Days 6 and 7!

Hi everyone, my name is Tess Wright and I am a sophomore Sport Management major in the Falk School.  I am the last person to blog so I'm excited to explain our last two days and reflect on the trip!

On our 6th day, we had a packed schedule including visits to a physiotherapist and to the Na Fianna Gaelic Sports Club. Our day started with a walk through St. Stevens Park where we saw swans and beautiful scenery on our way to our first destination. When we arrived, the physio led us through some exercises as he explained his process when taking in new clients, how he decides how to treat them, and some of who is clients are. He also covered the business management side and how he's run his business. We found out later our physio was a hurling star! 

After lunch, we headed over to the Na Fianna Gaelic Sports Club, who happen to be the reigning All-Ireland Hurling champions! There we were able to hear from the chairman of the organization about how things are run, his role, and how volunteers play a vital role in the clubs around Ireland to run Gaelic games. Additionally, we were able to try out both hurling and Gaelic Football! It was two intense matches between our students and made me better understand and respect the games! I personally liked Gaelic Football better. While at Na Fianna, we were able to meet Sephi, who makes "hurleys", which are the sticks used in hurling. 

On our 7th day, we headed out early to visit Dublin City University, where we had a busy day of lectures. We covered topics varying from supplements for athletes, running injuries, and prevention of injury in Gaelic sports. My favorite part was the exoskeleton; DCU has a unique machine that helps people with neurological disorders relearn and try to walk. Specifically, they have two machines, but one is a smaller exoskeleton/robot that is designed for kids and is one of only thirty in the world. We heard from the team who is studying the exoskeleton and told us great stories of kids who had never walked before being able to hug grandparents for the first time in their lives by using the exoskeleton. Super cool:)

Overall, this trip has been an amazing experience. It has been amazing to hear about the unique way Irish sports are played, how people play for pride rather than money or professionalism, and learn about a different side of the industry, for me, through exercise science lectures. Visiting the cliffs, seeing sheep herding, and visiting the Guinness factory were some out-of-class highlights. Throughout this trip experiencing the Irish culture and learning about the language, troubled history, and developments that the country has been through have been fascinating. The sense of pride around their heritage is amazing to see. Adding onto that, another amazing part of the trip has been the group of 13 students we have and how well we've all gotten along. We have a great group of students from different areas and I've loved spending time getting to know everyone. I have loved this trip and I am grateful I was able to be a part of it!

Day 5 :)

 Hi all! I'm Marisol Russo and I'm a junior studying Information Management and Technology with a concentration in Data Analytics at the iSchool. While I am not a Falk student, I was very interested in this classes subject, and since arriving to Dublin I have learned so much more! It is nice to learn about topics not included in my major I am expanding my circle of knowledge. 

Today we had a very full day at Leinster Rugby Club learning about various topics as well as seeing one of their facilities and meeting some staff. We arrived by coach to one of their training facilities primarily used by academy and clubs in the county as well as a gym the women's team will use. Paul Cahill, a senior content and social producer, met us and explained a little about his role and an overview of Leinster Rugby and some of his social media strategies to create a digital brand of the team and club. They have various different campaigns and types of content across their various social media platforms but Paul specifically showcased "This is Leinster" their YouTube series following certain players and their stories, this was a huge insight into how these players, specifically the women's team we saw, live their daily lives and their love and passion for the sport and Leinster. After Paul spoke, we heard from Rob Burke the partnerships manager who introduced us to the types of partnerships Leinster Rugby Club runs and how they select who to partner with. 

Leinster was very kind to have provided us with lunch, some wraps and chips as well as pastries from the morning, and with a long lunch break the group took a walk along the river to a nearby strip of different shops, pubs, and more. We decided to sit at a coffee shop and enjoy the sunny day (fingers crossed that it hasn't rained yet!). After our lunch break we were then joined by University of South Carolina for our next presentations, first from Jack O'Brien who has been at Leinster Rugby on their analytics team for 5 years now. I found his presentation very interesting mostly because it was the closest thing to my major! He had a lot of cool experience and insight in how analyzing certain data points, specifically GPS and speed, can help staff make informed decisions dealing with various players.

