Croke park and Glasnevin Cemetery

           A Cultural trip to Croke Park and Glasnevin Cemetery 

          We went on an Irish Culture trip to Croke Park and Glasnevin Cemetery in order to get an insight into the history that surrounds us and also to see famous elements of Ireland. In the morning we travelled first to Croke Park and were given a full tour of the dressing rooms and the pitch, it was amazing to get that personal insight into how Croke Park is ran and we were even in the same room  as One Direction were once in. We had full access to the dressing rooms where different teams prep before their match and we were shown the astro-turf where they practice and warm up right before the game. We got the opportunity to walk out onto the pitch as if we were players about to play a match which was very cool and we got to stand in the place the winning teams stand when they are presented with their trophies and prizes. The tour guide took us all the way up to the top of the seating area and we looked right down on the pitch which was quite unpleasant if you are scared of heights but also breathtaking. We then played some interactive games to do with GAA which were very fun and after we finished our tour we went to the lovely cafe in Croke Park and grabbed lunch. I think we were all very thankful to have a really interesting and enthusiastic guide who was brilliant. 

               With the Croke Par tour finished we hopped back on the bus and ventured to Glasnevin Cementry which I expected to be quite boring but actually ended up being very engrossing and intriguing. Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery is the final resting place of many famous Irish people. Opened in the 1830s with high walls and seven watchtowers that were to be manned by armed guards to deter bodysnatchers, the cemetery is practically a 'Who’s Who' of key historical figures. Some of these include Daniel O’Connell, Called the “Great Liberator,” O’Connell was an Irish political leader and a campaigner for Catholic Emancipation and the repeal of the Act of Union, Charles Stewart Parnell, The founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, who was sent to an early grave by a scandalous adultery case, and  Eamonn De Valera, A leader in Ireland’s struggle for independence, founder of the Fianna Fail political party, and de Valera also served as Prime Minister and President of Ireland. Glasnevin had a new phone system installed for his funeral. Not only did we get to learn about these people but we even got to stand right beside their grave. Everyone touched Daniel O’Connell’s grave as it is said that if you touch it, it will bring you good luck. 

                    Overall, the trip was very good as I learnt a lot about historic figures and the runnings of Croke Park.