Welcome to Waterford

Hello ILE Families and Friends! After students had arrived Dublin Airport on Friday, met Mar and Raquel-from Spain, they began their three hour bus journey south to Waterford. The students were definitely jet legged, so many were able to catch some much needed shut eye. To break the drive down to Waterford, we stopped at Glendalough, so the students could stretch their legs and enjoy a packed lunch of apples, crisps, sandwiches, and sweets. Glendalough, or the Glen of Two Lakes, is one of the most important sites of monastic ruins in Ireland. It is also known as the City of the Seven Churches. Fourteen centuries have passed since the death of its founder, St. Kevin, when the valley was part of Ireland's Golden Age. The two lakes, which gave the valley its name, came into existence thousands of years ago, after the Ice Age, when great deposits of earth and stone were strewn across the valley in the area where the Round Tower now exists. The mountain streams eventually formed a large lake. The Pollanass River spread alluvial deposits across the center of the lake and created a divide to form the Upper and Lower Lakes. The Glenealo River flows in from the west into the Upper Lake, which is the larger and deepest of the two lakes. Before the arrival of St. Kevin this valley would have been desolate and remote. It must have been ideal for St. Kevin as a retreat and area to be away from it all. St. Kevin died in 617 AD at the age of 120 years and his name and life's work is forever entwined with the ruins and the Glendalough Valley. Our amazing ILE Counselor, Kevin, was also thrilled to learn his name was so well associated with Glendalough. "This is awesome," he said. After our packed lunch, Dan gave the students a tour of the Round Tower, the cemetery filled with beautiful Celtic crosses, St. Kevin's Church and took them on a short walk along the Lower Lake. Jenni, from Montana said is was beautiful. Ann said she enjoyed the fresh air after being on the plane the day before. When we had finished our short break at Glendalough, we hopped back on the bus to finish our trip to Newtown Boarding School in Waterford. Once we arrived Newtown Boarding School, students were able to get settled in their rooms. We had tea afterwards, followed by a brief orientation. Students were then able to deposit their money and passports into the ILE Bank, before we had a few evening activities. Amy, Kevin, and Scones led the group in some ice-breakers of the Human Knot and Lover's Leap. Many of the students were very exhausted after the past few days, so it was early to bed, early to rise. Conor said that the past few days were a good bonding experience for everyone and he was looking forward to what the rest of the experience had in store for him.

← All posts