Spring Break in Ireland Highlights Agriculture and Heritage
The “Agriculture in Ireland” Spring Break 2025 program was led by Dr. Celina Gomez and Jane Wiercioch. The 25 student Boilermakers included the following in their highlights: Cliffs of Moher, tours of JJ O’Sullivan’s dairy farm, Mungo Murphy’s Seaweed and Abalone Farm, Rigney’s free-range pork and granola production, National Irish Stud, Skibbereen Heritage Center, St. Patrick’s Day in Cork and the city of Galway.
After studying abroad in Costa Rica during her freshman Spring Break, sophomore Jenna Kelsay (Agribusiness; Franklin, IN) was ready for another Spring Break adventure! She shared, “With a larger emphasis on smaller, family farms, I found this trip very motivating. Every farmer we met is very creative in finding value-added products and additional revenue streams to differentiate themselves as a business.” Jenna added, “This experience brought my coursework to life! Many subjects I have studied in school had real-world applications while on the study abroad. It also opened my mind to different practices and ideas I would’ve never thought of!”
Junior Hayvn Meihls (Agribusiness; West Point, IN) spent Spring Break 2024 in Florence, Italy, and decided she, too, wanted another opportunity to see the world! She summarized her highlights, “Galway had such a fun and vibrant atmosphere—it was full of life, music and local charm. I loved exploring the shops and trying authentic Irish food. The Cliffs of Moher were breathtaking. Standing on the edge and looking out over the ocean was one of the most peaceful and awe-inspiring moments of the trip. And as someone passionate about horses, visiting the National Irish Stud was a dream come true. Seeing how they care for and breed such high-quality horses, especially in a country with such deep equine traditions, was incredibly exciting and meaningful for me.”
Having never been out of the country or even flown, senior Kate Spurgeon (Farm Management; Columbus, IN) was grateful for “many kindhearted students and advisors that made the international airport process seem so effortless.” As someone who grew up helping on her grandparents’ dairy farm, she will never forget seeing the first-generation dairy across the ocean with the beautiful green rolling hills in the distance.
Katie summarized her favorite moment of the trip, “We visited the Skibbereen Heritage Center, where we learned about the Irish Famine during 1845-1847. This was my top memory, though it was so sad to hear what great suffering the people of Ireland went through. I found that learning the truth about the past from a passionate historian was so impactful for me; it created a full circle in understanding the reason I am at Purdue and the purpose of the trip. It highlighted the ultimate reason why Agriculture is important: to provide substance. The famine also echoed the importance of worldwide political relationships and policies. I am a firm believer in paying close attention to our world’s history and actively being cautious, for doing so will be the only way to prevent history from repeating itself.” She concluded, “It’s never too late to study abroad, and if you do, be ready to make memories that you will never forget!”