Arrival

Arrived in Dublin safe and sleepy on Wednesday morning: for some, a return to the “auld sod,” the home of their roots; for others, a “brave new world.” Simon and Adam from Belvedere were waiting to meet us and take us to the school. Simon is a rugby coach, and Adam a gap year students from the Jesuit school in Sidney, Australia. At one point they had thought we were coming in at 5:30 AM or so, their time, so they were relieved when they found out we weren’t actually scheduled to land until after 10 AM. It was only a short ride from the north side airport to the school, where there were pastries, juice, and hot drinks waiting. We were warmly welcomed by the administrators and teachers, among them Headmaster Gerry Foley and his Deputy Seamus; Tom Doyle, our coordinator; and Fr. Derek Cassidy, the rector; as well as many others. Everyone then got a quick tour while matching up with their hosts while Mr. McAllister made sure that we called home.

Our first business Thursday was a journal reflection in which we tried to capture our first impressions of the country. The boys found their host families warm and hospitable, their host brothers, sports-obsessed. One student shared how his family had tea and scones waiting for him when they got home and how he must have had six more cups of tea by the time he arrived in school Thursday morning. Mr. McAllister and Mr. McGonagle found a similar welcome at the Castle Hotel, only a few doors down Great Denmark Street from the school. They met the owner and his family in the lobby and had an extended chat before getting to their rooms. Curiously, the owner, Finn McCool, shares that name with a famous giant from medieval Irish mythology (Fionn MacCumhaill). Altogether, an auspicious start to the trip!