Travel Journal: Galway, Ireland - Exploring Education Abroad
The Aran Islands, nestled off the west coast of Ireland in the county of Galway, hold a unique allure for visitors seeking a glimpse into the country's ancient heritage and traditional Gaelic culture. These islands, with their dramatic cliff edges and prehistoric stone forts, offer a captivating journey through Ireland's past.
The islands are repositories of ancient Irish heritage, with significant archaeological sites such as Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric stone fort dating back approximately 5,000 years. Perched precariously on cliff edges overlooking the Atlantic, this fort is emblematic of the islands' long human occupation and defensive architecture from the Celtic era.
Historically, the islands have preserved elements of early Christian and medieval Irish life. Ruins like O'Brien's Castle and the "Seven Churches" stand as testaments to the strategic and spiritual importance of the islands over centuries.
Culturally, the Aran Islands are renowned for maintaining traditional Gaelic language, crafts, and customs, offering insight into rural Irish life largely untouched by modern influences. For students like Abigail Clark '26, studying abroad in Galway, hearing the whole church echo the "Our Father" in Gaelic during Sunday Mass is an incredible experience.
For Claire Wolf, a student at Holy Cross majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies, the Aran Islands present a quiet, connected way of living that she finds particularly interesting. Claire, who is also involved in SGA, Club Running, Pax Christi, Hanify-Howland Lecture Committee, and Gateways Orientation, shares similar sentiments.
The group of 25 students, including Caroline Kramer '26, studying abroad in Galway for the Spring 2025 semester, have been exploring Galway, particularly Eyre Square, and have taken trips to the Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, and the Aran Islands. Caroline, who is majoring in English and Sociology at Holy Cross, finds the islands' peaceful atmosphere and rugged natural beauty particularly evocative of Ireland's Celtic heritage.
Galway, Ireland, with its small, united city and strong Irish identity, serves as a fitting gateway to the Aran Islands. Despite the introduction of electricity as recently as 1973, the islands maintain a charm that is untouched by modernity, with only one grocery store on the largest island, Inishmore.
For students like Abigail, who is also the News Editor at Holy Cross, and Caroline, the Aran Islands serve as a living museum for Ireland’s ancient history and cultural identity, making them a key destination for understanding the country’s early civilization, linguistic heritage, and continuing traditions.
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