NC State Ireland Program Itinerary

NC State Ireland Program Itinerary

Hereunder is our Itinerary for 2012,

2013 will be very similar

Your itinerary includes 14 nights in Ireland including Dublin (8 nights), Fermoy (3 nights) and Galway (3 nights)

Date / Ireland: An Introduction to EU Agriculture Daily Itinerary
Sun. May 13 /

Your flights as booked.
Dr. Morrow’s flights are:
4:04pm: Depart RDU on US Air #933, arrive CLT 5:05pm
6:20pm: Depart CLT on US Air #724, arrive DUB 6:55am
NOTE: CLT to DUB is 7.5 hrs and arrives Monday May 14

Mon. May 14 /

6:55am, depending on flight: Arrive Dublin, clear customs
8:00am: (apprx) Depart for accommodation:

The Generator Hostel (staying 7 nights)
Address: Smithfield Square, Dublin 7
Phone: 011 353 1901 0222 (from USA) & 901 0222 (local)

Continental Breakfast on arrival (included)
12 noon: Historical Walking Tour of Dublin

Your Guide for this two hour experience is a History Graduate of an Irish University and will provide a colorful and informative introduction to Dublin including stops at Trinity College, Old Parliament House, Dublin Castle & Christ Church Cathedral. You’ll get the story of the city, from its Viking origins to present day and hear about the roots of Ireland’s struggle with Britain
2:00pm: Presentation
Topic 1: Program Introduction & Program Safety

2:30pm: Free time to explore, You will be well orientated after your walking tour this morning
6:30pm: Welcome Dinner (included)

Get an early night. You’ll be tired by now!
Tues. May 15 /

Continental Breakfast (included)
8:00 am: Depart for Alltech, Dunboyne (45 minute ride)
9:00 am: Visit to Alltech EU Headquarters

Alltech plays a leadership role in the animal health and nutrition industry. The Headquarters for Alltech is in Lexington, Kentucky however this facility is home to Alltech’s European Headquarters and supports 42 countries and 26 different languages. This research facility has a strong emphasis on fundamental research encompassing biotechnology, microbiology and chemistry-based disciplines. Such fundamental research has resulted in the development of unique insights into specific topics such as yeast cell wall architecture, trace element chelation, bio-marker detection and microbial population dynamics

9:30 am: Tour of the Alltech Facility
10:30 am: Presenter: TBA

Topic: Current research and innovation at Alltech

11:30 am: Refreshment/lunch break
12:30 pm: Presenter: Ciarán Carroll

Topic 2: Introduction to Animal Science in Ireland
Topic 3: Ireland Sport, History & Culture
a)The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
b)Hurling & Gaelic Football; History, Structure & Rules of these very traditional games

1:30 pm: Depart Alltech for fun Hurling Games with CiaránCarrol
3:30 pm: Arrive back at accommodation
3:40 pm: Presenter: Dr. Morgan Morrow (30 minutes)

Topic 4: Discussion on content presented today

4:00 pm: Free Time

Wed. May 16 /

Continental Breakfast (included)
8:00 am: Depart for the Grange Beef Research Center

Grange Beef Research Centre is one of the world's leading beef production research programs and the aims of the program are to identify the key priority needs of the sector and using the latest scientific knowledge identify the technologies that need to be developed in order to meet these needs, and thus underpin the future of the sector.
The vision for Grange is to be a center of international scientific excellence in research and technology development for the efficient production of safe, quality, healthy beef, in profitable production systems that meet stringent environmental and animal welfare standards. The strategic intent will be to provide scientific and technological support for sustainable and profitable production

9:15 am: Tour of the Grange Beef Research Center Facility
10:15 am: Presenters: EddieO’Riordan, Paul Crosso, William Minchin & PadraigO’Kiely

Topic 5: Daily Operations & Procedures at the Center
Topic 6: Recent Beef Research undertaken at Grange

12:00 noon: Lunch Break
1:00pm: Visit to a local farm
2:00pm: Depart for Irish National Stud (75 minute ride)

