Arcadia Ireland

Summer 2023 Co-Curricular Events

We are so happy to be at this stage of the year once again!  The mornings are bright and the evenings are long, the trees are in full bloom, grass is greener than ever in Ireland. This can only mean one thing, Summer! Here at Arcadia in Ireland we are building up to meeting our new summer students in Ireland! This also means planning 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. What better way to learn more about Ireland and dive deeper into the culture than participating in our co-curricular events!

All of our events are inspired by the Irish word “Pobal” which means Community in the Irish language! We work hard to create an inclusive, innovative programme with the Arcadia community at the center. You may just make friends for life in all of this but most of all you will feel connected to others this special time in your lives!  

Our first events are our Ealu day in June. Ealu means escape which we think perfectly describes this event.  We’ll take you to one of Ireland’s favourite visitor experiences & tourist attractions, the Cliffs of Moher tower over the rugged West County Clare coast. Visually spectacular, the Cliffs of Moher sit astride the striking landscape of the Burren on one side and the Wild Atlantic Ocean on the other. Rising out of the Atlantic waters to a height of over 700ft at O’Brien’s Tower and running along the coast of Clare for almost 14 kilometres, or 8 miles, the Cliffs of Moher were formed over 320 million years ago, and today form part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

Next up is a little trip over to the neighbouring Doolin Village.  Doolin (Irish: Dúlainn) is a coastal village in County Clare, Ireland, on the Atlantic coast. It is southwest of the spa town of Lisdoonvarna and 4 miles from the Cliffs of Moher. It is a noted centre of traditional Irish music, which is played nightly in its pubs, making it a popular tourist destination. We will sample the local cuisine at the much-loved O’Connor’s pub!

Riverdance is next up!

I can still remember very well the first night of Riverdance. It was 1995, at the annual Eurovision and Irish dance was about to be revolutionized forever! An audience in the venue and in living rooms around Ireland and Europe were stunned and seduced by the talent of two Irish dancers and their troop. Nobody had seen Irish dance performed like this before. It had moved from the traditional sometimes even rigid and strict dance with hands tucked neatly by sides into something glamorous and stylish and innovative. Jean Butler and Michael Flatley were young and vibrant and were surrounded by a team of young glamorous dancers in a production that would not only amaze Irish people but change the style of Irish dance forever. As the sounds and lyrics of “Cloudsong” began shivers ran down my spine.  Riverdance was truly born that night.

Now, twenty-five years later, Riverdance is still going strong. Those who weren't even born when it made its debut, are now part of the troop.  Riverdance continues to tells the story of people moving to new places and changing over time, taking their dances and their stories with them. The show has been experienced live by over 25 million people worldwide. There have been over 11,000 performances in over 467 venues in 46 countries across 6 continents. That's some dancing!

This Summer we will invite our Dublin based students to the show!  Our students over the last decade have enjoyed this production at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. From what I’ve been reading the Gaiety is one of the smaller stages they have performed on. Each year there will be a subtle difference to the costumes or choreography and of course the team but it never seems to disappoint.

Pride celebrations in Summer

As well as all the Pride Celebrations happening across Ireland during the last part of June, we also want to invite you to a Pride Movie and Pizza night at the Dublin Center. Bring along a cushion if you can and get comfy on the floor! Your night, you’re movie choice. A few days before we will ask you to send us in your movie selections to screen at the Arcadia Dublin Centre!

Irish National Stud and Gardens (Limerick based students)

Ireland’s horse heritage has developed from folklore, legends & High Kings to a place where the story of the horse is embedded within our DNA. Since the establishment of the stud in 1916, our evolution has coincided with the progression of Ireland’s world-class Thoroughbred industry.

Located in the heart of the Thoroughbred county, Co. Kildare, we welcome you to enter this land of horses, trees, and gardens & celebrate the wonders of nature.

Watch out for updates on how to sign up!!! 

Excited? We are!!