Seven Elms students took advantage of a study-abroad opportunity in June. They packed their cameras, notebooks and raincoats and on Thursday, June 5, met at the Irish Cultural Center, where members, family and friends wished them safe journey as they headed off for a two week immersion course in Ireland. During finals week Damien Murray received an email from a colleague at the Innisfree International College and Convention Centre, County Sligo, inviting the Program to send four students, all expenses paid, to Ireland for the course on Celtic Studies. They offered all participating students free accommodations, food, on-ground transportation, admission to all sites and three college credits via their affiliate, the National University of Ireland, Galway.

"We thought we’d have trouble finding people who could leave on such short notice. Instead, the problem was that we had so many students who wanted to go and we didn’t have the heart to turn them away," says Dr. Murray. "So we asked if they could extend the offer to seven students instead, and they very generously agreed. You’ve never seen such happy students!"

The course included instruction in Irish history, archaeology, literature and culture. Students were taught in classrooms and through a series of day-trips to museums and national heritage sites. When they aren’t in class or on a tour, they participated in any number of different activities, including learning Gaelic sports, hiking Ben Bulben or learning to surf off the Sligo coast. "It will be the experience of a lifetime," says Elms junior, Shannon Schickler. "Ireland is the one place I’ve always wanted to go."

The Irish Studies minor at Elms College is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes Irish history, literature and culture. Study abroad is an important component of the program. "I’m excited to learn about Ireland’s history through the eyes of the Irish people themselves," says Irish Studies minor, history major Melissa Fijal. "I’m really looking forward to this trip for that reason."