Ireland Study Abroad

In even years (2024, 2026, etc.) Dr. Colleen Brady leads a study abroad trip to Ireland: ASEC 29000/ANSC 29500 (The Role of Horses in Irish Culture and Society, 3 credits).

Students spend 16-18 days in Ireland, typically from mid-May to early June. There are stops in Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, and Northern Ireland. About half of the trip centers around stops related to the horse industry (stud farms, working horse farms, horse races and shows, university equine programs, etc.). The other half of the trip includes stops at sites of historical and cultural importance (Newgrange, Giant’s Causeway, Kilmainham Gaol, Blarney Castle, Connemara, etc.).

In this trip, students will learn about Irish culture, compare the horse industries in Ireland and the United States (including management practices, the relative popularity of different breeds, and disciplines between the countries), and compare education programs for professionals and enthusiasts in each country.

Students’ complete assignments to prepare for the course, as well as when we are in country. For the final project students create digital stories that share their experiences and what they learned. A sample of one of these stories appears in the video below.