Arcadia Ireland

As we transition out of the long, pleasantly warm summer days here in Dublin, we are also preparing for our incoming Fall 2019 students! We have many events taking place across Ireland and even into other parts of Europe this fall. From cultural to active co-curricular's, these events are not to be missed!

Newgrange, Hill of Tara & Ancient Sites Tour

Students are invited to learn about thousands of years of Irish history by visiting ancient monuments and a medieval castle up close. Newgrange, a technologically advanced burial tomb that perfectly lines up with the Winter Solstice, was constructed well before both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. The Hill of Tara is a ceremonial ground where ancient Kings walked, ruled, and laid the foundations for Irish mythology which has been passed all the way down to modern times. Trim, Ireland’s largest Norman Castle, is so well-preserved (over 30,000 square meters) that the blockbuster movie Braveheart filmed on the grounds there. An Irish expert will guide this exciting historic tour for the day. 

Killarney National Park: Exploring the Mountains and Lakes by Foot, Boat, and Horse Buggy 

This excursion brings us to Kerry. Known as 'The Kingdom’, Killarney is a breath-taking place with variations of green you can only imagine. Join us for the day and explore the National Park on foot and by boat. The massive mountains and forests will be seen on a hike with an expert Killarney nature guide, and the deep lakes will be explored on a guided boat tour. Students can then hop aboard a horse drawn buggy to see even more of the National Park’s diverse wildlife! 

Game of Thrones Day Tour

Jon Snow fan? Excellent, come along and see the filming locations from the world famous HBO Game of Thrones series. Wrap up in a fur lined cloak to walk through forests of Northern Ireland and carry a sword through a meadow. Not a fan? Fear not, this trip brings you through the rolling countryside of Northern Ireland and that is not to be missed.

Belfast and The Antrim Coast Weekend 

We will begin on Friday with a visit to the Titanic Experience, which brings to life the Titanic story through full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features. This is followed by a trip to the scenic Giant's Causeway on Saturday and finally a walking tour on Sunday of Belfast City with a local academic, guiding your through the history of the 'Troubles' of Northern Ireland, visiting Nationalist and Unionist areas, as well as stopping off at the Peace Wall.

Barcelona Weekend: Brexit and Borders

Barcelona and Ireland have a long history of connection. Irish monasteries preserved canonical texts illuminated in the Catalonian capital, protecting them from barbarian hordes during the breakup of the Roman Empire. Now Spain and Ireland are both within the European Union and share a strong partnership in tourism and commerce; but these historical ties and modern commercial relationships are being questioned as Brexit progresses. Students will be introduced to the shared historical and cultural connections between Barcelona and Ireland while learning about the populist and nativist pressure to pull away from the EU and the Spanish crown. Arcadia’s Academic Center in Barcelona will host our students for parts of the weekend. City tours (on foot and on bicycle), overview of Catalonian food culture and free time to explore Barcelona are all included in this fabulous weekend.  

Arcadia Culture Night: The Vaults Live

Arcadia would like to invite you to join the highly acclaimed interactive experience of the Vaults Live. Take a trip through six iconic events from Ireland’s history following the lives of several famous figures from Dracula to Molly Malone. Actors engage as audiences walk through different, and sometimes spooky, scenes. The live experience is as eerie as it is comical and provides an interactive opportunity to learn about unique areas of Irish history. Filled with jumps and laughs, audiences learn about herbal medicines of Ireland’s past from a mysterious cloaked character, corrupt court systems which sent convicts all the way to Australia, ghostly torture in a Cromwellian dungeon, and fearless viking history (fearless until their Irish wives gave orders, of course). After the tour, the Vaults will host a dinner in their restaurant, where you may even see some characters passing through!