Overview

This program is designed to give Loras students opportunities to learn about Irish culture, literature and history while they are living in Dublin. It is an academic as well as an experiential program. Students will choose from courses in Irish cultural studies, literature and media. They will participate in excursions throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Location

Dublin, Ireland’s capital, is a world-class city with hosts of cultural and historical attractions. Dublin enjoys a vibrant musical and theatrical culture, and it is host to Ireland’s major museums and universities. Dublin has been home to eminent Irish such as Jonathan Swift, James Joyce, Sinead O’Connor and the rock bank U2. Dublin is an excellent place for the first-time visitor to Europe. Unlike larger, sprawling European cities such as London and Berlin, Dublin is manageable. You can walk from one end of the city centre to the other in about 20 minutes, and the public transportation system is efficient. Walking is a particular delight in Dublin. South of the Liffey (the river that splits the city in two), a walker can get a sense of old-world Dublin with its narrow, crooked streets, Georgian architecture and quaint neighborhoods. The area north of the Liffey is the commercial district. Here, the streets are wide and straight, and the cityscape is dotted with modern high rises. Recently, Dublin has enjoyed tremendous economic prosperity. Major multinationals such as IBM have moved in, and as a result, the city has become more cosmopolitan, but at the same time it has not lost that old-world Irish charm.

Academic Program

Students participating in this spring semester program will receive 15-18 academic credit hours. A Loras faculty member directs the program and teaches two classes. Additional courses are available to Loras students from an approved list of courses taught at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT). The IADT classes will be delivered jointly to Loras and IADT students. The Ireland program is open to students of all majors.