Arcadia Ireland

I had hoped to get this update out to you all a little earlier, but as often happens, time slipped away—and Summer seemed to fly by even faster than usual this year! The past few months were wonderfully full, and it’s only now that we’ve had a moment to pause and reflect on everything that has happened.

As many of you know, we currently run four distinct Summer programmes in Ireland: our UCD and UL STEM programmes, our three-week Limerick programme, and our Arcadia Internship programme. Each one brought its own unique opportunities for learning, exploration, and connection, and together they made for a truly memorable Summer.

Our Internship programme continues to grow in exciting ways. A core element of this experience is the INPR (Core Internship) class, which this year took students to the EPIC Museum in Dublin, where they engaged with the powerful stories of Irish emigration and the many global contributions of the Irish abroad. Students studying Entrepreneurship had the chance to travel to Dundalk IT for a networking event with local students, taking a deeper look at Ireland’s thriving innovation sector. While in Dundalk, they also visited Creative Spark, a vibrant hub for creativity and enterprise that left a strong impression on everyone.

Meanwhile, our Modern Literature students brought their studies to life with a celebration of Bloomsday, honoring James Joyce’s lasting legacy, and also delved into Ireland’s complex history with a visit to the Kilmainham Gaol Museum.

One of the highlights of the summer for our staff was attending the STEM exhibitions at UCD and UL. These showcases were genuinely inspiring, as students presented projects that ranged from cutting-edge research to practical, real-world solutions. It was a privilege to witness such creativity, skill, and innovation from the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers.

No Irish summer would be complete without our annual Éalú trip to the west, which once again offered students the chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm community spirit that make it such a treasured experience.

We were also delighted to introduce something new this year—a final networking event for students in the Internship programme. Workplace supervisors joined us to celebrate the students’ accomplishments, creating a meaningful and memorable conclusion to the summer’s work.

By the middle of next week we will step into the Fall Semester and have the honour of continuing to build a strong Arcadia Community in Ireland. Bring it on! Wishing you all the best from Gráinne, Ellen, Abby and Monica!