| The Irish Way Endures
 The Irish
Way, a summer abroad study program, which brings Irish-American students
to Ireland, marked its 30th anniversary this year.
The brainchild of Dr. Eoin McKiernan, the founder of the Irish American
Cultural Institute (IACI), the program allows high
school students to experience Irish culture, learn Gaelic, see some
famous sites, and stay with a host family in Ireland.
Almost three thousand students have taken part in the program over the
years. This year, 75 students started out
in Dublin with a week of classes
interspersed with field trips to nearby attractions.
In their second week, the students were hosted by Irish families and
given a real flavor of life in an Irish home. Week three was devoted to
more classes, this time in Waterford, which served as home base for the
group as they explored attractions including Blarney Castle and the
world-famous Waterford Crystal factory.
Another milestone was reached this
summer when the students visited Northern Ireland for the first time.
“This was the experience most of
the students were talking about,” Deirdre McGuinness, IACI membership
coordinator, explains.
The late Eoin McKiernan, a long-time friend and contributor to Irish
America magazine, was a big advocate of educating younger generations of
Irish-Americans about their heritage. The IACI’s first patron was
Princess Grace of Monaco, and, over the years, the program has formed a
lasting community of alumni, staff and students; in fact, almost the
entire staff each year are alumni.
It is this close connection that helps keep The Irish Way traveling.
“Former students still communicate with each other,” says McGuinness,
“Though some have gone on to work at the American Embassy in Ireland,
and on Capitol Hill, they always have The Irish Way somewhere in their
background.”
McGuinness admits that the rise in international student programs is
making it more difficult for The Irish Way to find host families, but
says “We really do our best and always find a way.”
Hopefully, The Irish Way will continue to build bridges between the
youth of America and Ireland for years to come.
If you want to know more about The Irish Way e-mail Deirdre McGuinness
at dmcguinness@iaci-usa.org or write to
The Irish American Cultural Institute, 1 Lackawanna Place, Morristown,
N.J. 07960. Tel: 973 605 1991.
– Anneliese Mondscheim |
