Limerick teens ditch Verona romance for thrills on the Alpine slopes

LIMERICK students touched down in Verona this weekend — the city of Romeo and Juliet, the eternal symbols of romance.

Sadly for Shakespeare though, love was not in the air.

Instead, the only thing these students were swooning over was the thought of carving up the slopes of the nearby Italian Alps.

READ MORE: Fundamental answers demanded over how case against Limerick gardai was 'ever allowed to proceed'

Schoolbags were gleefully ditched for ski gear as Shannon Airport turned into a hive of excitement on Saturday morning, with visions of snow, speed and après-ski dancing in their heads.

Verona may be famous for balcony scenes and broken hearts — but just a short journey away lies a winter playground. And that, the students are discovering this week, is the romance they really came for.

More than 160 Transition Year students from Castletroy College were on board a 2pm flight to northern Italy, from there travelling to the Folgarida and Marilleva Resort for a week of skiing, snow and adventure on the slopes.

It's all part of a new tie-up between Shannon Airport and Topflight for Schools to bring hassle-free local ski departures to local students.

Next week, more students from Limerick will take off to Verona's Villafranca Airport, with pupils at Ardscoil Mhuire joining in the fun!