Irish universities head to Boston to tout opportunities

Ed Forry

At BC High on Sunday, April 6
By Ed Forry
Admissions officials from five Irish universities will be in Boston early this month to hold an open house to market the opportunities the schools offer to American students.
Education in Ireland will host a free admissions information event for students, parents, and high school college counselors from the greater Boston area, according to Kevin O’Brien of Enterprise Ireland, who said the event will provide “all you need to know” about studying at an Irish university.”
The session is set for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this coming Sunday, April 6, at BC High on Morrissey Blvd. The admissions representatives will hail from Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Limerick, Dublin City University, and University College Cork.

O’Brien said the program is targeting prospective students for full-time admission as well as for graduate-level studies and semester-abroad programs
Caela Provost, a young woman from Winchendon, MA, who took her degree at Marist College in New York and as an undergrad spent a semester abroad at the University of Limerick, chose to return to Limerick to earn a master’s in English. She wrote an online blog posting about her experience:
“You’d think after spending a full six months in Ireland when I was 21, and then coming back for my postgraduate education, that I’d be able to quickly and eloquently give a definitive reason telling you why I chose to attend university in Ireland. The truth is – I can’t.
 However, this inability to give you a straightforward reason for studying here should by no means tell you that I can’t think of something good to say about my education, and has little to do with the fact that my mind may or may not be swimming with the content of three research papers due in two weeks or so.
“No… the reason I am struggling is because I really can’t seem to put into words how incredibly ecstatic I am to have been afforded the opportunity to study here. I could tell you I chose to come here because of the unbelievably breathtaking landscapes and views. Even on rainy days (which do occur here from time to time), everything is green, vibrant, and full of life. I could tell you I chose to come here because of Ireland’s rich history. How whenever I walk down the streets of Limerick I discover something different and interesting, or how every day I learn something new even when I’m not in class. I could tell you that I chose to come here for the amazing education offered at my school. I get to not only heighten my knowledge and love of literature, but also broaden it by reading and writing about new ideas from a different culture. I could tell you that I chose to come here because for some reason, a reason not even I can put my finger on, I feel safe here in Ireland. I feel welcomed by everyone I meet, and I feel at home.

“I could tell you all these things and I’d still feel like I’m missing something. I guess the best thing I can say to all of you is this: I knew I was taking a risk in coming to Ireland to study. What I didn’t know was that the risk I took in coming here would turn into one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Ireland has been an adventure – my adventure, and that choice is one I wouldn’t change for the world.”
Caela was named an “Education in Ireland Student Ambassador” in 2013. (educationinireland.com). The program is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish state agency responsible for the international marketing and promotion of Irish higher education institutions. The agency is responsible for promoting, developing, and branding Ireland’s international higher education offerings.