Ireland
 

Program
& info            spring 2026

WhatsApp

not on mute!

Teachers' phone numbers

Krista +358 50 3259568
Taru +358 50 5484 027

bit.ly/alphel26

CLASSROOM

lgudwyhh

SECOND MEETING

Hellu, February 23rd, 3.15 pm

• passports & signed contracts
• icebreakers
   
• program
• room division
• what to pack
   
• assignments:
  PUBLIC (tryout!) &
  PRIVATE (help & evaluation)
• start planning your presentation

Dublin

Flights

INITIAL INFO (Classroom)

ID/PASSPORT (copy)
 

Sitoumus (signed slip)

 

https://www.parabol.co/random-icebreaker-generator/

Don't forget:

- an adapter

- money for snacks/dinner

- suitable (waterproof) SHOES
- warm clothing, a raincoat

- a towel

- If you have your laptop with you, and you need to use classroom or google drive,
you need to do this while in Finland.

- As few valuables as possible!

- You need a phone & a powerbank, but no laptop unless absolutely necessary.
- EU insurance

- HELSINGIN KAUPUNGIN VAKUUTUS/TRAVELER'S INSURANCE INFO

Rooming Breakdown​ (all ensuite)

4xmale

Simeon
Jiro
Ruu
Anton

4xmale

Dominick
Aran
Max
Eeka

6xfemale

Hilda
Amanda
Charlotte
Lilli
Alva
Martta

6xfemale

Rosa
Maija
Aino
Pinja
Pome
Nellu

GALWAY About the hostel

Modern, Spacious and Comfortable, Kinlay is located on the corner of Eyre Square in Galway City and is only a 2 minute walk from both the Coach and Train Station as well as the main thoroughfare of Shop Street, Quay Street and the Spanish Arch.

Guest facilities include a very comfortable common room with a pool table, 70” TV screen, a spacious and fully equipped self-catering kitchen and a large dining area. A free substantial breakfast, high-speed Wi-Fi & free luggage storage are just some of the benefits of staying here.  

There is a 24-hour reception desk and staff are available to meet your every need.
Kinlay's dorm rooms have new POD beds with all-round privacy curtains to give you the most comfortable dorm experience possible.

DUBLIN About the hostel

The hostel consists of a main and annex building. The buildings are located beside each other.
Breakfast is served in the main building, so guests staying in the annex will need to walk directly next door to have breakfast.
Free: breakfast, bed linen, Wi-Fi
(BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL - Towels can be hired from
reception for € 2.00 per towel)
The group leader is required to fill in a code of conduct on
arrival, as well as pay a €300.00 refundable noise/security
deposit by credit card. Report anything broken on day 1!

Might be: noisy (ear plugs), hot/cold, small rooms,
poor water pressure. Valuables should be kept on your
person and not left in the room/luggage storage.
No elevator!

• FREE Buffet breakfast - It includes tea, coffee, hot chocolate, juices, tap/flavoured water, milk (including non-dairy options - ask staff), white and brown bread, pancakes, breakfast cereals, porridge, sausage rolls, salad (fresh vegetables and hummus), selection of meats and cheese, fresh fruit. Available daily from 07:30 to 09:30 am.

• FREE Wi-Fi throughout hostel

• FREE Self-catering kitchen

• FREE Bed linen (sheets, pillows, duvet cover)

• FREE Cinema room

• FREE Lounge room

• FREE Games room

• FREE Luggage storage facilities

Sunday 12th April

• Arrival in Dublin at 9 am

• Local bus to Heuston Station

• Train to Galway

• hostel - discovering Galway guided walking tour

• free time / dinner

• evening meeting / curfew

• lights out

12:00 – Arrival at Galway Train Station
Quick orientation and start walking toward Eyre Square (right outside the station).

12:10 – Eyre Square 
Explore the square, see the Browne Doorway and Quincentennial Fountain GROUP 1. A good place to introduce some Galway facts and history. GROUP 2

12:30 – Galway Cathedral
Short walk along the River Corrib to the impressive Galway Cathedral. GROUP 3 Time to admire the interior (about 10–15 minutes).

