The first study abroad trip of the 2014-15 will begin just days after the start of the academic year.
Students in ENGL 337-10 Literature Abroad will be traveling to Dublin, Ireland, for 10 days of touring some of the important sites in Dublin and the surrounding regions. The trip is scheduled for Aug. 24 through Sept. 3. The itinerary for the trip is designed to explore the history, politics and literary tradition of Ireland from a home base in Dublin, according to Dr. Desirae Matherly, assistant professor of English, who is teaching the course.
During the trip, students will explore sites that tell the story of Ireland through pre-history to modern times. The itinerary includes visits to Newgrange, a pre-historic site outside Dublin that is a World Heritage site, and to the Sixth Century monastery at Athlone, where one of the texts that students will read for the course, “The Tain,” was found.
As part of the course, students will be reading from the earliest Irish literature through the modern era. Other literary-related sites that will be visited include Trim Castle, which is the site of the Swift Satire Festival; the Royal Irish Academy, which houses early Irish manuscripts; the Trinity College Library, where The Book of Kells is housed; the Dublin Writers Museum, the James Joyce Center, and Abbey Theatre, which was founded by W. B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory and is the first ever state-subsidized theater in the English speaking world.
The students will explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Stephen’s Green, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and Glasnevin Cemetery, the resting place for over 1.5 million people. The Glasnevin Museum tells the story of modern Ireland through interactive exhibitions and cemetery tours.
A view of the natural landscape will be provided during a trip to the Glendalough Monastery and a hike through the Wicklow Mountains National Park.
Exploring the political history of the nation, students will visit the Kilmainham Gaol, where leaders of various rebellions were detained, and the General Post Office, the site of the Easter Uprising.
The cost for students for the trip is $1,650. This amount covers a round-trip airline ticket, ground transportation in and around Dublin and trips to and from the airport in the U.S. Lodging and excursion costs are also included in the overall cost.
Not included are food expenses during the trip, the cost to obtain a passport, health and medical insurance, course materials and miscellaneous costs for souvenirs.
Interested students are encouraged to contact Kristi Dalton in the Financial Aid to learn about what financial assistance may be available to qualified students.
It is important for students do this as soon as possible because payment for the trip is due by May 10. Space is also limited on the trip with 12 spots available for students. The first 12 to pay will be allowed to take the trip.
If you are interested in the trip or have any questions, please contact Dr. Geir Bergvin, director of the Center for Global Studies, at gbergvin@tusculum.edu or by phone at 636-7300 ext. 5012.