Emerald Isle interns

Notre Dame students access a world of experiential learning in Ireland

By University of Notre Dame

May 1^st, 2023

The University’s presence in Ireland affords students an opportunity to advance their studies in virtually every discipline. Here are just two examples.

Father Collins Park

Kyle Bass ’23 and Brendan McFeely ’23 worked to assess sustainable urban planning practices at Dublin’s Father Collins Park.

Brendan McFeely (left) and Kyle Bass (right)

It’s Dublin’s first “sustainable” park, built in a rapidly growing suburban area. Wind turbines power the path lights, sports club change rooms, and fountain.

The wetlands in the park provide buffer for water runoff and flooding, limiting damage to the structures being built around it.

Working with fellow students from Dublin City University, Bass and McFeely measured aspects of the wetland habitat, including the kinds of wildlife and plant life that thrive in the area. In addition, they learned about differences between the municipal and federal governments’ roles in creating these kinds of spaces. The team collaborated with DCU and Notre Dame students working in South Bend, comparing notes and experiences about how governing bodies approach climate change and their role in it.

National Museum of Ireland

Kendra Lyimo ’25 and Shannon Kelly ’25 studied at the National Museum of Ireland. Their work centered on an exhibit called “The Way We Wore.”

For Kelly, it was a visual representation of her studies as an Irish language and literature major. During the Celtic Revival of the 19th century, rural Ireland was looked to as a source of “true” Irish culture. This included the clothing the residents wore. In the 1800s, many rural Irish made their own clothing, harvesting wool and flax and fashioning the garments themselves.Colors and styles were sometimes chosen as a form of subtle protest of British rule. Other pieces were family heirlooms or wedding gifts. Kelly said this shows much more intentionality and cultural currency in the fashions of the day than previously thought.

But the lessons are not confined to the 19th century. Kendra Lyimo is studying how this period of Irish dress is influencing high fashion today. She’s finding some surprising connections that shed new light on what it means to be “Irish.”