Students Travel to Ireland

Students Travel to Ireland

IMG_82551-1After spending last summer being a part of The Ulster Project, a group of McPherson High School students traveled to Ireland in July to be immersed in their culture. The Ulster Project is a peace project that focuses on reducing the amount of violence that the people of Northern Ireland are exposed to. The group that traveled out of the country found many similarities and differences from Ireland and Kansas.

 

“Ireland really doesn’t have a countryside,” said senior Sarah Houston. “When we were driving around I couldn’t go 100 yards without seeing a house as opposed to the miles we can go in western Kansas without seeing anything. The weather is just as bipolar as Kansas though.”

 

The Ulster Project was formed as a way to get teenagers from Ireland to learn tolerance and understanding to others that do not share their same viewpoints. The program allows participants to know both Catholic and Protestant people so they can befriend people who they would normally never talk to because of their religions.

 

“The separation between Catholics and Protestants was definitely present, especially when we were there,” said senior Amy Suenram. “July is a big month to celebrate the history behind both of the religion-affiliated groups. The tension between the two could be both seen and felt.”

 

After several flight delays and being stuck in Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the group landed in Ireland and reunited with the Irish they had not seen in a year. The group that traveled to Ireland consisted of seniors Sarah Houston, Olivia Hansen and Amy Suenram and graduate Riley Burghart.

“Reuniting with Aimee was amazing,” said Houston. “I hugged Aimee so hard we basically body slammed each other. I may have also cried a little because I was so happy to see everyone.”

 

The group toured Ireland and visited places such as Armagh, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Scarva, and Belfast.

 

“My favorite place to visit while visiting Northern Ireland was Giant’s Causeway because it was like a different universe for me,” said Suenram. “The Causeway was very high altitude wise, and like a big, green wonderland right on the coast.”

 

To get involved with the Ulster Project, contact the McPherson Kansas Ulster Project by emailing [email protected].