Students Explore Ireland Through Literature

Story by Julie Brumbach '14

Marian has always provided unique opportunities to learn inside and outside the classroom. School-sponsored travel is one way that students can expand their horizons through language immersion, service or competition - while accompanied by Marian faculty and staff.

During spring break, six Marian students spent a week in Ireland studying creative writing accompanied by English teachers Megan Gillespie and Hallie Tripe.

After arriving in Dublin, the group traveled around the island from Belfast to Galway, learning about local culture and history while crafting their own stories. They visited historical and religious sites, museums and sites dedicated to famous Irish writers.

While planning the trip, Gillespie wanted to bring students together to learn about creative writing in a completely different environment. She had students prepare for their travels by reading and learning about travel writing. They also studied famous Irish writers James Joyce, Seamus Heaney and W.B. Yeats.

“The reading we did before leaving Omaha was a huge boost in helping the girls get a glimpse of Irish history. Then simply immersing ourselves in the day-to-day culture allowed us to experience life in Ireland,” said Gillespie.

Time was dedicated each day to writing. The participants produced travel blogs to share their inspirations and observations. A final piece was also required for which the students composed short stories, poetry or children’s stories.

“Writing-wise, I was heavily inspired by my surroundings. Everything from the buildings to the people to nature inspired my writings. I wrote a few poems on the trip as well as a short story. It was an unforgettable experience for me that I’ll treasure forever,” said Layla Weedin ‘26.

A highlight of the trip was meeting Sue Divin, a Londonderry-based author who writes about The Troubles, the conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s until 1998. Divin explained the basics of the conflict and took the students on a walk along the wall of Derry where many battles were waged. Learning about history from someone who experienced it helped the students understand their world more deeply.

To learn about this trip from the students, click here to visit their blogs.