After Jack spoke, we then heard from Garreth Farrell who is the Head of Physiotherapy who broke down his role and his team who all help to make sure the players are able to recover quickly if they sustain any injury. After Garreth, we then heard from John Ryan who is the head physician who talked to us about case studies pertaining to types of injuries players typically sustain during play. John informed us that the most frequent injury they see are concussions as well as how certain injuries can occur. John provided us with some xrays as well as photos of in-game injuries - while I am not good with blood John was very informative about his role and what he can see on a weekly or daily basis with the players. 

 After departing Leinster Rugby Club, the group got dinner and we tried a famous Dublin "spice bag" which included fries, onions, fried chicken, carrots, dusted with various spices, red peppers, then after some advice from some locals, we put curry sauce on it which made it extremely better!

We ate the Spice Bag while walking to meet up with the rest of the group at the Temple Bar. Overall this day was extremely informative about the impact of Rugby especially Leinster Rugby in Ireland. I look forward to learning more tomorrow and the rest of this week about the influence of sport in Ireland!

Day 5!

Hi guys! My name is Becca Weidemanis, I am a sophomore and I’m currently studying Exercise Science and Nutrition. I’m so excited to be writing this blog and incredibly grateful for the chance to share the amazing experiences I had today during our abroad trip to Ireland.

The day started off with a delicious breakfast at the hotel—chocolate croissants and a cup of coffee that were absolutely amazing! After fueling up, I hopped on the bus with the group and we made our way to the Leinster Rugby Club. The visit was packed with insightful talks from some incredible professionals, including athletic trainers, sports physiotherapists, and a sports scientist. Each speaker shared valuable knowledge, and it was so inspiring to hear firsthand about the work they do. The information I learned today really solidified my passion for pursuing a career in this field and gave me even more motivation to keep working towards my goals.

After the sessions, we headed back to our hotel and took some time to explore the city together. It was great getting to know everyone better, and we ended the day by dining at a cozy restaurant called The Hairy Lemon. The food was fantastic, and it was the perfect way to unwind after a busy but fulfilling day.

I’m truly grateful for this experience and can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings. Thanks for reading, and good night everyone!

Day 4: Free Day!

Greetings all! My name is Justin Rappaport and I am a junior majoring in Sport Management with a minor in business. I am delighted to share with you my rundown of another great day on the Emerald Isle!

It's hard to believe we are already on day 4 of this amazing trip! Our time here so far has been nothing short of phenomenal, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we are in love with the Irish culture!

Today we had the opportunity to take time off from programming and create our own itinerary for the day! We all ended up deciding to take a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, one of the premier tourist attractions in all of Ireland and the world. It was actually granted the award of being the world's leading tourist attraction in 2023! The entire tour also happens to be within the world's largest pint glass, and as you ascend you learn about a different step in the brewing process. 

There we gained an extensive background about the history of Guinnesses founding, the creation of the beverage from milling and mashing all the way to storing, a history of Guinnesses advertising campaigns, and we even learned the proper way to taste the draught! Honestly, the most unique part of the entire tour was the tasting room which was blindingly white and had 4 vats brimming with the smoke of the different aromatics that are infused into the beer. It was something straight out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and added a whole new sensory experience to the tour! At the conclusion of the journey we all received a complimentary beverage, however, this was no ordinary Guinness. It had our faces on the head making it a much more personal experience! We then proceeded to the top floor of the pint glass, the Gravity Bar, which overlooks the entire city of Dublin and made for an even more surreal experience. It was awesome to be able to see all of the different landmarks including the Spire and St. Patricks Tower from such an elevated view. 

After this initial tour, our fellowship decided to go our separate ways in the pursuit of different experiences. I along with Nicolas Cueba and Ryan Casano participated in a very intimate whiskey tasting at Roe and Co. Distillery (a subsidiary of Diageo which is also the parent company of Guinness). There we took a tour of the actual factory where the magic happens and learned of the brand's history from its explosion in the 1800s to its complete demise in the 1920s along with many other Irish whisky distilleries. This collapse was due in part to American Prohibition, World War 1, and the Easter Rising. In 2017, Diageo resurrected the once-renowned brand and production started up once again in 2019. That's almost 100 years after it originally shut down!  We learned about the steps of the brewing process and tasted a selection of their products. We even had the opportunity to create our own signature cocktail! After these two tours, we headed home and rested up before our dinner.

