Arcadia Ireland

It is that time again! We are building up to our new Academic Year 2023-24 where Fall Semester and full year students are frantically preparing for their Semester in Ireland! This also means planning of all our events and what a line-up we have! Recently I heard a professor talk about the city as a classroom where students could be educated outside of the parameters of four walls. I was able to identify with this when I thought about our Engage with the Culture, Co-Curricular events! Lets jump right in and tell you all about them!

Following a whirlwind of orientations and welcome events we will give you

Pobal (Pron. Pub ill)- Community: Ferry and Day visit to Aran Islands

Pobal means Community in the Irish language! A day trip to the Aran Islands by ferry is an unforgettable experience that combines scenic beauty, rich cultural heritage, and a different perspective on Irish rural Community life.  

The Aran Islands are steeped in history and tradition, and this becomes evident as you stroll along the narrow lanes bordered by traditional thatched cottages. The air is filled with the melodies of the Gaelic language spoken by the locals, adding to the sense of authenticity.

Nature's beauty is on full display here. On Inis Mór, you can embark on a leisurely hike or rent a bicycle to traverse the island's enchanting landscapes. The iconic stone fort of Dún Aonghasa perched on a cliff's edge offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, leaving you in awe of nature's grandeur.

Next up is a skip and a hop to the West of Ireland for our Éalu weekend

This is our feature event of the semester. Ealu - an Irish word meaning escape - perfectly describes this event. All Arcadia students in Ireland will assemble in the beautiful County Clare to spend a weekend together with Arcadia staff. We’ll hike, kayak, dance, sight see, and acquire a greater appreciation for rural Irish life. Perhaps most important is the time to bond with the Arcadia community in this timeless landscape.

We always feel it is important to celebrate our region and our very strong connections with our team in England and Scotland. That means that each Semester one of us hosts what has become known as our "Regional Event". This time we are inviting our lovely colleagues and students from London and Scotland to join our Ealu weekend! Bring it on! 

Then from the West to the North to think about something completely different! 

Giant’s Causeway and Belfast City 

We will begin our journey up North to the Giant’s Causeway. The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast is a spectacular area of global geological importance on the sea coast at the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. The most characteristic and unique feature of the site is the exposure of some 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal columns of basalt in perfect horizontal sections, forming a pavement. This dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. Celebrated in the arts and in science, it has been a visitor attraction for at least 300 years and has come to be regarded as a symbol for Northern Ever since travel bible Ireland.

We then continue on to Belfast. Lonely Planet named Belfast as one of its best locations to visit in 2018, and this often misunderstood city has gone to the top of everyone’s must-visit list. Local Academic Professor Dominic Bryan from Queens University will guide Arcadia staff and students through Belfast, pointing out unique Victorian neighbourhoods, modern flourishes and contextualising the plethora of political murals covering many public and private buildings.  While the scars of the “Troubles” will be featured, we will also see that Belfast is now a forward looking cultural hub.

In addition to all of the above there will be pumpkin carving, photo contests, Thanksgiving week celebrations, hot chocolates, Christmas movies and lots more!

Excited? We are!!