Marisa's Essay

Why is the connection between New Orleans and Ireland important in 2013?

If you ask a New Orleanian what they immediately associate with Ireland, they will probably say St. Patrick’s Day parades. In New Orleans, that means beads, kisses on the cheek in return for plastic flowers, green outfits to avoid being pinched, and American-brewed whiskey and celebration of questionable genetic ties to some fellow who immigrated here in the mid-1800s and happened to be from Ireland. A person’s knowledge of St. Patrick’s Day and the entire Republic of Ireland can be boiled down to alcoholism, short angry pugilistic folk, and even the Fighting Irish mascot for Notre Dame... Nothing to do with Ireland, really, or even St. Patrick for that matter.

This is terrible, because both Ireland and New Orleans are so much more than that.

Ireland is a land of rich culture and history- something truly ancient, a quality which New Orleans and America in general do not possess. Ours is a young nation, not even 300 years old, and although the Republic of Ireland doesn’t reach before World War II, the people’s historical legacy goes back millennia. The oldest buildings in New Orleans go back to the mid-1700s, which is nothing compared to Ireland: old monasteries go back a thousand years, not to mention the tombs and forts which go back more than 5000 years. Five thousand years ago, Orleans back in France would not exist for several millennia, let alone New Orleans.

Mark Twain once said that travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness. Along the same line, through a partnership of any kind, we can learn from each other. Each of our local music has a selective affinity for the fiddle: in New Orleanian Cajun music and in Irish traditional folk music. New Orleans even has an entire accent which evolved over a few short generations from the children of Irish immigrants: the Yat dialect. This connection between is important to teach each other on levels both superficial and profound. By learning about each other’s current culture and lifestyles, we establish a bond and develop a better respect for each other as humans.

In conclusion, we can teach each other about ourselves and to look past any preconceived notions based on stereotypes or political rubbish. Because Ireland and New Orleans both have rich traditions far beyond the craziness of Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street and beyond St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans, both have more value than the associations with alcohol we both carry. Our lands have more substantial things in common than fiddles, Catholicism, and revelry. The connection between Ireland and New Orleans is important so we can learn those things we have in common and bridge the gap between our cultures, not so that we are the same, but so that we know and respect each other.

Marisa Thomassie, 2013

Erin's Essay

Why is the connection between New Orleans and Ireland important in 2013?

New Orleans has a very strong connection to the Irish people and the culture they bring to the city.  The city is famous for being a melting pot of many different cultures and traditions, the Irish being one of them.  Just as it is important to maintain the connection between New Orleans and France or Spain, it is also important to keep the connection between New Orleans and Ireland just as strong, for many have yet to realize that the Irish actually had a huge impact on the Crescent City.

The port city of New Orleans was a major hub for immigration to the United States, and during the 1840’s in particular due to the Great Famine, masses of Irish immigrants came over to seek shelter in their time of need.  They influenced the city’s economy, social life, cuisine, and architecture.  One of the most famous Irish buildings in New Orleans is St. Patrick’s Church, which was constructed because Irish immigrants wanted to attend church services in English rather than French.  Gallier Hall, which is a huge part of New Orleans history, was designed by James Gallier, Sr., a man of Irish descent.  During Hurricane Katrina, when the city was completely destroyed by the effects of the storm, the Irish government sent over one million dollars to Red Cross to help reestablish the city and bring it back to what it once was.

This obvious act of kindness demonstrates the bond between New Orleanians and the Irish.  This kind of bond is something that is important to uphold today, for without the Irish, where would we be?  Without New Orleans, what would have happened to those who were starving during the Great Famine?  We cannot simply dismiss the fact that Ireland has a place in our history.  It has shaped our culture and helped to define what New Orleans is today.  There is even an entire section between Uptown and the Lower Garden District entitled the Irish Channel, home to many of the original shotgun houses.  This is an area in which many Irish workers lived, an area in which they felt safe and were able to feel a sense of community.  The name remains the same today, for changing it would be like changing history.  Saint Patrick’s Day is another one of the many traditions that New Orleans celebrates annually.  With parades running through Uptown and in Metairie, it’s not just a day in our city; it’s a huge celebration that New Orleanians recognize as an important part of our history.

Given the hints of Irish culture left here and there throughout New Orleans, it is impossible to brush off the fact that Ireland holds a major place in our city.  We cannot simply disregard it as unimportant to the city.  The connection between New Orleans and Ireland is important because we have been there for each other in times of need.  We share a past, and it only makes sense that we should share a future as well.