For dinner our whole group along with the professors went out to Oscars Cafe Bar, and at the conclusion of the meal we headed into the city center to get some gelato. I settled on getting the Oreo flavor even though they all looked amazing. It honestly didn't taste much like Oreo, but it was still solid nonetheless. 7.1/10 on the rating scale.

This was another stupendous day on the trip and it was shockingly sunny yet again! Despite being infamous for the amount of rainfall Ireland receives, we have yet to experience any cloudiness or any rain! I think we all feel extremely blessed! Otto must have put in some work to get us this great weather! 

Oh, one last thing I forgot to mention! Unbeknownst to me, Kansas State and Iowa State will be kicking off their football season in Ireland this year as a part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. While we were relaxing in the Gravity Bar, who shows up but Willie the Wildcat and Cy the Cardinal along with an ensemble of cheerleaders to boot! It was one of the most random things I've ever experienced but it was an absolute riot!

Anyways, that's a wrap on the day. Looking forward to touring the Leinster Rugby Club tomorrow! Much love!

 

Ireland Day 4: Free day

Hi everyone my name is Brady Penet and I am a sophomore sport management major. I will be taking you through our day 4 in Ireland! Today is our “free day” where there is a hop on hop off bus that we are able to use to explore the city of Dublin. 

I started off the day with an amazing Irish breakfast and then a lot of us headed over into the city to the Guinness Storehouse factory. We enjoyed an amazing self guided walking tour and were able to learn about the history of Guinness, its significance to Ireland, and how it is produced. I will share some pictures below! We also stopped for a quick lunch at the Storehouse and were able to relax for a minute after the tour.

After the tour we took a bus into the city center to Trinity College where we walked around the college and did the Book of Kells Experience. It was incredible to walk around such a historic college and learn about the Book of Kells. One of the most memorable parts from this was learning how each page of the book is only shown for about 6-8 weeks and then not shown again for about 10 years. Another fun fact is how the book has survived for over 1200 years. We then took a walk around the city to explore and stopped at a couple of stores for some souvenir shopping before taking the tram back to the hotel.

We ended off the day with an amazing group dinner at a restaurant called Oscar’s right outside our hotel. I got a chicken sandwich and tried brown sauce for the first time. I am still not exactly sure what it was. We then went for a walk through the city and got some amazing gelato. I got this really good flavor called toffee cake. It was an amazing day in Ireland. I will provide some pictures of my day below!

Greetings from Ireland!  My name is Gunnar Krupa and I am a Junior in the Sport Management Program. Today, I am going to share my experiences from Day 4 (March 10th) of our Sports and Culture in Ireland trip!  Today was a busy, fully scheduled academic day. 

The day began early, with a buffet breakfast at the hotel and an 8:15 AM departure via chartered van to University College Dublin (UCD).  Our first presentation was given by Dr Paul Rouse.  This was more of a question and answer session related to Irish Sports. He was open to discussing anything the group was interested in. We covered everything from Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to boxing star Katie Taylor, and the country’s love for her.  We discussed the history and differences in men’s and women’s sports, as well as how Dr Rouse is a big Packers fan and he very much wants to get tickets to the game at Croke Park in the fall. It was an engaging and interesting experience and definitely a highlight of the day!  

We then had a brief break before our next presentation with Strength and Conditioning expert, Dr Ryan Stewart. Dr Stewart talked about the extremely competitive scholarship program they offer to athletes.  He then took us to the training facilities and we had the chance to participate in some of the training activities such as jumping and hamstring drills.  We also learned about how they track the athletes metrics using state of the art systems.  The hands-on nature of this experience was great, and made for a great ending to the presentation.  Definitely another highlight of the day. 

