Lakenheath High School students visit Dublin

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- How many students can say they were able to go to Ireland and stay near Chinatown? Gail Brady, Lakenheath High School English teacher, and the advanced placement literature students trekked out on what has become an annual trip to Dublin early on the cold morning of Jan. 12.

The group was assembled and ready, some sleepy and some with a powerful mixture of anticipation and excitement, to start their educational weekend in Dublin.

The first stop was the James Joyce museum. There the group split in half. One group took the walking tour and the other group set-off to explore the museum. The walking tour offered the chance to visit prominent places in Joyce's life. A few of the buildings visited were described in his stories, such as "The Dead" and "Ulysses."

The museum tour contained some of Joyce's belongings. The highlights of the museum were the table where he finished his last book and the bed where he wrote most of his famous books.

After the museum tour the students went to the theater. The play "A School for Scandal," a humorous play about a group of gossipmongers and the trouble they get themselves into.

The next day, the students were ready to visit Trinity College. There they learned about the Book of Kells, one of the oldest books in existence, and to see the massive collection of books in the library. There were books dating as far back as medieval times, all the way up to modern authors.

"The library was the biggest library I've ever seen and I wanted it to be mine," remarked Amber Patti, LHS student.

Mrs. Brady gave the students time to explore the college and do some shopping before visiting Dublin Castle. Most students returned to the group with various Irish souvenirs and memorabilia as keepsakes of their experience.

Dublin Castle was a wooden Viking fortress and through the years it has been improved to a stone castle. The castle is now a major tourist attraction. On display in the castle is its history and artifacts from the castles turbulent history. It is one of the first castles to have a workable moat and drawbridge, and the building structure was state of the art.

"I enjoyed visiting Dublin Castle, and Dublin in general," said Felicia Lamothe.

From the plays, famous literary icons, and a slew of historical locales, this group collected more than souvenirs, they stocked up on memories and experiences that will last them a lifetime.