Erin Reily, 2013

Alexis's Essay

Why is the connection between New Orleans and Ireland important in 2013?

      The connection Ireland and New Orleans may not be apparent to some but there are strong, distinctive qualities that bring both places together in ways that are still important and relevant in 2013.

      Both New Orleans and Ireland have faced hardships head on and have come back with a resilience that has made them stronger than they were in the past. The collapse of Ireland’s economy in 2008 parallels New Orleans going through Hurricane Katrina. Ireland’s economic crash caused a huge spike in unemployment, foreclosures, and expensive bailouts for big businesses, sending them into a recession.  Hurricane Katrina had similar impacts; the misplacement of residents and billions of dollars of destroyed infrastructure. Though Ireland’s and New Orleans’ loss wasn't a disaster of the same origin, both places came crashing down from being the best. The restructuring done by both places is inspiring and sheds an even greater light on the importance of their connection. New Orleans has come back with a fighting spirit, quickly building from the ground up.  Since Katrina, New Orleans has rebuilt many of their blighted neighborhoods, has hosted major events like Super Bowl, and survived the Gulf oil spill. Ireland has also come back in amazing ways, such as changing g in banking structure and reform of the labor market and taxation.

      Also New Orleans is trying new measures in education, just like Ireland. The connection between these two efforts is that both places are moving away from private institutions and beginning to strengthen their public education system.  This connection is especially in that both are taking the risk which will affect many students’ education and future. New Orleans can take a valuable lesson on what does and does not work when it comes to education and the same goes for Ireland.

      In 2013, this connection is important because as two very different places going through similar things of equal relevance, both Ireland and New Orleans can learn from each other and grow beyond belief. The connection between Ireland and New Orleans is stronger than most and is more important than ever. This connection is a great resource for both places, which is probably the best part of the alliance between them, and   is greatly appreciated this just shows how the most unlikely of relationships can work out to be truly magical and helpful to both parties.

Alexis Calderon, 2013

The Essays Themselves (updated with LINKS!)

So how'd we earn this trip?

To put it simply, there was an essay contest.

Irish Network New Orleans (IN-NOLA), the local attachment to IN-USA, was offering a scholarship. According to the forwarded email:

This summer, IN-NOLA will be sending some deserving New Orleans high school juniors to University College Dublin to attend a two week summer program designed to show high school students a glimpse of college life in Ireland.

Each of us heard about it different ways (our individual stories are linked below), but the application was the same. The only real requirement was a GPA at or above a 3.0, and the application asked for only some basic contact information. The only way to distinguish ourselves from the rest was the application essay:

"Please tell us in 500 words or less why is the connection between New Orleans and Ireland important in 2013?"

At least they asked politely.

Essentially, we had to convince them that we understood their motive behind sending four high school kids across the pond.

But hey, free trip to Ireland, right?

And so, we took to our keyboards, did a little research, and away we went.

Each of our stories: (not updated yet - still working on it!)

• Alexis
• Erin
• Marisa
• The mysterious Zaire

Each of our essays:

• Alexis
• Erin
• Marisa
• The elusive Zaire: http://fromnolatoucd.blogspot.com/2013/07/zaire-essay_9.html

Greetings! Let us introduce ourselves.

Chicken silliness aside, let's get started.

Hi there! 

We are a few American high schoolers who entered and won an essay contest for a scholarship to a University College Dublin summer program, courtesy of Irish Network - New Orleans. In the program we'll attend the same classes, participate in the same activities, and go on the same field trips as the other 46 American students participating in the same program. We won't be tourists in Dublin, we’ll be the weird foreign kids who decided to take college courses on Irish history, culture, sport, and such over the summer for fun. 

We'll be sent overseas to Ireland in mid-July of 2013, at which point we'll begin to relay our adventures on here for our two-week stay. In the meantime, we’ll post about our preparations and thoughts leading up to the trip.

***

The original intent for this blog was to document our daily experiences for future participants in UCD’s high school summer program and to communicate with our folks back home about what we’re doing.

However, we want to make this entertaining for people to read.

Therefore, it will be a journal: from our triumphant arrival at 7am on a bright Dublin morning, to complaints about foreign cafeteria food, to missing home, to not missing home, and everything in between.

So welcome! Friends, family, Irish Network folks, and internet strangers, all. Get some popcorn and an iced tea and enjoy.

Image source: Tumblr. Prior source unknown.