Arcadia Ireland

Arcadia Ireland has planned an exciting lineup of events for this coming Spring Semester! From hill walking and kayaking to Irish cooking and sustainable shopping for St. Patrick's Day, our events will bring you closer to Ireland’s heart!  Pack your warm coats and your comfortable walking shoes because this semester is packed full of fun and engagement designed to dive deep into Ireland’s legendary beauty.

Our innovative Irish co-curricular activities derive from the following themes:

• Active Ireland
• Global/Innovation Ireland
• Spiritual Ireland
• Local Ireland
• Sustainable Ireland. 

We thoughtfully present students with opportunities to engage with Irish life and culture while overseas.  Don't let obstacles prevent you from stepping outside your comfort zone....we are here to encourage and support you along the way!  

Here's some of what’s on offer in Spring 2022

Our Ealu weekend - the star of the show! (Open to all students)

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.

50 shades of Green: Sustainable St. Patrick’s Day Outfit Design (Open to all students)

To prepare sustainably for St. Patrick's Day, we encourage students to recycle their way to their best Irish selves.  Arcadia staff will take you on a magical mystery tour of our favourite local charity and second hand clothing shops in Galway, Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Belfast and see what unfolds. Prizes for the best outfits put together for under €25!

Local Culture Trails (Open to all students)

These events are all about local learning!  You’ll be taken on a journey - sometimes by foot, sometimes by bike - to explore places of local significance in and around your Irish campus.  You’ll discover new neighbourhoods, streets and shops that you never knew existed!  Churches, museums, bridges and mummies, oh my!  Students will chat away with Arcadia staff while new delights appear before your eyes.

Croagh Patrick Climb (Galway, Limerick, Burren College of Art)

Climb Ireland's Holy Mountain with Arcadia!  Croagh Patrick (pronounced Croke Patrick) stands at 764m (2,507ft) and is the third highest peak in Mayo, after Mweelrea and Nephin.  Coragh Patrick is best known for its association with Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, who is said to have fasted for 40 days and banished snakes from the land at the summit in 441 AD.   Croagh Patrick, or known locally as ‘the Reek’, has been a pilgrimage destination since pre-Christian times and attracts international pilgrims of all faiths and backgrounds.  Join Arcadia and engage with the sacred and the secular. 

The route is 7km (4.3 miles) long, round-trip; bring sturdy boots, rain-gear and layers, as the temperature can be much lower at the top, and the wind can be quite strong.

Belfast and Titanic Tour (Dublin, Maynooth, Belfast)

Ever since travel bible Lonely Planet named Belfast as one of its best locations to visit in 2018, this often misunderstood city has gone to the top of everyone’s must-visit list.  Local academic Dr Therese Cullen will start off the day in guiding Arcadia staff and students throughout 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.

That afternoon students head to the Titanic Quarter for one of Europe’s most loved attractions!!

Located in the heart of Belfast, Titanic Belfast is a world-leading visitor attraction that features nine interpretive and interactive galleries depicting the creation and demise of the famous ocean liner.  Together we will explore the sights, sounds and smells of RMS Titanic, which was built in Belfast, as well as the city and people who grew up with her.

Day trip from Belfast to The Giant's Causeway (Belfast students)

One of the most stunning drives is along the Antrim Coast and on to the Giant's Causeway! This is Northern Ireland’s most iconic attraction, including the country’s only UNESCO World Heritage site “the mighty Giant’s Causeway”. Together we will learn about the Giant who created the Causeway (if you believe that kind of thing!!) and marvel at the beauty of the Antrim Coast.  This excursion cannot be missed!

Excited yet? Don't forget to follow registration links and sign up for these events in the Arcadia Portal!