Elisabeth Fort

My last day in Cork has been very relaxed.  After a nice morning run, I had an Irish breakfast and then headed out with no particular destination in mind. I eventually made it to the southwest side of the city; where I strolled through a residential neighborhood and talked to a few people along the way.  On my way back to the downtown commercial/touristy area, I passed the Elisabeth Fort. It was built by Sir George Carew in 1601, after the Battle of Kinsale. It wasn’t long before it came under attack. After the death of Queen Elisabeth in 1603, the Irish, rejecting the crowning of James I, demolished and disarmed it. It was rebuilt about ten years later, this time in stone, and has since served as a reminder of Cork and the rest of Ireland’s continuing conflicts with the English and themselves. 

  

Sheep Dogs

Lamb and wool are big industries here in Ireland and the sheep dogs are all business. 
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Ring of Kerry

I was on the road most of the day; circling the Ring of Kerry. It’s a looping ring of scenic views, small towns, castles and cliffs. It’s said to be a favorite place of Queen Victoria. 

The Cliffs of Moher

I walked a trail along the Cliffs of Moher today.  The Cliffs run for about nine miles on the southwestern edge of the Burren region in Clare County.  The highest point is around 700 ft above the Atlantic Ocean. 

You will find 300-million-year-old river channels cutting through and forming unconformities at the base  of the cliffs. 

I was lucky enough to spot a few Atlantic Puffins through the heavy fog.  The sea life also includes sharks, dolphins, seals and whales. 

Leaving Dublin

I’ve just left Dublin heading to Galway. Fortunately I managed to get into Kilmainham Gaol where I found this letter in the small museum there. It is a letter from James Fisher to his mother; written just before his execution. While maybe not as elegantly written as Robert Emmet’s Speach, it is just as poignant. James was the age of some of my students. He was among the last to be executed here in 1922 at the start of the Irish civil war. 

Trinity College Library

Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth the I. 

Its famous library I s the largest research library in Ireland with about five million books,  

Of course, The Book of Kells is the Library's most famous book. You will find it in the Old Library with many other ancient texts.  This is where you will also find the Brian Boru harp, one of three surviving medieval Gaelic harps, and a national symbol of Ireland.

Final Full Day in Dublin

Today will be my final full day in Dublin. I’m hoping to get that tour of Kilmainham Gaol and in a few minutes I will be heading back to Trinity College to see the Book of Kelly’s. I’ll post again soon to let you know how it goes. 

Kilmainham Gaol

I had hoped to get a tour of Kilmainham Gaol today but the tour was sold out.  This old jail (now a museum) is a dark part of Ireland’s history. It was here where the leaders of the Easter Rising/Rebellion were executed. A century before that, Robert Emmet delivered his famous speech before being hung and then beheaded. 

Rise and Shine

It’s my first morning in Ireland and I’m eager to explore more of Dublin before I meet up with the other educators this evening. 

Ireland politics has been in the news quite a bit lately; especially on the topics of women’s right and the effects of Brexit. I’m hoping I might be able to get a few of the locals to share some of their thoughts on these issues and compare their comments with what I’ve seen in the media. 

As you know, my travels are all about building global competencies and understanding the media is part of that. As I turned on my tablet this morning, I noticed one of my fellow traveling educators had posted this chart:

I was pleased to see most of the sources I use are in the upper, middle circle. Some of them, like The Economist, are a bit to the right and others, like NPR are a bit to the left. To find a range of opinions I will also look at some in the yellow rectangle; like Mother Jones and National Review. Then, of course, I also see sources in the orange and red rectangles on social media; like Facebook. 

My point is, it’s important to understand the bias and reliability of your media sources.  Then be open and excited to find the unexpected. 

Welcome to Dublin

Well, I made it to Dublin. I’m pretty tired after a long fight but I still had some time to explore the area around my hotel. Trinity College is just a couple of blocks south so I took a quick walk around. Tomorrow I’ll spend more time taking a closer look. For now I think I’ll find some fish and chips and return to the hotel for some much needed sleep. 

A Shoutout to the Friends of BOMLA

One of the things I like most about teaching at BOMLA is the community. We all have a very strong sense of purpose and can count on one another for support. This is the eleventh year that I have been bringing my “Great Adventures” into my classroom and building global competencies that will prepare my students for a global society. I’ve been fortunate enough to have received two Fulbright awards, an IREX Fellowship and a Toyota International Teacher award which has paid for each of those adventures. Other years, I have had to cover all the costs. That would have been the case this years but, the Friends of BOMLA gave me a very generous grant. Wow!  What a great community we have!

For whom much is given........

Thank you Friends of BOMLA

Short Layover in London

The flight from Dallas to London wasn’t too bad. The meals weren’t great but, there were no crying babies. 

I’m already getting a bit of the culture as I can hear some faint bagpipes in the background. 

