Conflict Management class visits the Irish Army Peacekeeping HQ

The Conflict Management class made a study visit to the Irish Army UN Peace Keeping Veterans Headquarters at Arbour Hill, north Dublin- a location of enormous historical significance as the site where the “Easter Rising” leaders were executed. The students were introduced to the UN's role in conflict management and the Irish Army's experience in specific UN peacekeeping missions such as Congo, Lebanon and many of today's conflicts. The Champlain students had a comprehensive briefing on the long history of Ireland’s role in UN peacekeeping and the history of the army's location on the Arbour Hill site. The tour began with a visit to the official Irish army church which had originally been consecrated as a Church of England Church because the original inhabitants of the nearby Collins Barrack and neighbourhood had been British army troops. Students posed with a color party of army cadets preparing for a ceremony and are also pictured in the study centre and UN memorial sites of the complex. The tour was arranged by General Vincent Savino and delivered by Commandant Tony Roe.

A Trip to Marble Arch Caves

This past week 47 students in the Environmental Earth Science course got on a bus and headed to Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland to visit Marble Arch Caves.  The caves are part of the UN-sponsored Global Geopark network.  This network aims to promote geological education, sustainable tourism, and protection of our geological heritage.  Marble Arch Caves is one of three Global Geoparks in Ireland, the others being the Burren in Co. Clare, and the Copper Coast in Co. Waterford.

As a geologist and geographer I've always been fascinated by the ways that geological heritage and sites of unique geological importance are presented to the public, and the ways that the public interact with these sites.  I spent some time in China a few years back visiting and learning more about their Global Geoparks, and I must say it is a unique way of putting geology front and centre in terms of preserving natural areas.  The Global Geopark idea has not taken off in the United States or Canada, likely because their systems of national parks already preserve huge areas where geology is an important part of the landscape.  So they don't really need another mode of preservation or public education.

But back to Marble Arch Caves.  These caves have formed over time from weakly acidic rainwater draining from the mountains to the north.  The local limestone is particularly susceptible to weathering from this weakly acidic water, and over time the drainage network works its way underground through the weathered limestone and continue to expand the caves.

After touring the various educational displays and viewing the film about the area, our students were met by tour guides to take them around the caves in smaller groups.  Usually entry to the caves is via boat, but the water levels were too high this time so everyone had to hike down the steps on through the man-made entry. Inside the cave there are a couple of rivers, quite a few stalactite and stalagmite formations, and some really impressive evidence showing how the caves flood on a regular basis.  The tour guides are very well informed about cave formation, geology, and history of the area.  The tour lasts slightly more than an hour, before exiting up the stairs again.  The stewards of the caves take great pride in their preservation efforts, and the geopark provides a significant number of jobs for the local community.

It's quite a long bus ride from Dublin to the caves, but all of the students agreed it was worth it and it made an excellent educational day trip!

Dr. Stephen Robinson
Director and Associate Professor
Champlain College Dublin

Photo tour of the Champlain Abroad Dublin facilities

For your information craving hearts, I've compiled a few photographs that show both the Academic Center and the student apartments. Without further ado, here is the magical mystery tour:

Champlain College Dublin ground floor window street view from Leeson Street Lower

The front door! It likes to stick closed in the cold rainy weather...

What you see when first walking in, aka the main staircase.

The front reception desk where Lilly the assistant Director sits. This is also where you collect your mail!

 

Director Dr. Stephen Robinson hard at work. Claire Gannon, Head Resident and Activities co-ordinator also share this office. 

Typical looking classroom, this particular one hosts the Environmental Earth Science class this semester. Be warned, the desks can see a bit teeny if you're a tall person (fortunately I don't have to worry about being too tall for anything, ever).

The upstairs “Mac lab”. This classroom typically only houses the Graphic Design students, but it's a really nice place to hang out when there's no class on (if you can brave the several flights of stairs to get up there).

Also the Mac lab, and yes those are giant squishy-comfy chairs. I'm sure you now see why it's a nice place to relax and get homework done...

This is the student hangout spot in the basement (also a good homework spot). There's also a blue couch of the same size. Be warned, it can get a little cold down here from time to time, but there are some warm blankets, just be sure to wear a warm sweater!

The PC Computer Lab is a great place to get homework done, and many of the science labs have been held there this semester. 

There's also a lovely garden which is nice on a warm and sunny day; yes, those do actually happen every once in a while!

Here are the photos of the Saint Augustine Street (Stay City) apartments which are used as student housing. Be warned though, due to slightly poor evening lighting the photos did not come out as well as the ones of the Academic Center.

This is the bedroom. There are two twin sized beds in each room (four people to an apartment, two in each room). They're pushed together in this picture, because who doesn't like having a bigger bed and a potential cuddle-buddy roommate if the room gets cold in the middle of the night?

Another view of the bedroom, highlighting the wardrobe space. Noah Goldblatt (and the rest of the Office of International Education at Champlain aren't kidding when they say pack lightly), that's the  space for two people to put their clothes. I still utilize my suitcase.

The bathroom, pretty standard. Toilet, shower with detachable hose, and sink.

The living room! That's me doing something on my laptop (I would say homework but in reality I was probably watching Game of Thrones). Sorry about the mess, it's easy to make living with three other people. There's one couch, two soft armchairs, a dining table and hardback chairs, a small TV that gets local stations as well as a dvd player (U.S. dvds won't work in it however)

 

The kitchen, and my roommate cooking her supper. There's a small fridge and freezer (playing Tetris with food gets interesting pretty quickly), a sink, dishwasher, stove, oven, coffee maker, hot water boiler, and a microwave. There's a lot of cabinet space, and all silverware/dishes and cooking apparatuses are included.

The view from the balcony. That's right, every apartment has a balcony to hangout on. Most of them face the courtyard in the middle of the building, however if you get lucky you might end up with a street view balcony (like myself and my roommates). I have a lovely view of the Four Courts dome.

That concludes the tour! I hope the pictures give a better mental image of what day-to-day life is like with  the Champlain Abroad Dublin program.

Until next time :)

-Lydia Hill

Communications Major

Champlain Abroad Dublin, Spring 2013

Champlain College, Class of 2014