We then had a lunch break and went to the cafeteria in the student center.  This was very similar to Syracuse’s Schine Student Center, though I dare say it was nicer and had better food options!  After lunch we walked back to class for our presentation with nutrition expert, Dr. Sarah Browne.  Although this is not part of my academic major, it was very interesting and Dr Browne is very knowledgeable.  She talked about Irish imports and exports, and I was personally intrigued by her reference to the Irish company, Kerry, as I work with some of their products in my job back home.  

Our next presentation was with Dr. Seamus Kelly, who has decades of experience with the GAA, as well as playing and managing Irish sports such as rugby and soccer. He shared valuable insights into how the GAA operates, including funding and volunteerism.  This was interesting, and got me thinking about how that compares to professional sports organizations within the United States.

Our final presentation of the day was with Dr Mike Cronin, who does work with Boston College.  He talked about the history of Ireland with an emphasis on the history of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.  He used athletes such as Rory McIlrory to demonstrate his point. Our day wrapped up with a trip back to the hotel via Ireland’s public transportation system.  

Overall, I think the day was a great success.  Although we had a packed academic schedule, it was well planned out, with plenty of breaks.  The presenters were personable and knowledgeable, and the subject matter was interesting and engaging. 

Day 4: University College Dublin!

Greetings, everyone! My name is Shayla Allen-Gerald, and I am sophomore studying Human Development and Family Science at Syracuse University! Today, I will also give you a quick recap of day 3 in Ireland! 

Today, the Irish Gang of 13 had their first successful day of classes at the University College Dublin (UCD). Filled with rich history, historic stories, and beautiful scenery, our first class of the day kicked off at 9:30AM. We were first met by well-known sport-historian, Dr. Paul Rouse, who gave us an insightful overview of the establishment of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). What may not be known on the surface, the GAA holds great significance on Irish culture and its history. Established in 1884, the GAA not only holds as the governing body for Gaelic football and hurling, but it also played a crucial role in persevering Irish identity during times of political and social upheaval. Afterwards, we were met by Dr. Ryan Stewart who gave us an informative overview of the colleges strength and conditioning for its athletes. Focusing on things such as force, power, and movement, UCD is concern with the technicality of its athletes, ensuring they develop not only strength and agility, but also precision in their form and technique. Following that, we got to try the machines the athletes used, which was really fun! 

 

After two back-to-back lectures, we headed off to the cafeteria and got ourselves lunch. Following lunch, we went over to the Nutrition Science and Public Health department, and met with Dr. Sarah Browne who talked to us about Ireland’s sustainable food systems. Straying away from sports talk, Dr. Browne’s presentation was quite insightful. Ireland is facing many difficulties in terms of their food production. Because of today’s climate, climate scientists need to radically cut global emissions in order to minimize global temperatures rising. If not, global emissions could lead to major food disruptions to food production, significantly increase food security, and increase the rate of heart-related death. In addition, Ireland is also facing a 73% reduction of its fruits and vegetables, which is concerning not only for the children, but also for the athletes as well. Following Dr. Browne’s presentation, we were then introduced to former professional soccer (football) player, Dr. Seamus Kelly. Dr. Kelly gave us an overview of Ireland’s governing system surrounding sports, Sports Ireland. Sports Ireland manages and governs all sports here in Ireland for both men and women. Last, but certainly not least, our last presenter of the day was Dr. Mike Cronin. Dr. Cronin gave us an insightful lesson surrounding the hostility between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, trailing all the way from British oppression. If you like history, today was an absolute dream for history buffs such as myself!

After a long, but informative day, we headed back to our hotel, and took Ireland’s public transportation for the first time! Sitting up top gives you amazing views of the city. 

Well, that’s all from me folks! Thanks for reading! Onto day 5 :)

Day 3: Cliffs of Moher

 Hi everyone, I’m Kaitlyn Kennedy, I’m a freshman exercise science major from South of Buffalo NY on the Sport and Culture class trip to Dublin Ireland. Come along on my day, March 9th with me.

The day has an early start, we all get breakfast around 7:30 to be ready by the 8:20 call time for our bus. The trip was around 3 hours from our hotel to the famous landmark the Cliffs of Moher. Around halfway we took a small stop where a lot of us got Irish snacks to try for the second half of our journey. The ride there was filled with beautiful southern Irish scenery, traditional stone walls, and so much more. We took a stop to take in the view of the countryside.

