Exploring the West of Ireland: The Mystic Island

The west of Ireland has long held a special place in the Irish imagination. The westernmost part of all Europe, the “last parish before America,” refuge of the Irish language, and home to the isolated islands of the western coast, the west stands as a microcosm of an idealized Irish identity. As Ireland emerged into political independence in the early 20th century, the west took on an aura of authenticity as well as a mystic status most closely associated with its legendary islands. Nearly every great Irish writer responded to this mythos of the mystic island: Yeats in his poetry, Gregory in her folklore, Heaney in his evocations of Irish rural life, Synge in his explorations of the myths and the realities of these landscapes, the Blasket Island storytellers and North Kerry writers in a combination of gritty realism and exalted visionary poetry.

During the spring semester, the course 'colloquium' immerses students in the literature, history and culture of Ireland through a range of media and methods. The primary focus of the course is on Irish history and literature, from the pre-historic period to modern Ireland. Through literary readings, texts of cultural history, memoir, and folklore, through film and works of religion and spiritual exploration, students seek to understand the major movements in Ireland that led to its great cultural achievements in the 20th century. 

This two-week travel seminar explores the literature and culture of the far west of Ireland, focusing in particular on the concept of “the mystic island” in the Irish imagination. Through readings, discussion, guest speakers, and extensive travel along the “wild Atlantic way” of the Kerry, Clare, and Galway coasts, we will immerse ourselves in the Irish imagination as it expresses itself in numerous works of art and thought. 

Sample Itinerary*

Day 1: Depart New York City area airport

Day 2: Arrive in Shannon, transfer to Dingle. Group dinner.

Day 3: Orientation and class. Group dinner and Eask Tower. 

Day 4: Slea Head Tour

Day 5: Class. Group dinner and Irish Dancing workshop.

Day 6: Listowel Writers Museum, Cliffs of Moher and The Burren. Group dinner and overnight in Doolin. 

Day 7: Kiltartan Museum, Coole Park, and Thoor Ballylee. Return to Dingle. 

Day 8: Free day + cultural activity

Day 9: Blasket Island tour

Day 10: Class. Group dinner and Irish Singing night. 

Day 11: Mount Brandon Hike

Day 12: Class and afternoon frield trip. 

Day 13: Class and group dinner. 

Day 14: Final class meeting with Dingle faculty. Hill walk above Dingle town. 

Day 15: Transfer to Shannon and depart for New York City. 

Important Information

Dates: May 19 - June 1, 2024

Corequisite: Students will enroll in EN 229: The Making of Modern Ireland

Credits: 4 credit experience 

Program Fee: The anticipated fee is $5,300 - 5,500 (depending on enrollment). The program fee includes Skidmore tuition; round-trip airfare between New York area airport and Shannon, Ireland; ground transportation for program excursions; on-site accommodations in shared rooms; some meals; international medical insurance; entrance fees; excursions and activities, and Skidmore faculty. Financial aid is available for eligible students. If students do not hold a US passport, there might be visa costs associated with their participation. Please check with OCSE if you have questions regarding visas. 

Meals and Accommodation:Students will stay in double rooms in local cottages. Some group meals are included and students will receive a meal stipend for additional meals.

Flights: Roundtrip airfare from a New York City area airport to Shannon, Ireland is included in the program fee. Students are required to make their own way to/from New York City. 

Application Process: The deadline for applications is October 15, 2023 Students are required to apply for Travel Seminars through the MyOCSE portal.  Applications will be reviewed and students will be notified of acceptances before spring 2024 course registration. Students will then be required to register for EN 229 for the spring 2024 semester.

Questions?

Stop by the OCSE office (Starbuck 202) or contact President Marc Conner or Barbara Black directly.