Last week we visited Croke Park, and we were all excited to see what Gaelic football and hurling were all about. Well, today we got the chance to experience it firsthand. It was such a cool game to watch, and it was much different than any other sport I’ve seen in the United States. In addition, Dublin has been the best team in Ireland the past few years, so they dominated the game, winning by more than fifteen points today. The entire atmosphere of the stadium was a unique feeling compared to sporting events in the U.S. Furthermore, the camaraderie between opposing teams both on and off the field was a special feature of the game that represents the distinctive culture of Ireland that surrounds the feeling of family and togetherness. It was a great way to end the first week of adventures within Ireland.

Our first week was full of spectacular tourist sites and exploring. We started off the week touring the city of Dublin and getting to learn more about the culture that Ireland embraces. Along with that, we got to learn about the business culture within Dublin throughout our four different company visits to Google, The Irish Times, Davy and Croke Park. All four of those companies showed us individual atmospheres and business models, unlike those that we had seen from the companies that we visited while in Pittsburgh. Lastly, we went on multiple excursions around Ireland, both near and far, allowing us to see all the beauty that the country had to offer as far as nature goes. These excursions included the Garden of Remembrance, the Cliffs of Moher, the town of Galway and the Cliff Walk at Howth, all of which gave us amazing views that I will never forget.

All in all, the first week in Dublin was one to remember. Experiencing a different culture is a special experience, and the tourism that is so present in Ireland allows us to experience a diverse range of cultures all at once. I can’t wait to see what our last week in Dublin has in store for us.