We arrived at the Cliffs of Moher where we were extremely lucky with weather as it was a beautiful sunny and warm day. Sadly the walking paths were closed but that did not stop us from seeing the beauty of the cliffs. This is a very popular tourist attraction and definitely a must see if you travel to Ireland. We got some Irish meals at the cafe there and headed home.

We ventured off the itinerary and watched a sleep herding dog show. It was like nothing you could see in the states, the years of intense training is fully shown through the guide's effortless whistles and the dogs ease of understanding. It was so fluid and impressive.

We got to pet the dogs and learn more about the sheep varieties, then it was back on the bus.

We got back to the hotel around dinner time, where we just ate dinner in our hotel square. The restaurant was very similar to what we know as chipotle. To end the night we as a group went to check out the cobblestone, a well known pub that plays live music every night. 

University College Dublin!

Hi all! My name is Kriston Noard and I am a sophomore sport management major. I am thrilled to be studying abroad in Ireland and I am having so much fun so far. Today, March 10th, we started off with a short bus right to University College Dublin. We started the morning with a conversation with Dr. Paul Rouse. We had the opportunity to ask him questions about literally anything. We had conversations about the GAA, women’s versus men’s Irish sports, his background, professional athletes, and more. It was so valuable to learn from him and learn about Irish sports from his perspective. 

The second presentation of the day was with Dr. Ryan Stewart. He talked a little bit about the scholarship that UCD offers to athletes. We also got to do something interactive activities in the training facility for the scholarship athletes. I actually participated in some of the tests alongside several of the other kids on the trip. After we worked out we stopped for a quick lunch break to refuel. 

Then we were right back in the classroom to hear from Sarah. She teaches nutrition and dietetics in the masters program at UCD. She talked a lot about food waste in Ireland and the Irish imports and exports. It was really great to hear about the different nutrition aspects of Ireland and compare them to the United States. I really enjoyed hearing her talk especially because I have never taken a nutrition class, and I’m not sure I ever will, but Sarah gave me all of the information I need. 

After Sarah’s presentation we heard from Dr. Seamus Kelly. He talked about the different aspects of all of the sports in Ireland. He talked about the funding of the GAA which interested me because they don’t receive a lot of funding. Their coaches, leadership, and general staff are all volunteers. The volunteers are people from the counties who just want to support their local clubs. To me, it seems like the different counties throughout Ireland have a great community and everyone comes out to support each other. 

The last presentation of the day was from professor Mike Cronin. He talked a lot about how the history of Ireland and Northern Ireland affected their relationship with each other. Since Northern Ireland was predominantly British and Ireland was Irish, it caused a lot of tension, especially within the sports community. 

We finished the day with a ride on the bus back to the hotel! It was definitely a long day and very academically heavy, but I enjoyed every second. Learning about all things Ireland sports from people who have worked in Irish sports themselves was such a treat! 

Day 3: The Cliffs of Moher

 

Hello everyone, my name is Lexi Katz and I am a sophomore sport management major from Western Massachusetts. Today we had an amazing day venturing out of the city to the country of Clare and I'll tell you all about it! 

We started the day with a traditional Irish breakfast buffet before loading the bus for a long journey across the country to visit The Cliffs of Moher. The scenery along the way was straight out of a movie and I loved seeing the different terrain on the Irish countryside like, bogs or swamps, large pastures and fields, and "the rocky mountains." The drive in it of itself was a journey that at some points I didn't know if our bus would make it around the winding narrow roads. We also played a very completive game of trivia against the USC Gamecocks, which arguably I'd say we won. Once we arrived, the view was incredible and pictures don't do it any justice. It was unfortunate to find out many of the trails were closed but it's hard to complain when we still had an amazing experience and with the most gorgeous weather. After walking the cliffs we stopped in the restaurant built into the cliffs to grab a quick bit to eat before heading back onto the bus. 

On our journey back to Dublin we unexpectedly stopped at a dog sheep show where learned about and saw a demonstration of border collie dogs training to herd sheep. I found it to be so fascinating how intelligent these dogs are but also how difficult it is for the farmer as well. We learned about how each dog has different whistle tones and knows exactly which is their's and what it means. We also got some time to meet the 4 lovely dogs (all female) and pet the different types of sheep. 

