Written by Brayden Larnard ’22 and Jack Mullin ’22
After a night of well-needed sleep, we enjoyed our first hearty Irish breakfast at the hotel before a quick rehearsal in the lobby. We then boarded the bus and headed into Belfast on our way to Saint Peter’s Cathedral for Easter Mass.
We made our way into the cathedral and walked up to the balcony for our final rehearsal. At 9 AM sharp, the mass began, and we began to sing our repertoire including “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” “Panis Angelicus,” “O Sweet and Blessed Country,” and “Ye Sons and Daughters Bless the Lord.” It was a very special mass not only because it was Easter Sunday, but also because Bishop Noel Treanor, the Bishop of Belfast, was one of the presiders. If you would like to watch the recording of the mass it can be found at: https://www.churchservices.tv/stpeterscathedral/archive/recordings/RaLpIEZ1DcAY9U3
Immediately after the mass, Ben Petrillo ’22 and Ms. Winter went to the front of the congregation and answered questions from the bishop about our school and travel experience.
Next, we got into the bus to drive to the Giant’s Causeway on the northern shore. The drive took two hours, but we took a break at a rest stop to eat and get snacks for the day.
When we finally made it there, we had a few hours of free time to explore the scenery and gift shop. The views were stunning and the photos speak for themselves.
After this awesome experience, we made our way back to the hotel, making a quick stop for some more pictures of the Irish coast. We rested at the hotel for an hour. Then, we all got back on the bus and went to the Morning Star — a pub in Belfast — for a delicious dinner. We made the best of this experience — a fact exemplified by our impromptu performance of a few of our favorite choir songs.
We made our way back to the hotel and got ready for another well-deserved rest. We’re all looking forward to exploring Belfast and traveling on to Dublin tomorrow!
BC High Concert Choir 