Today we all got our Sports on at Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). This stadium is in the heart of Dublin and is entrenched in Irish history. This can be seen by the way they have named their stands, Cusak (for the founder of the GAA), Davin (the first president of the GAA), Hogan (the only athlete killed on Bloody Sunday in 1920) and Hill 16 (named after the Uprising of 1916). In the early 1900's Gaelic Games which are traditional to Ireland such as Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and Handball, were dying out. In order to preserve the Gaelic Heritage and these sports, the GAA was formed. The only games that are played in Croke Park are traditional Gaelic games. No soccer or rugby is played there. Mohammed Ali actually visited Croke Park twice, once in 1972 for a fight against Al "Blue" Lewis and then again for the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics in 2003. He remarked that nothing in the stadium was named after him during the 2003 visit and in response, a tunnel in the stadium is now named "Ali" tunnel.
After lunch, it was a walk down to Trinity College where the Book of Kells is housed and the Long Room of Harry Potter fame was based on. We were told that in the dining hall on campus, the students would have to dress up and upon entering, would have an assigned seat. Once the head of the Departments arrive in their gowns and colors of what they studied, all are seated. By the time the fork is set down for the last time at head table, every has to be done eating. The students thought this was a strange tradition.
We participated in a Statue scavenger hunt between Trinity College, up Grafton Street to St. Stevens Green. It was a nice walk and the students were able to watch some of the street performers (a couple of really excellent bands) and talk with some locals and do a bit of shopping (although we stayed out of most stores as they were just like what we have here and rather on the expensive side).
On the way back to our hotel, we stopped by Phoenix Park where the President of Ireland lives in a smaller replica of our White House. Down the street from her, the American Ambassador, Daniel Rooney, lives. Phoenix Park also was the host for a Papal Mass given by Pope John Paul II in 1979. A cross was erected for this mass, which 1.5 million Irish attended, and is still in the park today. At the base of this cross, our students played a little game of soccer. After a long day of learning about Ireland's history, this was great fun for the kids.
Once back at the hotel, we had a good ole American dinner of hamburgers and chips (french fries). After dinner, everyone settled in for the night and either were working hard in their journals (journal checks tomorrow) or working on their "talent" for the talent show tomorrow night when we reach Limerick. Good night all.
After trying our hand at a few of these new sports, we made our way to Flanigan's on O'Connell Street (where the uprising of 1916 took place) and had Irish stew for lunch. Some of the students really enjoyed it, others really didn't care for it, but all at least tried it.
After lunch, it was a walk down to Trinity College where the Book of Kells is housed and the Long Room of Harry Potter fame was based on. We were told that in the dining hall on campus, the students would have to dress up and upon entering, would have an assigned seat. Once the head of the Departments arrive in their gowns and colors of what they studied, all are seated. By the time the fork is set down for the last time at head table, every has to be done eating. The students thought this was a strange tradition.
Trinity College also has the old bell t1979ower from when the campus was a monastery and according to superstition, if you walk under the bell tower, then you will fail your end of year finals. Unfortunately 75% of our students decided to take that chance, so parents beware.
We participated in a Statue scavenger hunt between Trinity College, up Grafton Street to St. Stevens Green. It was a nice walk and the students were able to watch some of the street performers (a couple of really excellent bands) and talk with some locals and do a bit of shopping (although we stayed out of most stores as they were just like what we have here and rather on the expensive side).
On the way back to our hotel, we stopped by Phoenix Park where the President of Ireland lives in a smaller replica of our White House. Down the street from her, the American Ambassador, Daniel Rooney, lives. Phoenix Park also was the host for a Papal Mass given by Pope John Paul II in 1979. A cross was erected for this mass, which 1.5 million Irish attended, and is still in the park today. At the base of this cross, our students played a little game of soccer. After a long day of learning about Ireland's history, this was great fun for the kids.
Once back at the hotel, we had a good ole American dinner of hamburgers and chips (french fries). After dinner, everyone settled in for the night and either were working hard in their journals (journal checks tomorrow) or working on their "talent" for the talent show tomorrow night when we reach Limerick. Good night all.
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