Hi everyone! In just a little over a month, I am excited to head to Ireland to begin the Irish language summer immersion program hosted by NUIG. This summer, the first half of the program will be taught in Donegal and the second half will be taught in Galway. The late change in the program was unexpected after an anticipated month all in Galway, but I am thrilled to enjoy another gorgeous part of Ireland and meet even more Irish-speaking families that will help me to develop my comprehension and speaking skills further!
Personally, I have anticipated taking part in this program for quite some time after applying during both my freshman and sophomore years (I am now a rising senior), but being unable to attend due to COVID-19 complications. Of all the opportunities I have had at Notre Dame, learning Irish will always rank high among the top, and I am extremely grateful to be able to develop even more after four semesters of fantastic classroom preparation. Returning to Galway is especially exciting for me as I spent the Fall 2021 semester studying at NUIG and I am fairly familiar with the general region. I absolutely loved Connemara and left my semester wishing that I had spent more time in the area and surrounded by the Irish language, which I will now have the chance to do. My time at Notre Dame, both on campus and abroad, has always exceeded my expectations with richer and more fruitful experiences than I ever imagined and I anticipate that this adventure will pleasantly surprise me in the same way!