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22 Irish American News “We’ve AlWAys Been Green!” August 2011College in IrelandBy F. J. MahonTrinity College, DublinAmericans go to Ireland for manyreasons—the scenery, the golf, the culture,the heritage. And more and more, Americansgo to Ireland for college.Recognizing an ever-increasing desireof American students to spend part of theirhigher education in The Land of Saintsand Scholars, Ireland’s seven universities,located in Dublin, Cork, Galway, andLimerick, have joined forces and formedthe Irish University Association to markettheir institutions to American students,not just for a semester or two, but for theirentire college and postgraduate degrees.The IUA member universities are nowactively recruiting full-time Americanstudents, and Chicago students are ofparticular interest to Irish universities.“There are lots of good high schools inChicago, strong Irish American connections,and our Irish diaspora is very activein Chicago,” says current IUA Chair LouiseTobin. “We have already welcomedhigh school counselors to our universities.They are very interested in us because theyare trying to place their students in qualityuniversities.”Why should students consider going toIreland for higher education? “Key sellingpoints are the quality of degrees, theaffordability compared to U.S. colleges,and the experience of going to school inIreland,” says Tobin, adding, “The combinationof traditional aspects of Irisheducation enhanced by cutting-edge facilities,and the access to the rich culturalheritage of Ireland and its great naturalbeauty make the student experience onethat is very highly rated by our students.”Chicago personal injury attorney Devon C.Bruce, who attended University CollegeCork as an undergraduate in 1988, wasone those students. “Studying abroad inIreland was one of the most memorableand exciting times of my life,” Brucesays. “I made lifelong friends, and I urgeany student considering studying abroadto do so!”With the cost of tuition steadily risingin the U.S., college-bound students are increasinglytaking Bruce’s advice. “Highereducation in Ireland costs far less than itdoes in the U.S.,” explains Tobin, whoalso serves as Director of InternationalRecruitment at University College Cork.Law degrees, for example, are offered atundergraduate levels at some of the Irishuniversities. Students are not requiredto get an undergraduate degree prior togoing to law school in Ireland, and someundergraduate degrees require only threeyears of study. Cost of living in Irelandis also lower. In a recent survey of themost expensive major cities in the worldin which to live, Dublin ranked only 47th.Ireland’s other university cities are evencheaper to live in.Sinead Lucey, International EducationManager for the IUA, says that Irishuniversities started noticing that internationalstudents who spent part of theircollege education in Ireland would oftenreturn to do their post-graduate work.There has also been a growing number ofstudents coming to Ireland for their fullundergraduate degrees. These studentsrepresent the global community, not justIrish American students. Over 27,000international students from 114 countrieslive and study in Ireland. 8,000 of thosestudents are American, but not exclusivelyIrish Americans. “Students get anotherperspective on life, and skills to adaptin an ever-changing world,” says Lucey.“It’s about being able to interact with differentcountries, not just your hometownor your home country.” “UCC and Corkhave far exceeded my expectations,” saysAmerican student Megan Nethercut, whoreceived her undergraduate degree at UniversityCollege Cork. “It has really beenan excellent choice.”The IUA member universities alsoparticipate in the Erasmus Program, aninternational exchange student program,offering students who attend Irish universitiesthe opportunity to study at anotherEuropean school for up to a year at noadditional cost to the student.In Ireland, higher education is referredto as Third Level education. Graduateeducation is often referred to as FourthLevel. As it is in the U.S., a doctorateis the most advanced form of graduateeducation, and is defined by its goal: theadvancement of knowledge through originalresearch. The Irish universities arevery proud of their research opportunities.Ninety percent of the research facilitiesoffered to Irish university students arelocated in Ireland. These facilities receivemajor funding from Europe and the EU,a testament to the quality of the researchand of the doctoral programs.The seven universities that comprisethe IUA are the four Dublin universities,Trinity College Dublin, University CollegeDublin, Dublin City University, andNational University of Ireland, Maynooth,and the three universities in the westof Ireland, the University of Limerick,University College Cork, and NationalUniversity of Ireland, Galway. Each universityoffers internationally recognizedbachelors and masters degrees as well asdoctoral programs. Here is a brief descriptionof each school:Trinity College, DublinIreland’s oldest university was foundedin 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Locatedin the heart of Dublin, covering 47 acres,Trinity’s student community is comprisedof 16,500 students, 15% of which are internationalstudents representing over 90countries. Trinity is ranked in the top 10universities in Ireland and the UK. Over400 degrees and post graduates degreesare available. Trinity is home to the Bookof Kells, and 4.5 million other books.University College, DublinUCD is Ireland’s largest university, sittingon 350 acres 2.5 miles south of Dublincity center. Of its 24,000 students, 19%…Continued on Page 24Beautiful OceanfrontCottage in Dingle for rentRemodeled and furnished. 4 bedroom,4 bath with a fabulous viewof the ocean at the mouth of Dingleharbor. Short walk to beach and onlytwo miles from Dingle town. Sleeps8-10. Call Colleen 312-399-8793
