Reflections on Mercyhurst in Ireland

So I’m sitting here in Erie, in my office at Mercyhurst College, and I’m reflecting on my time in Dungarvan. I spent close to 5 weeks with a group of incredibly curious and dedicated students, amazing colleagues, and a wealth of new friends in Ireland. As I sit here now, I am asking myself what could have been better, or what might have made the experience richer. It may sound hard to believe, but I’m hard pressed to think of any ways to improve on the experience we had. Things can always be tweaked, and I’m sure things will change as this program continues to move forward, but this first year, I think, couldn’t have been better. All the people involved on both sides of the pond were amazing. Students and faculty came away from Dungarvan changed. We grew, matured, and learned. Before we departed Dungarvan we hosted a final reception to offer our thanks to the people of Dungarvan. We presented plaques and certificates, sang songs, and gave speeches. It could in no way fully express our gratitude or compensate for the memories we will take with us. Mercyhusrt in Ireland. It’s a transformational experience.

Bouncy Castles and High Kings

It must be in our bones, or maybe our “deep heart’s core” to steal a line from Yeats. Mercyhurst students reach out to the community wherever they are. Really, it seems to be a part of who they are. They serve, even without being asked to do so.
Since arriving in Dungarvan students have visited a local nursing home, cleaned up a graveyard (with Keiko Miller), visited the local Sisters of Mercy, helped staff events at the Waterford Festival of Food, and they recently worked parking cars for a community concert starring The High Kings while simultaneously keeping the town’s little ones in order on “Bouncy Castles.” They volunteer for service and feel good about doing it. I couldn’t be more delighted. They are representing us well.

St. Augustine's & Good Council

We recently were treated to tours of St. Augustine’s College and Good Council College in Dungarvan and New Ross respectively. These are two schools that have been sending students to Mercyhurst over the years, and they are proud of their relationship with us and of the accomplishments of their students who graduated from Mercyhurst. It was a day of good feeling and more Irish Hospitality. After a grand “Full Irish” breakfast at St. Augustine’s we toured the school, took some photographs and met some of the staff. Then we were off to Good Council in New Ross, where we ate a great lunch of fresh salmon or beef with potatoes, vegetables, soup, brown bread, and some outrageous desserts. Here we also met 2 impressive young lads who have applied to Mercyhurst and who are hopefully awaiting their acceptance. (Our students remembered their own time awaiting to hear from their college of choice.) Past Mercyhurst alums from Good Council were on hand as well as the staff. It was a great chance for us all to connect.