A Semester in London: Ireland: Part 1, Dublin, Gaiety School, Tours

Here is Patrick Sutton welcoming us to Ireland! He looks great in Tina's Nessie hat doesn't he? Well, we arrived in Dublin on Saturday November 26th and checked into Barnacles Hostel in the Temple Bar area of Dublin. It is where all the action is! The students were here for two weeks studying at the Gaiety School of Acting. This is our 14th year at the Gaiety. Classes taken were: Irish Theatre Seminar with Denis O'Brien, Voice with Cathal Quinn, Acting with Patrick Sutton and Mark Lambert ( actor and director...has performed with Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Court Theatre). We saw many theatre productions: The Government Inspector at the Abbey Theatre, Ireland's National Theatre, Little Women at The Gate Theatre, Iscariot at the Boys' School written by Patrick Sutton, the panto, Robinson Crusoe, and The Making of Tis a Pity She's a Whore at the Project Arts Center. This last production was very unique, intriging, and exciting. We all wanted to see it again!

There were also many cultural trips that were part of the program. On Monday there was a walking tour of Dublin with Marie. A trip to St. Michan's Church and Vaults where the students got to see mummies and rub the finger of one for good luck! We also went to the Yeats exhibit at the National Library of Ireland. Perhaps one of the best trips was to Glasnevin Cemetery on the outskirts of Dublin where we got a historical tour by a great tourguide. A lot of political figures and writers are buried there and we got a history of the different wars, revolts, etc of Ireland. Here are some pictures from the Glasnevin Tour. Shannon Ryan from the United States, a former student at the Gaiety was our hostess for the week and took us to the various venues and events. We took a bus to the Cemetery.

Shannon

O'Connell's tomb and tower.

Inside the tomb has been restored. The section on the left has not been restored so one can see the condition it was in before.

Looking up the tower. Spiral staircase is missing.

O'Connell family members also buried here.

Parnell was buried in a colera pit. Hundreds of people were buried in this circle.

Many celtic crosses in the cemetery with excellent stone carving.

Brendan Behan, the playwright's grave. In the hole in the tombstone was originally a bust that went missing. Many times one can find a pint of Guinness in the hole in the stone. When it evaporates, it is usually replaced. If you know Behan, this is very, very appropriate!

Michael Collins' grave, the most visited one in the cemetery.

It was a cold, bitter day!

We also celbrated Aaron's Birthday! Balloons in his room and a cupcake from Patrick. Then we all watched SMU's production of Playboy of the Western World in Patrick's new office! As some of you know, the Gaiety moved to a new building where the Smock Alley Theatre is located. They have many studios, a black box theatre, where we performed last year, only smaller, and the Smock Alley Theatre. So Patrick now has a big office! Congrats!