Over all we had a great day and we were so lucky with the weather as well and really enjoyed our cross country trip. Thank you for reading my blog post, can't wait to see what the rest of the week holds!

Day 2: Exploring Croke Park and Gaelic Sports

March 8, 2025 - Saturday

Hello everyone! My name is Kate DiMartino and I am a sophomore Sport Management major.

The afternoon of Day 2 of our Ireland trip took us to Croke Park, the iconic stadium for Gaelic sports. Our guide gave us a fascinating look into the history of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) and the significance of Gaelic Football and Hurling in Irish culture. We learned that until 2007, Croke Park was reserved solely for these sports, with Rugby and Soccer only allowed later.

One of the most memorable parts of the tour was walking through the players' tunnels and visiting the locker room, where we saw the jerseys of all the teams plus the current champions placed up top. We also got a glimpse into the players' lounge, where the lights change color to reflect the teams that played that day, symbolizing the respect between rivals.

The tour also included visiting the GAA museum, where we saw the famous trophies like the Sam Maguire Cup for Football and the Liam MacCarthy Cup for Hurling. The stadium itself holds 82,200 people, and we learned about its dimensions and the intricate history behind the games while standing in the highest area of the arena.

Fun Fact: The screen/TV inside the stadium is the same size as a tennis court!

To cap off the tour, we got a chance to try out Gaelic Football and Hurling in a fun, hands-on experience. It was a great way to connect with Ireland's rich sports heritage, and a perfect way to celebrate International Women’s Day in such a culturally significant place. 

I provided some pictures from the tour below. More adventures to come! Stay tuned!   

Day 2: Exploring Dublin and Immersing in Gaelic Sports

Hello everyone! It’s Nicolas, and I’ll be sharing a recap of our second day on the Falk Sports and Culture in Ireland Trip!

Our day started bright and early as we landed in Dublin around 9:00 AM after an overnight flight from JFK. Although I got no sleep, I had a great time playing games on the tablet with some friends. Once we arrived, we hopped on a bus and headed straight to Trinity College for a guided historical walking tour of Dublin. The tour lasted about an hour and a half, giving us the chance to see some incredible landmarks while learning about Ireland’s rich history. Afterward, a few of us grabbed some shawarma from a small local restaurant, it was my first time trying it, and I’d give it a solid 8.5/10!

Next, we made our way to Croke Park for a guided tour and a visit to the Gaelic Sports Museum. Over the course of two hours, we explored the stadium and learned about Gaelic football and hurling, which are overseen by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It was fascinating to see how Gaelic sports prioritize passion and cultural heritage over commercial gain. After wrapping up at Croke Park, we checked into our hotel, dropped off our luggage, and took a short walk around the area to explore local food spots and attractions. Later, a few of us went out for dinner, I’m looking forward to trying some authentic Irish food and local drinks in the days ahead!

Day one of the Falk Sports and Culture in Ireland Trip!

Hello everyone! My name is Ryan and I’m going to be starting off our blog posts for the Falk Sports and Culture in Ireland Trip! 

Today, we kicked off our journey with a lot of traveling. At 11:00 am, we all boarded the bus to JFK Airport with another group that was going to London. On the bus, we got some good rest in, got to know each other, and had a great lunch at Chick-fil-A. The ride lasted about 7 hours but eventually we made it JFK and took the next step in our journey. After arriving, we checked our bags and went through TSA which was a relatively smooth process. Once we made it through, we had about an hour before boarding so we got some food and snacks. I personally had a very good yogurt smoothie from Two Good and would definitely recommend. Soon enough however, it was time to board!

The boarding for Aer Lingus was interesting as rather than starting with the rows in the front and working toward the back when boarding economy, the front was boarded last. Most of us were in the front half so it took a little bit to board but eventually, we made it on the plane. The staff was very kind and even provided us with blankets, earbuds, and a pillow! On top of this, their entertainment options are great and so far I’ve had a lot of fun playing Uno. Now, We are about to take off and I can’t wait for what’s to come!