12:50 – River Corrib Walk
Walk along the River Corrib towards the Salmon Weir Bridge and enjoy the riverside views. GROUP 4 Continue toward the Latin Quarter.

Galway Walking Tour and Visit Program

13:10 – The Latin Quarter and Shop Street
Stroll through the lively streets of the Latin Quarter (including Shop Street). GROUP 5
Enjoy the colorful storefronts, buskers, and small shops.

Photo challenge: Take pictures with buskers, colorful buildings, and Irish-language signs.

13:40 – Spanish Arch
Short walk to the Spanish Arch GROUP 6, one of Galway’s iconic landmarks. Group photo opportunity here!

13:50 – Lunch Break
Suggested options: The Dough Bros (pizza, casual and teenager-friendly), Boojum (Mexican food, fast and popular),  McDonagh’s (classic Irish fish and chips).

About 1.5 hours for lunch and a little free time to explore nearby shops or grab dessert.

15:20 – Walk toward Grattan Beach
From the Spanish Arch area, walk along the coast via the Martin Connolly Causeway. GROUP 7.  Briefly stop at Grattan Beach GROUP 8 to enjoy the seaside atmosphere without walking deep into Salthill. GROUP 9

15:50 – Optional Mutton Island Causeway Walk
Those who wish can start walking along the Mutton Island Causeway, a scenic path leading out into Galway Bay. GROUP 10
(You can walk part of the way for beautiful views without needing to reach the island itself.)

16:20 – Head back toward the city center
Regroup and walk back toward Eyre Square.
You can return via the coast or through charming side streets to see more of everyday Galway life.

17:00 – Return to Train Station
Short rest or time for quick shopping/snacks
if needed before boarding.

- 21.30 evening meeting: recap presentations on Galway (Galway general info, Spanish Arch, Cathedral – Eero & Mikko; Claddagh, Salthill Promenade, Mutton Island – Alice & Marve;  Jeanie Johnston. Ada & Lumi;  potato blight & famine: Aada & Ester)

- 22.30 lights out

Monday 13th April

ARAN ISLANDS
Inis Mór

- Breakfast at 8 am (or 7.45, if you need more time)
- Be ready in the common area at 8:29. We leave at 8:30 sharp. We’re going biking around Inis Mór. It’ll be 8–10°C with a 5–10% chance of precipitation. It’s going to be quite windy (around 20 km/h), so a scarf, hat, and gloves might be a good idea.

Aran Islands Inis Mor and Cliffs of Moher Day Return Tour from Galway City

09:30 hrs - Ferry departs Galway City Docks - Check in 45 mins before the Ferry departs, so check in from 8.45 hrs.

11:00 hrs - Arrive at Inis Mór (Kilronan Pier).
Bike Hire on arrival (pre-booked).
15:30 hrs - Depart Inis Mór (Kilronan Pier).
16:15 hrs - Arrive at the Cliffs of Moher.
Note that passengers don't disembark the ferry at the Cliffs of Moher, but they do cruise alongside them, so passengers see them from the water.
16:30 hrs - Depart Cliffs of Moher.
18:00 hrs - Arrive at Galway City Docks.

• free time / dinner

• evening meeting / curfew

• lights out

Dublin day

Wednesday 15th

- Breakfast at the hostel  (departure at 10.00)

- 
 

- HOWTH

• free time / dinner

• evening meeting / curfew

• lights out

Jeanie Johnston & famine

Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum Guided Tour


Time: 10:30 am
 

​

Text

Howth - Cliff walk

Thursday 16th
TRINITY

9.00 Trinity tour

guided tour Jeanie Johnston 10.30 - 11.30

free time & lunch

 free time until 2 pm (shopping, Guinness (BOOK TICKETS/ 1 person in the group has to be 18+), IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art), other free museums
------------------------------------
Kilmainham Gaol: you have to be at the gate at 14.45.
You can either make your own way there or take the bus
with Krista & Taru. Departure at the hostel around 2pm (detailed info later)

