It is Sunday morning, 5 November 2023, and around 50 pupils from 4AHBG and 4AHEL can hardly wait to get to know the land of the Irish. Shortly afterward, they all travelled by bus to Munich Airport. Once there, they checked in, checked out their seat neighbours, and eagerly looked forward to the week ahead. The Irish airline 'Air-Lingus' then took them to the capital, where the students got handed over to their host families and had the afternoon to get to know them and their new home for the week in Dublin.

On Monday morning, we all travelled by public transport to Trinity College, where we got an exclusive guided tour and insider tips about the city. After a thorough refreshment, everyone returned to the language school, where we learned to swing our hips and Irish slang.

On-time the following day, we continued with the familiar school routine. The highlight, however, was the train journey to Bray - a charming little town by the sea. Cozy cafés and restaurants, such as the breathtaking Cliff Walk and beautiful sunsets, made this an unforgettable Tuesday afternoon.

The third day took an example from the previous one. We spent the morning in the language school and learned from our instructors which speech melodies we needed to sound native. A trip to the Irish Emigration Museum was on the agenda for the afternoon. There, we got instructed in a partly playful way about the motivations and dreams with which the former locals started their new lives.

Thursday in Dublin was a day of self-exploration as students visited Ireland's largest shopping center to buy souvenirs. Others spend their free time at the stunning Cliffs of Howth, marveling at their geological structure and the crashing waves.

We continued with our last day at the language school, where we improved our English-speaking capabilities through communication and exercises with real Irish natives. We also broadened our scope about the diversity of Irish tradition, folklore like Molly Malone, and their culture. The rest of the day was used individually by the students. Some visited famous landmarks like the world-renowned Temple Bar and the statue of the previously mentioned Molly Malone.

We met up early the following day for our long-anticipated visit to Belfast. It all began with us getting on a bus from Dublin, where we drove all the way to the infamous 'Peace Wall'. A local guide explained to us the sad and bloody past of the city that led to the need for a wall separating Catholics and Protestants to prevent violence. After leaving the Peace Wall, we visited another world-renowned part of the history of Belfast - the Titanic. We went to the Titanic Museum, where we learned all about this magnificent product of engineering that pushed the limits of what was considered possible at the time. The museum covered the history of why they commissioned the Titanic, how and why they constructed it, and what led to its inevitable end. After a short visit to the city center, we returned to Dublin and began preparing for our trip back to Austria.

Saturday marked the day our visit to Ireland came to a close. We had to say goodbye to our host families and left for the airport at two in the morning. After a short flight to the airport in Munich, we made our way back to Salzburg by train, marking the official end of our trip.