The Journey has Begun

The day has finally come. My bag is checked and I’m waiting to board my plane to London for a short layover then on to Dublin. This has already been a very busy summer for me. In addition to moving to the new campus, all the murals that have documented my previous travels have been removed at taken to the new school to be reinstalled. 

I did, however, managed to get a makeover for a new look as I travel about Ireland.  What do you think?

Sports of Ireland

Today was the last day of school for students. Yahoo! Your summer break has begun. But, you can still follow my blog to earn house points. And, of course, follow me on my Great Adventure n Ireland. Coach Rose had a few interesting facts to share about the sports in Ireland. What do you think is the most popular sport in Ireland?  Let’s find out. 

Nurse West Has Some Fun Facts

Nurse West is one of my most enthusiastic followers and contributors to my Great Adventure blogs.
She's done a bit of her own research about Ireland and is challenging you to find some of your own Fun Facts about Ireland.

Find and post your own Fun Facts to get your own house points.

Religion and Politics

Ms. Serrato has some interesting questions about the politics surrounding a long standing religious conflict in Ireland.  I really like her questions.  She is asking for your opinion but, how well will you be able to back up your opinion with facts and sound reasoning?  But first, let's see what she has to say.

Post your thoughts and earn house points:

1. Why is it that Catholics and Protestants are so deeply divided in Ireland?

2. Do you think Northern Ireland will continue to have conflicts between Catholics an Protestants?

3. How will Brexit impact Northern Ireland?

Ireland's Ancient Language

While English is currently spoken throughout Ireland, the Irish people have a unique language of their own.  Mr. Mitchell has a few interesting comments about the languages spoken in this part of Europe.

Answer Mr. Mitchell's questions for house points:

1.  What are three English words that have originated from the Irish Gaelic language?

2.  Mr. Mitchell explained the unique Irish word order of verb, subject, object which is different from the English order of subject, verb, object.  There are four other word orders.  What are they and where are they spoken?

Leave Your Mark

While I plan for the many things that will be happening during my travels this summer, there are many things happening right here.

To earn your house points, I would like you to reflect on the idea of leaving your mark.

1.  How might you leave your mark here at Obama?
2.  How do you aspire to leave your mark on the world?

Irish Literature

Mr. Reece is here to talk to us a bit about the history of Irish literature.  Don't forget to earn your house points by answering his question.  Make sure you tell us which house gets your points.

Answer Mr. Reece's question to earn house points:

Which satire device is most prominent in A Modest Proposal?

What is DNA?

Since this year's great adventure really began when I had my own DNA analyzed, it makes sense that we start our discussion on that topic.  When I was in high school, we didn't know what we do today about DNA.  Consequently, it wasn't part the curriculum in my high school biology class.  So let's head down to Ms. Powell's Biology lab to learn a bit more about what DNA is all about.

EARN HOUSE POINTS:

Which DNA bases pair with one another?
How does Ms. Powell suggest that you remember those pairings?

When you answer these questions make sure you indicate which house you're in to get your house points.  And, keep following my blog to see what your other teachers have to say about how their content areas relate to my great adventure.

Chasing My DNA

I just purchased my airfare and the wheels are now in motion as I prepare for my next Great Adventure.

This journey will be a bit different than my past adventures.  I typically like to travel to developing countries that offer some relevance to current global events.  Most of the places I've explored have been in Asia, Africa or South America and more recently I've focused on countries with a strong Muslim influence.  It has been great fun going to different places and learning about the lives of people from different cultures.  But, last year, I became curious about who I am.  I was wondering about my own roots.  Yes, I knew my family had been Americans for at least the last four generations but, I wanted to explore these roots more deeply.  So, I sent in my DNA to get some answers.  Indeed, my family has been in the United States for many years but, I now know they came from various parts of Europe; from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula.  Ireland, however, was the place that seemed the most likely origin for most of my ancestors.

Of course, I'm very familiar with my own American culture but, how has it evolved from the time my people migrated from Ireland?  What customs, values and perspectives might I still share with the Irish people?  And, how might the Irish culture seem odd from my American perspective?  I'm looking forward to getting answers the these questions and I'm inviting all of you to come along as I discover Ireland and maybe a bit about myself.

So, follow me as I blog to join me on this great adventure.  You can also earn house points by posting comments and/or responding to my questions.  To earn points, just make sure you identify yourself and your house when you post.

Let's start with a few questions to see what we know about the history of Irish Americans.

What were some of the reasons the Irish people left their homes in Ireland to start new lives in America?

What impact did Irish immigrants have on America?

Here’s a shot of my AncestryDNA from my Ipad with an interesting fact about the discovery of DNA.  The great-grand parents of James Watson were Irish. Also, Erwin Schrodinger wrote “What is Life” in Dublin. 

Wow!  I don't leave until June but, I'm already excited and eager to read your comments.