Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

Hello friends!
My name is Katie Gilkey, and I am studying abroad from the United States at the University of Limerick (UL), Ireland! This is an incredible country, and UL is the perfect place to spend a semester abroad if you are looking for a place that doesn’t have a big city vibe, but still gives you lots of opportunities! By being located on the West Coast of Ireland, you can easily access many of Ireland’s most treasured sights, all while receiving a fantastic education, among some of the friendliest people! Thank you for reading this blog and I pray that it can make you excited for new adventures!

I am approaching the end of my semester abroad, which is evoking a wide range of emotions in me. I am so excited to go home, but there are abundant blessings at UL, and I am not ready to leave that behind. When I first arrived on campus, I was feeling overwhelmed and uneasy. I knew that I needed to find an outlet and a way to spend the free time that I had at the beginning of the semester. One of the promoted events at the beginning of the school year was a “UL Wolves: Clubs & Societies Fair,” and I got curious…

Upon my arrival at the fair, I was extremely overstimulated. There were booths of clubs and societies EVERYWHERE – not to mention props, costumes, and people walking up to you to tell you about the organization that they represent! Though it was a lot to take in, it was very informational, and every club and society was ready to welcome me with open arms. The hardest thing was having to say “no” because I wanted to be in all of them! They have incredible missions, opportunities, and available experiences – especially for people who are away from home and need to meet new people!

By opening yourself up to the possibility of joining clubs and societies, you inadvertently allow yourself to meet people who share similar interests and values, which could lead to lifelong friendships! There are 34 clubs that are mainly based around athletics and movement. From Archery and Football to Windsports and the Sub Aqua Club, there is no limit to what you can be involved with. Additionally, there are another 38 societies that span a range from Yoga and the Christian Union to Theater and Aeronautics! The amount of clubs and societies available to you are endless!

When I realized how many clubs I wanted to take part in (it was like 9), I knew that I needed to take a step back and consider my options carefully. There is only so much of me, and I wanted to really take care of myself mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally this semester. So I decided that I would narrow it down to one and join. I purposefully pushed myself out of my comfort zone and joined: The Environmental Society.

At first, I was a little unsure if this was exactly where I wanted to spend my time, but I was quickly welcomed into their community and began a journey of growth and learning! We have done a variety of activities including: a tree blitz (going around the UL campus and identifying all of the types of trees), walks, river surveys, giving out bicycle lights and bright vests, presentations, trips, table quiz nights, and we even had Dr. Simon Berrow come to give us an enlightening presentation on Whales, Dolphins and Basking Sharks: The Importance of Ireland’s Coastal Waters! I can say with certainty that I have
learned so much about the environment, how to care for it, and developed a passion for all things nature!

Being a part of this society has been a tremendous experience, and I am so thankful that I decided to join…I highly recommend! Side note…in some societies (including the Environmental society), you can earn President Volunteer Award (PVA) hours, which is something that can benefit you
greatly! You earn hours by volunteering your time and receive this award, which gets put on your transcript and can be used on your personal resume/CV!

No matter where you are from or what your interests are, there is something for you at UL! Please keep an open mind and an open heart when considering how you may be able to be involved in activities and have loads of fun while you are away from home! This has been a truly blessed experience for me, and I hope that you, too, find that to be true!
Happy Thoughts,
Katie Gilke