Luck O' the Irish

In the spring semester of 2010, all my friends were lining up internships for the summer and fall. I immediately went into panic mode. I had barely just decided my major, never mind trying to get an internship which correlated to it. I immediately sent out e-mails to the department heads of History and Irish Studies. Luckily, both professors e-mailed me back many options and both suggested that I look into interning at the American Irish Historical Society, which reopened in March 2008 after a two year restoration and renovation. In addition, the Irish Studies department e-mailed me a list of scholarships in order to study abroad and research over the summer. I instantly started setting up interviews for internships and filling out scholarship applications.

After the interview process, I finally received word that I had received a spot as an intern for both over the summer and throughout the fall semester. The Society’s main function is to inform the world of the achievements of Irish Americans. Located across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the society has quickly turned into a national center of scholarship and culture. On my first day, I arrived and noted that I was not the only Ram there. The only other two interns were both Fordham students as well, one was from FCLC and the other was an alumni from FCRH.

Shortly after starting at the American Irish Historical Society, I received an e-mail from the Institute of Irish Studies at Fordham University, which alerted me that I had won 2010 Irish Language Scholarship, along with Colleen Taylor (FCRH 2012). The scholarship was funded in conjunction with the Irish government sent me and Colleen Taylor to study the Irish Language at the National University of Ireland, Galway from July 13th to August 15th.

We studied at the University’s well-known Irish Language Centre (Árus Mháirtín Uí Chadhain) in An Cheathrú Rua (Carraroe) in Connemara, Co. Galway. Connemara is one of Ireland’s largest Gaeltachtaí (Irish speaking districts) and it is vibrant and endowed with rich folk tradition. Colleen and I explored many of the aspects of the folk tradition through a series of guest lectures held every night. The town of An Cheathrú Rua in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht is the ideal location for learning Irish in its most natural environment. I am extremely grateful for both department heads at Fordham for helping me make my summer as exciting as possible.

For more information about internships and scholarships, visit the Institute of Irish Studies site!