When we arrived at the Old School for our English class this morning, dark clouds were hanging overhead, threatening rain. At 10am, we met Aine, the English teacher who will be with us on Saturdays throughout our stay and will join us on our excursions. After class, a light snack, and tidying up the classroom, our bus arrived to take us to Lough Key — a beautiful park surrounded by forest and a lake.
It felt as if we were chasing the sun, as the closer we got to our destination, the more the sky began to clear and the clouds slowly disappeared. On the bus, the girls were buzzing with excitement, sharing stories from their first week: the differences between Irish and Spanish school schedules, the new friends they had made, and even the extracurricular activities some had tried — from Irish dancing and football to swimming. Maria even gave us a little demonstration of what she had learned in her Irish dancing class, which was met with cheers and applause. It was clear that they were thrilled to see each other again after such a busy and intense week.
The bus dropped us off at a wide open grassy area beside the lake and some old ruins — truly an idyllic spot for a picnic. We found ourselves a perfect patch of grass and settled down to eat.
Today, we were also celebrating Anna’s birthday, which falls on Sunday. Throughout the week, the girls had been secretly writing heartfelt messages in a birthday card to give to her today. While Anna was happily distracted playing jump rope, Lucía and Silvia attempted to light thirteen candles on a chocolate cake. The wind had other plans, though, so in the end they placed one candle in the centre and surrounded the cake with marshmallows for a festive touch. We all sang Happy Birthday together, and Anna got to make her wish and blow out the candle.
After our picnic — and a stop for ice cream or a slushie — we set off on a short walk along the forest trail. The path led us to a group of enormous trees, where the girls, full of imagination and teamwork, created their own rope climbing course and obstacle trail. Our final half hour was spent back on the grass, playing games, chatting, and enjoying some sweets the girls had brought along.
At 4pm, the bus picked us up for the return trip to Carrigallen. Tired but happy, the girls relaxed as we made our way back. The journey was filled with shared stories, laughter, and the excitement of encouraging each other to try new activities with their host families and schools. It was truly heartwarming to see their energy, their connection, and the joy they’re experiencing together.
All in all, it was a wonderful day, full of nature, celebration, and friendship — a perfect Saturday in Ireland.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our next excursion!
