Tar Heels in the know give Dublin tips
Irish alumna Sinéad Loughran and senior Wilson Weingast share their experiences in Ireland’s capital.
Dr. Sinéad Loughran ’13 spent four years away from her native Dublin to attend Carolina and play field hockey. Senior Wilson Weingast ’27 spent a semester away from Chapel Hill to study in Dublin.
With Carolina’s season opener against Texas Christian University in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic approaching, these two Tar Heels shared Dublin recommendations and discussed what they learned studying in each other’s home country.
Sinéad Loughran
Loughran’s love of Carolina was so infectious, that even her Irish family members, like her father John (pictured above), became devoted Tar Heel fans. (Submitted photo)
Loughran was a dedicated athlete from a young age. In high school, she spent much of her time playing Gaelic football, a popular Irish sport that blends elements of soccer, rugby and basketball. Her skills caught the attention of legendary former Carolina coach Karen Shelton, who recruited Loughran to play field hockey.
“My family and I are still Carolina Blue, even though we’re all the way over here in Ireland,” said Loughran, whose family owns a Dublin hotel. “When I was at Carolina, I just loved the culture there. The place just really rubbed off on me, and I’m excited for Tar Heels to visit here and experience my culture.”
Majoring in communication studies in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences, Loughran balanced academics with her field hockey commitments. After graduating, she played for the Ireland women’s national field hockey team before earning a master’s degree in exercise, sports science and coaching from University College Dublin. That experience sparked her interest in healthcare, leading her to medical school at the University of Limerick. She is now an emergency medicine physician at St. James’s Hospital in Dublin.
Lessons Loughran learned at Carolina continue to guide her.
“Juggling athletics and classes is incredibly comparable to emergency medicine,” Loughran said. “Carolina gave me the tools to be prepared for even the most hectic days as a physician and taught me how to fight through adversity.”
Loughran took the skills she learned at Carolina — both on the field and off — to her future endeavors both in sports and emergency medicine. (Submitted photo)
Loughran’s Dublin tips
Grab a bite to eat at Pitt Bros BBQ: “One of the things I miss dearly about North Carolina is the barbecue. I eventually found this place in Dublin whose barbecue tastes just like Carolina barbecue. If anyone finds themselves feeling homesick, get a meal at Pitt Bros.”
Take a road trip to West Cork in southwest Ireland: “Making the three-hour trip is so worth it. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.”
Watch a hurling match:“This is a deep-rooted Irish sport that’s sort of a mix between cricket and lacrosse. It’s so intense and displays pure athleticism. Anyone who goes to see a match is totally hypnotized.”
Wilson Weingast
Weingast (second from left) embraced Dublin’s culture while studying abroad, an experience he now draws on to help fellow Tar Heels make the most of their time in Ireland. (Submitted photo)
A native of Springfield, Virginia, Weingast came to Carolina because of his admiration for the UNC College of Arts and Sciences and his lifelong love of Carolina athletics. The senior majors in public policy and economics in the College, plays for the men’s rugby team and is a founding father of Carolina’s Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity chapter.
An avid traveler, Weingast studied abroad in Dublin this spring. While enrolled at Trinity College Dublin, he explored downtown, played rugby, immersed himself in Irish history and connected with fellow study abroad students and local residents.
He says Tar Heel visitors can expect to encounter welcoming residents in Dublin.
“The people there are just so personable,” Weingast said. “Everyone you meet, even if you only talk to them for two minutes, they want to know about you. They’re curious and they’re incredibly friendly.”
Weingast recommends the Howth Cliff Walk for Tar Heels looking to venture beyond Dublin and take in Ireland’s coastal scenery. (Submitted photo)
Weingast’s Dublin tips
Pick up a spice bag: “This is an Irish delicacy that’s basically just French fries and chicken tenders mixed with sautéed peppers, onions and chili peppers. It’s so simple but so delicious.”
Visit Trinity College’s “Book of Kells” experience: “This is a collection of medieval manuscripts containing the four Latin Gospels, crafted around 800 AD. It’s a super tourist-heavy destination, but it’s worth it. I might be biased because it’s housed at Trinity College, but engaging with that kind of history is one of the things that makes Ireland so special.”
Trek Howth’s scenic trails: “Just outside of Dublin is this harbor town, and it’s gorgeous. It can be rainy in Ireland, but when you get a sunny day, you must walk these trails. It’s truly amazing.”