The Irish National Stud is a thoroughbred horse breeding facility and is owned by the Irish Government and is currently used by breeders from Ireland, Great Britain, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and USA
Topic 7: Stud Tour

4:45pm: Depart for Dublin, arrive (apprx) 5:30 pm

Thurs. May 17 /

Continental Breakfast (included)
8:30am: Depart from Croke Park (20 minute walk)
9:00am: Guided behind the scenes tour of Croke Park

Croke Park is the home of the Gaelic Games and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Your tour concludes with entry to the Gaelic Sports Museum and Hall of Fame

11:00am: Depart for Dublin Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour
This tour has been designed to give you the freedom to explore and experience the history and culture of Dublin at your leisure. With 23 stops visiting all the main Dublin attractions the entertaining on board Dublin tour guides will show you the city as only a native can. Your ticket allows you to hop on and off as often as you wish (buses stop at 6:30 pm)

Fri. May 18 /

Continental Breakfast (included)
8:00am: Depart for the Forestry Development Department (2 hours). Maynooth, Co Kildare.

The Forestry Development Department brings together forestry advice, training and research in one Development Department to ensure greater cohesion and synergy between the sectors. Farm forestry is an expanding and developing sector in the rural economy and needs of the sector evolve in relation to advice, training and research. There are now in excess of 310,000 hectares (apprx. 12,000 sq miles) of private forest in the Ireland, primarily owned by farmers. Most of these have been planted since the late 80's and therefore the owners have little experience in managing these crops

10:15am:Presenter: Liam Kelly (Teagasc Forestry Advisor)

Topic 8: Operations & Role of the Forestry Department
Topic 9: Forestry Farming; Opportunities & Challenges in Ireland and the EU

12:00noon: Lunch Break (60 minutes)
1:00pm: Depart for Dublin, arrive (apprx) 3:00 pm

Sat. May 19 /

Continental Breakfast (included)
8:00 am – 6:00pm: Full Day Trip to the Boyne Valley.

Where you will see:
a)Newgrangewhich is possibly the finest example of a passage grave in Western Europe and is Ireland’s most famous pre-historic site. The site dates to 3000 B.Cmeaning it predates both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt
b)Mellifont Abbey which was founded by St Malachy in 1142 and was the first Cistercian abbey to be built in Ireland
c)The Hill of Slanewhich has been associated with Christianity since the 5th century and was the location of the Pascal fire lit by St. Patrick on Easter Eve of the year 433 AD
d)Trim Castlewhich is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and the largest remaining Norman castle in Europe
e)The Hill of Tara which is renowned as the seat of the high kings of Ireland. The importance of the Hill of Tara stretches back to the late Stone Age when a passage-tomb was constructed there. This is a very significant site containing ancient monuments and the reputed seat of the High Kings of Ireland
Sun. May 20 /

Continental Breakfast (included)
Free Day for students to follow their own interests
Good chance of a Gaelic Football or Hurling this afternoon

Mon. May 21 /

5:00am: Depart for Fermoy (2 hour ride)

Breakfast on the road; arrive hotel/store bags.
The Grand Hotel (Staying 3 nights)
Ashe Quay, Fermoy, Co Cork
Phone: 011 353 025 40966 (from USA) & 254 0966 (local)

Arrive atMoorepark Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre.
Moorepark Animal & Grassland Research (MAGRI) and Innovation Centre have played a vital role in the development of the Irish dairy industry. The Irish Government established Moorepark Research Center in 1959 and since then it has been the focal point of Irish research into all aspects of dairy & pig production. The continuing role of Dairy & Pig Production Research at Moorepark is to anticipate the production needs of a rapidly changing farming environment, and to provide producers with new and adapted technologies to improve competitiveness and efficiency. The major development, which is associated with Moorepark dairy production research is low cost production based on maximum use of grazed grass
Topic 10: Daily Operations & Role of the MAGRI

