LMRL goes Ireland
From April 19 to April 24, 2026, eleven motivated students from Lycée Michel-Rodange Luxembourg travelled to Ireland as part of an official student exchange programme. Upon their arrival at Cross and Passion College, they were warmly welcomed by Irish students and their host families. The hosts greeted them with both the Irish and Luxembourgish flags, creating a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere right from the start. After a long journey, some students went out with their hosts to try “spice bags,” an unofficial Irish speciality.
On their first full day, the students explored Dublin. They visited the Irish Parliament, the Dáil Éireann, where they learned about Ireland’s history and its path to independence. In the afternoon, they travelled to Dublin City University (DCU), a beautiful campus, where they attended a climate talk. Afterwards, students worked in small groups with their hosts to create videos about DCU and participated in a quiz on climate change. In the evening, several students met at one host’s house for doughnuts and a karaoke session, making the day both educational and fun.
On Tuesday, the students attended school, though instead of regular classes, they worked in mixed groups to prepare presentations comparing Ireland and Luxembourg. The Irish students then gave tours of their school. Although the building appeared somewhat worn, this was explained by the fact that a new school is currently being built. After lunch at a café in town, the group hiked to a round tower despite strong winds. In the evening, they went bowling, where the competition was surprisingly balanced. Some students attended an English class in the morning, focusing on poetry. Afterwards, the group travelled to Kildare, where they split into smaller teams to take part in several activities: a virtual reality experience about local history and legends, a visit to the Church of Kildare, climbing a narrow round tower and a guided tour of the town For lunch, they visited Kildare Farm Foods, where they ate and toured the farm. In the evening, they watched their Irish hosts play a Gaelic football match. Despite facing the league leaders, the team performed impressively, making the match exciting and enjoyable to watch.
On their last full day, the students visited Lullymore Heritage Park, where they learned about Irish history and bog landscapes. Coincidentally, everyone received the same lunch: chicken wraps! Afterwards, they enjoyed a round of crazy golf and participated in interviews for Mr Brücher’s video project. Back at school, some groups presented their work, and everyone watched selected DCU videos. At the end of the day, students received participation certificates, accompanied by inspiring words from the school’s director. For their final evening, the group gathered at a local pub, Barden’s, for a shared meal. Later, they spent time together at a host student’s house, playing games, talking, and teaching each other bits of Luxembourgish and Irish.
On Friday, it was time to say goodbye. The students were sad to leave, wishing they could stay longer. However, they were comforted by the fact that their Irish partners would soon visit Luxembourg, meaning the exchange was not yet over. All participants greatly enjoyed the exchange. We not only learned about Irish culture and history but also created lasting friendships and shared unforgettable experiences!
Lucie Majerus 2CC2