This summer, Dr. Niall Buckley and Dr. Martin Lockerd of the William J. Flynn Center for Irish Studies took a group of 10 University of St. Thomas students to Ireland for three weeks as part of a class titled “Irish Literature and History in Context.”
“For most of our students, it was their first expedition outside of the U.S.,” Dr. Buckley said. “To get the opportunity to see my native isle anew, from their eyes, was a most precious privilege. From the changeless cobblestone of Trinity College Dublin to the colossal cliffs of Moher, through the beguiling bogs of Connemara, and the liberating Lake Isle of Innisfree we trod the footsteps of many a saint and scholar, fulfilling our commission –Crescamus in Christo– along the way.”
In Dublin, the students stayed in accommodations at the beautiful Trinity College. For three days, they visited the city’s museums, attended a play at the famous Abbey Theatre and toured sites of special importance to the history of the Irish fight for independence. From there, they proceeded to Galway, where they basked in the electric atmosphere of the annual Galway Arts festival and toured the ruggedly beautiful Aran Islands.
Next, the students headed north to County Sligo, stopping along the way to pray at the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock. In Sligo, the students attended the annual International W. B. Yeats Summer School, where they studied the Yeats’s life and work amidst the breathtaking natural beauty that inspired some of the poet’s most memorable works.
“This is the fourth time I have taken students to the Yeats Summer School, and it never disappoints,” Dr. Lockerd noted. “It’s a serious and intellectually demanding program of lectures, seminars, and readings, but our students proved themselves more than adequate to the task. I was delighted to see them share the fruits of their exceptional UST education with students and professors from around the world.”
The trip concluded with several days in Belfast. While there, the students deepened their study of the late 20th-century sectarian conflict known as “The Troubles” and learned about the essential and ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts in Northern Ireland. Their guide was the Rev. Bill Shaw, retired director of the 174 Trust, an interdenominational non-profit focused on promoting peace in Northern Ireland.
Student Julia Colvin (‘27) said studying abroad in Ireland was one of the best experiences she has had during her time at UST.
“The trip deepened my appreciation for and understanding of Irish culture, and our pilgrimages to Knock and Sligo’s Holy Well aided in my faith formation,” she said. “Additionally, the natural beauty of Ireland is incomparable to any place I have experienced, and I am so grateful for the friendships I formed with my classmates. I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves history, literature, beauty, or all of the above!”
Every year, the Flynn Center for Irish Studies raises scholarship funds so that any student who wishes to can study abroad in Ireland regardless of financial constraints. Students were also generously supported with funds from the Bishop Joseph McCarthy Scholarship and the Joseph and Norma McFadden Scholarship.
Anyone interested in supporting the important work of the Flynn Center can learn more about our annual fundraiser, the Irish Gala online at stthom.edu/irishgala. For more upcoming Flynn Center events, visit their social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.