9.30 am: Overview of Moorepark, Padraig French

Topic 11: Dairy Fertility & Veterinary/Health Issues

10.15: Reproduction, Stephen Butler
10.45: Animal Health, John Mee
11.15: Energy Research, John Upton
11.45:Moorepark Grassland Research, M. O’Donovan/E.Kennedy.
1 pmLunch
2.00 – 2.30: Dairy cow nutrition, Eva Lewis
2.30 – 3.00: Economics/low cost systems, Laurence Shalloo
3.00 Visit Dairygold Farm, Bernie O’Brien/- AMS Steven Fitzgerald

Depart afterwards for Fermoy accommodation using local transport.
Tues. May 22 /

7:00 – 8:25am: Breakfast (included)
9:00am: Depart for Curtis Dairy farm. Local transport.
9:30am: Visit Curtin’s Dairy Farm. Brendan Horan, Aidan Brennan.
10:30am: (optional) Depart by Public Transport for Cork City (apprx: 10 euro own cost).

Wed. May 23 /

Breakfast (included)
9:00am: Depart for Moorepark Research Center. Local transport.

Topic 12: MooreparkGrassland Research

9.30 am: Moorepark Food Research, Sheila Morgan

Topic 13: Artisan Food Production

11.00: Artisan Food Production, Eddie O’Neill
1.00pm: Lunch

Topic 14: Pig Production

2.00pm: Pig Production, C.Carroll/P.Lawlor/L.Boyle
Depart for Fermoy accommodation, Local transport.

Thurs. May 24 /

Breakfast (included)
8:00am: Depart for the Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is a tourist trail (apprx) 100 miles long and is a very popular drive which highlights many of Ireland’s natural beauties

8:00pm: Arrive Ardawn Guesthouse House(staying 3 nights)

31 College Road, Galway
Phone: 011 353 9156 8833 (from USA) & 156 8833 (local)

Fri. May 25 /

7:00 – 8:55am: Breakfast (included)
9:00am: Depart for the Athenry Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (30 minute ride)

The Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre’s mission is to produce high quality animal science research to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Irish Agriculture and is focused on three areas; Sheep Production, Animal Reproduction & Organic Milk, Beef and Sheep Production

9:45am: Facility Tour
10:15am: Presenters: Michael Diskin/Tim Keady

Topic 16: Daily Operations & Role of the Center

11:15am: Presenter: Tim Keady/Barbara Good

Topic 17: Sheep Research

12:00Noon: Lunch Break
1:30pm: Presenter: TBA

Topic 18: Organic Production

2:30pm: Presenter: Dan Clavin

Topic 19: Q & A session and/or Student Presentations

3:30pm: Depart for Galway, arrive (apprx) 4:00 pm

Sat. May 26 /

Breakfast (included)
9:00am: Presentation
Presentation: Dr Morgan Morrow

Topic 20:
a)Summary of educational portion of the trip and open discussion on content presented
b)Advice on how can use this program as a resume builder and to market themselves to potential employers

9:45am: Head down to St. Nicholas Church for the “lively” Saturday morning market which takes place each week from 9:00 – 12:00 Noon
1:00pm: Meet your guide Fiona Brennan at Eyre Square for a private 2 hour guided city walk of Galway
3:00pm: Free Time for the remainder of the day

Sun. May 27 /

Free Day
You may like to pay for a Hop On/Off bus ticket ($15) or simply relax and enjoy the day in and around Galway
There are also many day trips that you can book through the your accomodations front desk
8:00pm: Depart Galway for Dublin Accommodation:

The Generator Hostel (staying 1 night)
Address: Smithfield Square, Dublin 7
Phone: 011 353 1901 0222 (from USA) & 901 0222 (local)

Mon. May 28 / Individual flights as you booked.

Dr. Morrow’s flights:

6:15am: Depart hostel for Airport
7:30am: Arrive DUB airport
9:30am: Depart DUB on US Air #725, arrive CLT 12:55pm
2:30pm: Depart CLT on US Air #975, arrive RDU 3:20pm
Welcome Home! We trust you enjoyed your Summer Animal Science & Agriculture Program in Ireland