the cliffs, we went to our hotel for the evening in Ennistimon, which was called Fall’s Hotel. It was a beautiful hotel and it was only two people to a room so compared to the hostel with 13 girls in one room last trip, it was heaven! We got a delicious three course meal (fruit, chicken and mashed potatoes with steamed veggies, and dessert) and after we ate Tomás took us out to a popular pub called Cooley’s Pub in the small town for some “trad” or traditional Irish music. It was definitely weird to have our professor take us out for a drink (which by the way, he bought all 40+ of us one drink!), but at the same time it was a great way to end the trip. The next morning we got up early for the full Irish breakfast the hotel had prepared for us, then headed out to see our last sights. The field trip was jammed packed, but definitely a great time. I can’t believe the class is over. I would absolutely recommend doing the early start option (and in particular, the archaeology class) to anyone thinking about studying abroad! All the other international students arrived the past two days and it’s so nice to have the advantage of being here for a month already. We’ve already been though one class, so we know how school works, we know our way around the city, and we already have a routine set. All the same, I still can’t believe I have been here for a little over a month! It has flown by…

But anyways, here are the pics from my last field trip. ENJOY and comment :)

Kilfenora Cathedral