August 2011 Irish American News “We’ve AlWAys Been Green!” 23Shamrock StarsOnce more I had the pleasure of beingone of the judges for the singing contest atthe Irish American Heritage Center Festival.These gifted children are remarkablesingers. Clare Sheedy and her sister,Maeve, both sang songs in Gaelic. Theirfuture is bright. Maeve took first place inthe Clover Group (under 12), and Clarewas second in the Shamrock Group (12and over), but it was very hard to choosebetween Clare and Mikayla Walsh, whosang “A Song for Ireland” and took firstplace. Mikayla took a first place a coupleof years ago singing, “Caledonia.”As a judge I’m a stickler on voice, lyrics,and stage presence. There were nolosers! Emmett Horn, Nicole Walsh, andElizabeth Lannon gave their very best.National Debt DefaultAre you sick of the finger pointing andthe blame game? We have a Mexicanstandoff, but to say that today is politicallyincorrect! Republicans won’t raisethe ceiling on the debt and won’t raisetaxes, as that would stifle job creation.They also want to go after entitlements,i.e., Medicare and Social Security, sincethey don’t have to rely on either onethemselves. These are the same peoplewho protected the major pharmaceuticalcompanies so Medicare couldn’t negotiateprescription drug prices.Whatever side of the aisle they sit onthey are all rotten to the core, yet theyjust voted themselves another $3,000 peryear raise. Social Security hasn’t had anincrease in two years. How about tighteningthe belts in Washington? Whatevercompromise they reach will leave roomfor them to blame the other party forwhatever they do to entitlements.Joe Biden, VPHe came to town and said the Republicansare attacking the unions. Iunderstand thatthe state failedto pay into thepension trustfund, and nowwe start playingthe blamegame all overagain. Reportedly, this all started withthe Thompson administration and hasbeen ongoing since. Look on both sidesof the aisle again. There are no choirboys in Springfield, IL. The Democratsrely heavily on the unions for votes andcampaign funds. Are the unions gettingthe shaft? They negotiate contracts andexpect that the terms of those contractsbe fulfilled. For union members workingin the public sector, state, county, ormunicipal, you are at the mercy of thegovernment to raise taxes to cover thosecosts. If you are a union worker in the privatesector you simply get laid off if thereis no work. Why is there no work? Letsnot rehash the collapse of the financialmarkets or get into the Senator BarneyFrank or Senator Christopher Dodd FannieMae and Freddie Mac fiasco! The nexttime they talk about the American Dream,remember, the definition of a dream is animprobable wish.Mayor Rahm EmanuelHe’s stirring the pot, and I think wardpolitics are never going to be the same.It would seem everything is on the table.Now he is butting heads with the unions.That could impact the election in 2012…I hope!Power FailureThe big storm on July 11th knockedout the power at the IAHC for two days.That postponed the Irish AmericanHeritage Center board meeting for oneweek. The annual election of officerstook place on Monday, July 18th. Thenew officers are: John Gorski, President,John O’Malley, Vice President, Fr. JamesO’Brien, Treasurer, Meghan Curran,Secretary.Chicago Flash MobsHave there been any impassionedspeeches by Jesse Jackson Sr. or Jr., Fr.Joe MonahanSinger/GuitaristIrish/American FolkCountry & Westernmonahanmusic.comPflaeger, Louis Farrakan, CongressmanDanny Davis, or the Black leadershipother than this statement. This kind ofactivity has been going on on the Westside and the South side of Chicago foryears, but the media doesn’t report it.When gangs of Black teenagers invadeMichigan Avenue stores it becomes newsworthy.Many individuals have had theiripods, cell phones, and electronic devicesstolen because they are easily convertedto cash. You can get robbed anywhere—on the street, public transportation—thereis no safety zone anywhere. Once againwe will hear about economic deprivationand how it impacts the Black community.Unfortunately, that is true. But, when dopeople decide they can commit crimeslike this and justify it in their own minds.They are the victims of society. Thereis new violence in Boys Town with twostabbings in the last week, again, withBlack gangs involved.The Cloyne ReportThe whole sex abuse wound has festeredagain. Victims are calling for theVatican to strip Bishop John McGee, andMonsignor Denis O’Callaghan of theirtitles. The Murphy Commission reportsaid these two repeatedly failed to reportabuse to the civil authorities.Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, putthe Vatican on notice. He called on theVatican to repeat its commitment thatcivil law will always be followed. “TheIrish-Catholic Church and the Vaticanhas faced severe criticism over repeatedattempts to deal with incidents of abusebehind closed doors, rather than by handingover suspects to the Garda Siochána.”“The law of the land will not be stopped byCrosier, or by Collar,” said Enda Kenny.Deputy PM, Eamon Gilmore said, “thereis one law in this country. Everyone isgoing to have to learn to comply with it.The Vatican will have to comply with thelaws of this country.” Excerpts are fromthe UK Guardian in an article by HenryMcDonald.Lixnaw WeddingOn August 6th, Maire McCarthy, fromAhabeg East will marry Nigel O’Learyfrom Causeway at St. Michael’s Church.FINANCIAL PLANNINGCorrigan Financial Services, Inc.Money Concepts Financial Planning CentreEstablished 1980Retirement Planning SpecialistforIndividuals - Families - BusinessInvestment - Tax - Estate PlanningCallMike & Chuck Corrigan(708)482-3800Member International Association for Financial PlanningTREE SERVICEOriginal Kenʼs▪ Tree Trimming▪ Tree Removal▪ Stump Removal▪ Bush Trimming▪ Bush RemovalFREE ESTIMATE773-600-6443The BEST inCAREGIVERSHOUSEKEEPERSBABY SITTERSOver 20 years in BusinessWe have solutionsto your specific needsOur pricing and qualityare outstandingCall ElizabethFriendly Domestic Agency773-545-7776Serving the 6 county areareferences on requestO L DORL ANDINSURANCEA GENCY, INC.Since 1946“We sell Peace Of Mind.”HOME • LIFE • AUTO • HEALTH • BUSINESSALL TYPES OF CONTRACTORS14308 Union Orland Park, IL 60462708-349-2000You’ll LoveOur FloralDispaysgarlandflowers@yahoo.com
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Catie Keogh - Irish American News

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