Northern Ireland

On Thursday was probably one of the most special tours of the ILE. The Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, and Ballycastle. Fifteen years ago, going up North would be unheard up, because of the Troubles. However, now ILE students were able to witness the beauty of the Antrim Coast. It was a long bus ride, but as we passed through Belfast-with Angie pointing out her house-students began to notice the different flags in each town. Some towns would have the Tricolor flying everywhere, even the curbs were painted green, white, and orange. In other towns, the Union Jack would be proudly displayed. "It's interesting," said Jordan. With heavy rain almost the entire journey up to the Giant's Causeway, we arrived and the sun began to shine. Just our luck! The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, the Giant's Causeway was named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 36 feet high. Angie and Dan also shared the legend associated with the Giant's Causeway. Legend has it that the Irish warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill built the Causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner. Fionn fell asleep before he got to Scotland. When he did not arrive, the much larger Benandonner crossed the bridge looking for him. To protect Fionn, his wife Oonagh laid a blanket over him so he could pretend that he was actually their baby son. When Benandonner saw the size of the infant, he assumed the alleged father, Fionn, must be gigantic indeed. Therefore, Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway in case he was followed by Fionn. It was a perfect start to the ILE's exploration of the Causeway. We ate our packed lunches and watched a short video about the Causeway, before we decided to take a walk on the upper path. It's about a mile hike, with gorgeous views. Students stopped off to take amazing pictures, before reaching the Organ and the Boot. Students had about an hour climb on the rocks and take pictures. "It was stunning, and I could have stayed there forever," said Eileen. The weather managed to hold off the whole time we were at the Giant's Causeway, but just as we were leaving to go to our next destination, Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, it started sprinkling. That didn't stop the students though from wanting to see more of the Antrim Coast. We put on our rain jackets and took off the path to the bridge. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope suspension bridge. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. The site is owned and maintained by the National Trust, spans twenty metres and is thirty metres above the rocks below. Today the bridge is mainly a tourist attraction, with 227,000 visitors in 2008. The bridge is now taken down every year in late October or early November, depending on weather conditions, having been put up in March. Carrick-a-rede means 'rock in the road'. It is thought salmon fishermen have been erecting bridges to the island for over 350 years. All of the ILE students crossed the bridge and some were definitely frightened by the height. Jocelyn was especially scared, but made it across and back. It was definitely worth the shaky knees, because the views were absolutely spectacular. You could even see Scotland! We definitely got our fill of exercise for the day, before stopping off in Ballycastle for dinner. The students were given money to enjoy some of the restaurants around the popular seaside town. Chinese, Fish and Chips, and Italian. With our bellies full, we left for our three hour bus journey back to Dublin. Lots of naps, story telling, listening to music, and singing. It doesn't get any better than this!

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