Tullamore College students take in sights and history of Northern Ireland

US President Joe Biden is in Northern Ireland today (Wednesday), but a group of students from Tullamore College beat him to it by making their own successful visit to the North before Easter.

Fifth year history and geography students from the school took in attractions such as Titanic Belfast, the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Stormont during their trip.

At Titanic Belfast, the students learned about the importance of ship building and the linen industry to Belfast, as well as the fateful voyage of 1912.

In Stormont, students were told of its history but also had the opportunity to engage in the practice of parliamentary debate in the assembly chamber.

In Derry, they engaged with the complex nature of sectarian division. They visited the Siege Museum at the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall, where they learned of the origins of the Protestant society and its experience through the troubles.

At the Museum of Free Derry, there was a visit to the interactive exhibition on Bloody Sunday and students were also lucky enough to be given a walking tour of the Bogside where John McKinney, the brother of Bloody Sunday victim William McKinney, gave a powerful account of the events of that day.

Mr Feighery organised this rich and informative trip, and the school also expressed its gratitude to Ms Higgins and Mr Quirke for accompanying the students.