On Thursday, we had a Bucknell group event at the Irish House party and a dinner and show event. At dinner, a few of us (including Dean Kepner) played connections to keep ourselves busy while we waited for food. I’ve wanted to try a Guinness stew since I arrived in Dublin, and I finally tried it! It was incredibly delicious and flavorful. After dinner, we headed downstairs for the show, where we watched and listened to a band play traditional Irish jigs. Some traditional Irish instruments included the fiddle, the harp, and the Uilleann Pipes. Throughout the show, we also watched a traditional Irish dance performance.
On Saturday, our Bucknell group experienced the Gaelic games; we learned how to play two traditional Irish sports. The first is hurling, where players use a stick called a hurl, a sliothar ball, and a helmet. The game felt like a combination of field hockey and lacrosse. The second sport we were taught was Gaelic football; players use a ball (called a liathróid peile in Irish) similar to a soccer ball. Gaelic football felt like a combination of handball, volleyball, and soccer.
On Sunday, I visited the Irish Jewish Museum in Portobello with two friends I met at Shabbat dinner. The museum was incredible and filled with Irish Jewish history and memorabilia. The museum’s second floor is an old synagogue that is no longer in use but used for events and such. The museum is located in the now-empty Jewish quarter in Ireland; back in the day, the area was known as “Little Jerusalem.” At its peak, the Jewish population of Ireland was around 5,000; today, it’s only 1,000. The first Irish Jewish synagogue was established by Portuguese Jews back in the 1600s. By the 20th century, there were several synagogues in Dublin. However, today, there are only two left in the area. Seeing a piece of my history so far from home was really interesting and comforting. Another fun fact I learned is that the 6th president of Israel (Chaim Herzog) was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
On Monday, our Bucknell group visited the Guinness Storehouse Museum. We learned about Guinness’ history and brewing process. The museum was really interesting, with very elaborate exhibits showcasing how the beer is made. There was also a taste tasting during the tour, where we were taught how to sample and drink Guinness properly.
Dear Aliyah,
Thank you for sharing another amazing week packed with interesting facts. The beef stew looks delicious!! I hope that you bring home some new recipes too😊
XO