By: Sarah Madden, Senior Writer

Don’t listen to Kelsey’s negativity, y’all. The Interim trip to Ireland is one of Wofford’s oldest and is full of traditions. Why should you spend two weeks on an island that’s home to more sheep than people? Here are 18 of many reasons to visit the land of “forty shades of green.”

1. You will see sheep in pastures, backyards, front yards, side yards, climbing mountains and clogging the roads. You will see adorable lambs with lanky little limbs and long floppy ears. You will learn about the significance of spray-painted sheep bums and other designs you’ll see throughout the country. You’ll occasionally have sheep flock towards you and surround your bus. You’ll wander through an abandoned famine village with sheep right next to you. If sheep are not your favorite, there will also be plenty of donkeys, cows, ponies and horses to enjoy as well. But go for the sheep!
2. When you get tired of eating potatoes and you wander into an Italian restaurant, you will not regret it! Irish-Italian food is incredible and will satisfy your deepest pasta/pizza cravings like never before. (Pro tip: go to Milano’s and get a lasagna. This particular establishment is also ideal for those who crave gluten free pizza.)
3. A trip to Ireland is automatic permission to eat meals that rival your best Thanksgiving dinners – for two weeks straight. You will have access to at least one kind of potato per meal, if not more. This connection to Ireland’s staple food will help you learn about the severe impact of the Great Potato Famine as well as sustain you through long days of traveling, hiking and touring. If (when) you get sick of potatoes, you will be indescribably thankful for the salads and sandwiches you receive. It’s just great.
4. What else do you do in Ireland but visit the Guinness museum and drink a free pint of the famous stout – if you are of age, of course – at a glass-walled bar overlooking Dublin’s skyline at sunset? If drinking Guinness is not your thing, that’s okay, because you’ll get to enjoy many sightseeing stops courtesy of the Guinness family’s heavy involvement in Ireland’s history and culture. You will see the Guinness family name everywhere, from pubs to historical sites and museums that the family assisted financially. Thank you, Guinness.
5. If Guinness is the most popular beverage to try in Ireland, Irish coffee is a close second. Supposedly invented by cold and miserable soldiers passing exorbitant amounts of time in a small Irish airport, this drink can be found in almost any pub or restaurant and you can easily find various recipes. It’s definitely worth a try (again, if you’re of age), but no pressure. It’s yet another thing you have to experience in Ireland to get the full experience.
6. You will hear traditional Irish music in almost every pub you visit or as you wander through city streets. Your bus driver will sing emotional ballads about the formation of the Irish republic. It’s beautiful and your usual repertoire will be put to shame. (But don’t worry, you’ll hear just as much Adele and Coldplay and Sam Smith as you will Celtic tunes.)
7. Folklore and faerytales are everywhere in Ireland. You’ll visit circle forts and see lone trees in the middle of cow pastures that are supposedly portals to the faery world. You’ll hear of leprechauns and changelings and the story behind Giants’ Causeway. It will only add to the magic of the views! Pro tip: Even if you don’t believe any of the folklore, climb the 106 stairs in the Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone… it’s supposed to give you eloquence but I’ll let you decide for yourself if it’s true.
8. Green seems like an understatement when you’re describing Ireland. The grass isn’t actually much different than what you’d find in the states, but wet and temperate climates in Ireland create incredible greenery that can be found in any part of the country. Even on the rainiest of days, the greens, grays and blues of the landscape make for quite the uplifting surroundings.
9. Your coach driver and tour guide extraordinaire will become one of your best friends and the first person you go to for exploring advice or for a good story. If you’re lucky, you’ll get Joe Fahy, who’s driven Wofford students around Ireland on multiple occasions and comes HIGHLY recommended. Pro tip: He loves chocolate of any kind and is always willing to help you eat yours.
10. The panoramic views you will find throughout Ireland, from the city to the countryside, are stunning. Your pictures will look nothing like the real thing and yet you will not be able to stop taking and posting hundreds of pictures at each site. The Cliffs of Moher, which you might recognize from movies like “The Princess Bride” or “Leap Year,” are a prime example of such beauty. The views alone are worth the travel.
11. Have you ever been in a small town that never ended? This is how Dublin feels. It’s awesome. It feels old, quaint, but also lively and energetic in a non-overwhelming kind of way. Even the self-professed country folk will enjoy this city. It is incredibly walkable and there are lots of shopping and social opportunities.
12. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ll be at least mildly entertained by the plethora of information, artifacts and exhibits about the infamous Titanic. It was built in and launched from Belfast, and you can visit Titanic Belfast, RMS Titanic monument and museum, in your free time. Even if you don’t go, you’ll meander through multiple Titanic exhibits throughout your trip (pro tip: to pass time while flying across the pond, you can watch the movie if you so wish).
13. Believe it or not, Ireland has a very temperate climate with a similar temperature range to Spartanburg. In fact, it’s usually warmer in Ireland than it is at Wofford in January… you certainly won’t get much snow (save occasionally in the mountains). You’ll learn to dress in multiple layers to combat the wind and you’ll be impressed by how comfortable you are walking around Dublin or even on the Cliffs of Moher. You’ll learn to be okay with re-wearing some of those layers. It will be good for you. You will pack wisely so that you have room for Irish scarves, hats and sweaters. You’ll learn to be okay with a little rain now and then and you’ll see some intense rainbows. It’ll be grand (“Leap Year,” anybody?!?).
14. Yeah, traveling plans go wrong all the time. Whether the daily itinerary changes in order to accommodate weather patterns or your flight back home gets canceled and you have to drive across NYC to get to another airport… You will learn to let go of some control. It’s good for you. Go to Ireland (or anywhere) because winter weather is a fun gamble. Unlike some interims, you’ll have less severe difficulty getting back from Ireland – just ask anybody that went to India.
15. The Irish are an incredibly friendly type. If you go to Ireland you will make friends with drivers, tour guides, pub owners, shopkeepers, little old women sitting in your hotel lobby… the list goes on. You might be surprised at the friends you make!
16. You don’t know wind until you’ve almost been knocked over by gusts at the Cliffs of Moher. You will make great memories accidentally smacking your friends in the face, holding each other upright and pointlessly attempting to get a normal-looking group photo. You will be impressed. The land will literally demand your attention… and you bet it deserves it.
17. Two weeks in Ireland is the perfect amount of time to be there. You have permission to consume whatever food and drink you want without wasting an entire semester of your life. Furthermore, you won’t run out of dark-colored clothes to blend in with the locals. Two weeks is about all you need to cover 21 of the 32 counties, visit dozens of important historical sites and learn more history than you thought you could.
18. Cultural awareness is important. Not all developed countries are free of turbulent pasts, and these times of trouble are incredibly evident in Ireland. For instance, there are six Irish counties that elected to remain under British rule when Ireland became a republic in 1922, and according to our driver Joe there are more than 44 “peace walls” in Belfast alone. There are other less serious cultural differences, as well: toilets that are difficult for Americans to flush, speed-walking through cities, navigating confusing crosswalks, various Irish and European accents and Irish phrases such as “What way are ye?” (how are you?). It’s all good for you.

Both Kelsey and I struggle to articulate how rewarding it is to visit Ireland for Interim, but don’t let that stop you. Talk to any of the other 18 students who also went and they’ll tell you the same thing… hopefully with more eloquence than we can (we’re not convinced that kissing the Blarney Stone did us any good). Pro tip: go see it for yourself!