Arcadia Ireland

Recently we were delighted to welcome a team of staff from the University of South Carolina to Ireland. As part of a week long visit, Arcadia met the group in Galway in the West of Ireland. Arcadia U.S. staff John Wells and Melissa Chambers along with Dublin staff Tom Kelley & Gráinne Hand led a tour of the "City of the Tribes", Galway. As we wandered down Quay Street and Shop Street and across Eyre Square, we were able to feel the positive energy that our students based there often talk about. Galway is a young and vibrant City where students make up 20% of the population.

As part of the visit we were entertained by Gerry Connelly a talented Irish Storyteller. Over a dinner at the well known and highly popular Galway venue Munroes, Gerry spoke about the tradition of one the world’s oldest form of entertainment. The Irish word for storytelling is Seanchai, meaning a bearer of “old lore” or “old thoughts”. Gerry provided us with words that engaged our imagination allowing us to create our own personal experience of Irish History and Folklore.

We visited a group of staff at NUIG (National University of Ireland Galway) to learn about all the University. NUIG is one of Ireland's most prestigious multi-disciplinary universities, with a distinguished record in teaching and research. Hopefully our discussion and walk around campus gave everyone an opportunity to see why so many students choose this University.