Teachers’ Professional Development Workshop

Ireland 

June 9th - 16th 2024

UISCE’s Professional Development Workshop for High School / Secondary School Teachers uses Ireland as an open-air classroom to get you, as a teacher, “out and about”,  delving into Ireland’s acclaimed literary heritage and its complex, fascinating history. 

This is an opportunity to be refreshed after a year’s teaching, to discover our Ireland’s landscape and history that shaped Wilde, Beckett, Heaney, and Yeats, and gain insights to our Peace Process. 

Having enjoyed and benefitted from exploring Ireland’s scenery, history and heritage, and enjoying its great food and rich culture, you will go home enriched and resourced to give more to your students next term.

You will also see first-hand what UISCE can offer your students by way of bespoke Study Abroad opportunities and internships.  You might be even interested in bringing a group of students to Ireland this Autumn or Thanksgiving, - especially overseas students who might not travel home at Thanksgiving - or you might like to know more about bringing a student tour next year. 

Discover Ireland this June with UISCE and go home ready for the next school year!  

Tour Itinerary

From Dublin or Belfast, catch the regular coach service to Enniskillen. The UISCE Campus is 5 minutes walk from Enniskillen coach station. Settle into your accommodation and then we all meet for dinner, before introducing the programme and what lies ahead for the week.

Then spend the evening relaxing and exploring Enniskillen for pubs “craic agus ceol” - fun and music, - or unwind at the campus.

Day 1 - June 9th

  • With local literary enthusiasts, dive into the legacy of Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde before going on a walking tour around Enniskillen to discover The Happy Prince, Portora Royal and the Beckett Trail.

  • A boat trip to the early Christian monastic site on Devenish Island takes us back 1500 years, and see first hand one of St Molaise’s community, who inspired Colmcille and How The Irish saved Civilisation. A great place for a picnic lunch amidst its ancient ruins!

  • Enjoy free time in the late afternoon, followed by the best of Irish beef at our BBQ at UISCE.

Day 2 - June 10th

  • As a group, engage with the social, political, military and economic dynamics that forged "An Gorta Mor," the Great Irish Famine, after which our tour visits Strokestown House & Famine Museum., followed by lunch in Carrick-on-Shannon, and on to climb the “hill of executions”, Knocknarea, where lies atop Connaught’s Queen Maeve, or so it is said.

  • The evening closes with dinner in one of Sligo’s great restaurants., close to the ocean.

Day 3 - June 11th

  • We head through North Leitrim and Yeats’ Land of Heart’s Desire, North Sligo.

  • Brexit at Belcoo, Glenfarne's Tale of Two Halls at the Ballroom of Romance, Kiltyclogher's Revolutionary leader Sean MacDermott; then the world of W.B. Yeats, exploring Glencar Valley, Rosses Point, and Drumcliffe; before dinner by the ocean at Mullaghmore and a late evening drive back to UISCE via Glenade’s Eagle Rock.

Day 4 - June 12th

  • Visit the Seamus Heaney Homestead, stepping into the life and words the latest Great Irish Nobel Laurate poet. Then on to the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; before heading to Derry / Londonderry to walk the city’s historic walls before dinner in one of its great pubs.

Day 5 - June 13th

Day 6 - June 14th

  • Leaving Derry, we head south for the awe-inspiring Slieve League sea cliffs, towering over the Atlantic Ocean, and a hill climb for the eager.

  • Ireland’s largest fishing port, Killybegs, offers some tasty bites. And Donegal town is a must, before returning to the UISCE Campus, enriched with a fuller understanding of part of Ireland’s culture and history, before celebrating with locals at the UISCE Mid Summer Danceathon! Can you zumba, samba, cha cha cha or dance a jig?

This professional development programme aims to enrich your understanding so that you can enrich your students’ understanding. It will be restricted to a small group of teachers - and so, yes, places are limited. You can reserve your place today with a £250 deposit - follow the link below.