12-03-19 02:14 PM - Post#890985    

My daughter has the opportunity to study abroad this summer in Ireland for a month. The cities she can choose from to stay in are Belfast, Limerick, Maynooth, Galway and Cork. Any suggestions for which to choose? Thanks.

12-04-19 11:23 AM - Post#891025    

I would say Galway, but I am biased.

If she does go to Galway, I can help with places, people, whatever. (And in Belfast, too, actually)

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

12-04-19 01:05 PM - Post#891033    

I've only been to Ireland once, but Galway (and the west of Ireland in general) were my favorite parts of the trip. You can travel to so much of the west coast from there (the Wild Atlantic Way, Aran Islands, etc.) so it's a great "base of operations" if you want to see a lot of country. Plus if I recall it's a relatively easy train ride to Dublin if your daughter wanted to explore there, too.

12-05-19 03:30 AM - Post#891045    

Having studied abroad in my earlier years, having lived internationally for the last 15, and having worked professionally with hundreds of students who study in overseas universities, I always seem to give this advice:

Stay in one city (for a little while, at least). If you've only got a month, don't travel around. Take those weekends to really explore the city you're in. Find a pub you love where the people treat you well. Go to concerts and quirky museums. Make local friends. Buy groceries. Get drunk and take the wrong bus home.

It's better to know one place really well, to accrue real memories and friendships, than to check off a laundry list of Instagram photo sites.

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"The uses of travel are occasional, and short; but the best fruit it finds, when it finds it, is conversation; and this is a main function of life."

That being said, I've never been to Ireland, but in my experience Corkonians are some of the most wonderful people in the world.

12-05-19 06:27 AM - Post#891047    

• Dan John Said:

Thanks Dan, I’ll get in touch if she chooses to stay in Galway.

12-05-19 11:10 AM - Post#891058    

I agree with Jordan on this: that's my experience, too.

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you