KILMAINHAM GAOL

Thursday, 16 April at 3:00 

 

 guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol

https://www.kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/

Dublin day

Wednesday 15th

- free time until 3 pm (shopping, Guinness (BOOK TICKETS/ 1 person in the group has to be 18+), IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art), other free museums
------------------------------------
Kilmainham Gaol: you have to be at the gate at 14.45.
You can either make your own way there or take the bus
with Krista & Taru. Departure at the hostel at 3 pm.
------------------------------------

• free time

• dinner

• evening meeting / curfew

• lights ou

Evaluation

COURSE GRADE (public material):

• Per 2:
  - presentation (to be given the previous night without material - prepare this BEFORE we leave!)
  - public material (might be used on the school social media platforms) (DL: evening meeting)
  - video interviews: reactions to the activities (DL: evening meeting)

• 24/7 use of English

EXAM GRADE (private for the teachers):

• Personal video diary which includes at least the following 10 activities (min. Length all videos 60 minutes total, aim for 10 minutes per activity for a better grade) - deadline April 26th.

PUBLIC

Audio-visual material

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/JdNkLBjUHoFbMRwZA

Presentations

PRIVATE

Audio-visual material

You will get a private link to your personal folder later.

You need to hand in 60 minutes' worth of material (video or audio)

The video diary: questions to help you structure your diary / 1

• What did you know about Ireland beforehand? Had you ever been to Ireland before? What had you found out e.g. at school or through literature/television/movies? What were your expectations for the study trip?

• Questions that can be applied to different sights/museums/destinations during the study trip:

  • What is the historical significance of the sight/museum/destination we visited today?

  • How did the visit make you feel? What was the atmosphere like?

  • If there was a guide, how did they manage to make the museum/sight/destination come alive? How did you find the information presented? Was the guide easy to follow/understand? Why/why not? How did the guide take their audience into account?

  • How does the architecture of the sight/museum/destination reflect the cultural and historical context of its time?

  • What were some of the key persons related to the sight/museum/destination we visited?

The video diary: questions to help you structure your diary / 2

• What were some key artifacts or exhibits we encountered, and what do they reveal about the culture or period they belong to?

• In what ways does the sight/museum/destination contribute to our understanding of Irish history?

• What was the most memorable/fascinating experience for you during the study trip? Why?

• What were the everyday interactions like with the locals (at the hostel/cafés/souvenir shops)? How was it to engage in different communicative situations in English?

• What were the biggest surprises for you? Were there any?

• Was there something in Dublin/Ireland that you wished you could have taken with you back to Finland, figuratively speaking?

• Was there something that you experienced or noticed during the study trip that made you appreciate Finland more?

Study trip to Ireland + Northern Ireland: Additional questions to think about/find out:

1. What are some of the names of the bridges across the Liffey? Who/what do the names refer to?

2. What differences can you spot between Ireland and Northern Ireland?

3. What are the most important economic sectors in Ireland?

4. Which famous Irish people did you encounter as statues in Dublin? Why are they significant for Ireland?

5. Since when is Ireland an independent country?

6. Which Irish words did you learn from e.g. road signs?

7. What does ‘Celtic Tiger’ refer to?

8. What’s the Bell Tower superstition with regard to Trinity College?

9. Who was George Salmon and why is he famous?

10. What does ‘An Gorta Mór’ refer to?

Study trip to Ireland + Northern Ireland: Additional questions to think about/find out:

11. What do ‘hillbillies’ have to do with Irish history?
12. What is a cenotaph, and where did you see one?

13. What does ‘Taoiseach’ refer to?

14. What are Falls Road and Shankhill Road? Why are they significant?

15. What is the Easter Rising and when did it take place?

16. What’s the Good Friday Agreement?

17. What are the ‘plantations’ with regard to Irish history?

18. What is Europa Hotel in Belfast famous for?

19. How is religion still relevant in sports, for example?

20. What is a causeway?

21. What does a sphere within a sphere symbolise?