On the 5th of June, we, the Student Council, went on a very exciting trip to Leinster House in Dublin. We got the bus into the city and had to use our Leap Cards. The journey took around 45 minutes, but it felt like forever… maybe because we were just too excited.

When we got there at about 10am, our tour of Leinster House began.

We got to go inside the Dáil and the Seanad – those are the two main rooms where the government meets. The Dáil is where TDs (Teachtaí Dála) sit, and the Seanad is where Senators sit. We learned all about how laws are made and what special jobs people have in the government. One thing we thought was really interesting was the bell that rings to tell people it’s time to vote – and if you’re late, they actually close the door behind you and you’re not allowed in!

This is the first time Ireland has a female Ceann Comhairle, which we think is a really big deal the first Cathaoirleach was all the way back in 1982!

One of our favourite parts was seeing a big painting that celebrates women in Irish history. We also learned about Countess Markievicz, who was the first woman elected to a national parliament in Europe and a really brave leader during the 1916 Rising. She had a huge impact and stood up for what she believed in. She’s now remembered as someone who helped change things for women in Ireland.

We noticed that the Seanad room was way fancier than the Dáil. It had massive chandeliers and looked more like a ballroom than a meeting room. We were told that they used to actually have balls and dances there! One of the chandeliers was a gift from President John F. Kennedy, which was really cool.

As we were leaving, we saw a portrait of President Michael D. Higgins, and near that was a copy of the 1916 Proclamation of Independence. We spotted letters that looked funny – there was an upside-down “e” and other letters that were changed. We learned that they didn’t have enough letters for the printing press so they had to get creative!

After the tour, we walked over to Merrion Square to visit the statue of Oscar Wilde. He was a really clever writer and a changemaker, because he wasn’t afraid to be himself and speak out. We talked about how important it is to use your voice and stand up for what’s right.

After a quick break, we went to St. Stephen’s Green where we learned about the 1916 Easter Rising and how there was a truce during the fighting so the ducks in the pond could be fed. We thought that was a lovely moment of kindness in the middle of a really hard time. It showed us that even in big arguments, people can still show care for others.

We had such a fantastic day and it was a wonderful way to learn more about being a Changemaker and making a difference.