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Andrew Beauchamp '27

Photos From Ireland

Andrew looking at the Galway landscape.

Posted on 07.16.26 by Andrew Beauchamp '27 in College of Arts & Science, Â鶹ÊÓƵ

From Ireland

Even though Ireland wasn't my first choice for my study abroad experience, being there made me realize that any kind of international experience is incredibly valuable. Travelling to somewhere unfamiliar challenges you to see with refreshed eyes and feel with a renewed heart. In Ireland, I was confronted with an entirely new culture and people. And although I knew logically that the world was a big place, I didn't truly realize it until I spent time somewhere far away from home. In that way, I grew not only academically but also personally. I hope these photos show the extent to which I have grown from my time in beautiful Ireland.

I arrived in Ireland on August 30, 2025, to rainy weather, which I would come to understand as the new normal. We left late from the airport in Portland, our cohort consisting of three of us, the fourth being picked up in San Francisco. After about a 12-hour flight, we boarded a taxi and made our way from Shannon to Galway. It was a beautiful and scenic drive, with a rainbow as our gateway into the Emerald Isle.
Here I’m sitting on the Galway docks, in the county of Galway, looking at the famous painted houses. There are many shipwrecks around Galway, as it was a popular port before ships set off for distant locations. Galway was one of the last ports of call for the ill-fated ship, the Titanic. I chose this photo because the painted houses are used in many promotional photos for Galway, and it’s a good introduction to the glamor of Ireland!
An image I took of a section of the Dublin quays on the River Liffey. The Butt Bridge can be seen, leading to The Custom House, which is the home of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The quays are wharfs where ships have historically docked, standing as a testament to how Dublin developed into Ireland’s capital. The seagull, A staple of Dublin, is surprisingly not pictured here.
An alley I noticed in central Dublin, home to an art installation called Flow by Jane Groves. Located near the famous Temple Bar, Flow was recently restored by an artist’s cooperative, The Icon Factory. There are many art installations like this scattered around Dublin, which I noticed on my day trip there with the University of Galway photography society.
In this image, I’m resting after a trip to Dublin with the photography society, peering out the window. I’m wearing a green woolen sweater, a traditional woolen Aran Islands garment. My camera rests in my lap after a long day taking photos in Ireland’s capital city. This photo is emblematic of something that happened often in my travels across Ireland: looking out at the scenery while traveling. However, this really was a benefit, as the sprawling hills and glens were absolutely stunning.
This is a shot I took of an Aran Islands native man checking on his horse before he leads a cart tour around the smallest of the island chain, Inisheer. Only Irish is spoken on the island, which has a population of around 350 people. Horses are the main method of transportation, with regular deliveries of supplies to the island coming by plane or ferry. While Irish isn’t the main language for most in Ireland, in many places it remains an important cultural touchstone, including in Galway. In fact, Galway is Ireland's " cultural capital, " taking pride in celebrating traditional Irish language and culture.
The beautiful view I had of a boathouse from a bus ride passing through the Lough Inagh in County Connemara. The boathouse is situated at the foot of the Maum Turk mountains, nestled in an area full of boggy wetlands. Old buildings such as this are peppered across Ireland's landscape, especially in the gaps between the major cities. Galway, in particular, has ancient stone walls dating all the way back to the year 1270.
I stand in front of Loch Na Fooey in County Galway. The Loch is a glacial lake surrounded by ancient volcanoes and is said to be the home of one of the mythical Celtic Water Horses. This image shows another example of the breathtaking vistas located in just the county of Galway.
A snap of a giant doll created by Macnas, a Galway-based performance company, as part of the annual Galway Halloween parade. The 2025 show pictured here centered around the theme of “An Treun – The Summoning of the Lost.” The parade marches all through the city, starting at the University of Galway. The march started at the University of Galway, and so much of the student population followed the parade through the city. Halloween is a major holiday in Ireland, and I, for one, enjoyed the long week of festivities.
A snapshot of a fire drummer in the 2025 edition of Galway’s annual Halloween parade. The parade’s theme, An Treun – The Summoning of the Lost,” was inspired by Dracula author Bram Stoker and one of his lost stories, which was recently discovered in the archives of the National Library of Ireland. The story heavily utilizes old Irish folklore and culture, now represented in real life by performing artists. This image is another example of how Galway heavily embraces its ancient heritage.

I arrived in Ireland on August 30, 2025, to rainy weather, which I would come to understand as the new normal. We left late from the airport in Portland, our cohort consisting of three of us, the fourth being picked up in San Francisco. After about a 12-hour flight, we boarded a taxi and made our way from Shannon to Galway. It was a beautiful and scenic drive, with a rainbow as our gateway into the Emerald Isle.

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