Celtic Irish American Academy is an International Summer School for US High School students in Ireland. It runs for two weeks each July in Salthill, Galway.
Students engage in an intellectually stimulating and deeply enriching exploration of the unique bonds between the United States and Ireland and also their own position as emerging Global Citizens in the wider world.
The goal is to solidify links and encourage greater connectivity between the US and Ireland. This requires a strong focus on youth and we intend to nurture young Irish Americans through a prioritization of the networks and programs that engage young people.
This is a family-led program and is directed by Dr. Johanna Clancy and her father, Brian Fahy, Assistant Principal at St Enda’s Secondary School, Salthill.
The students live with an Irish family for the two weeks and embrace the qualities of Irish family life and traditions with their host family.
As individuals and as a group, they advance their global education and awareness, nurture creativity and talents, improve confidence, develop leadership skills, all in a safe environment.
To date, students have attended from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, Chicago, Oklahoma, Florida and Wisconsin. Contributing to the international dimension of the program has been the participation of students from Barcelona and some local Irish teenagers. This exposes students to a truly intercultural dynamic.
Last month saw CIAA’s launch of the Mulcahy Scholarship. Presented by Denis Mulcahy of Project Children, the first recipient was a sophomore from upstate New York. This year’s ‘O Brien Scholarship and Flaherty Scholarship, each sponsored by Irish-American diaspora from Chicago and Boston respectively, have been awarded to students from New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Finally, The Irish American Young Leaders Association have teamed up with CIAA to secure places for a number of students also. The Academy wants to make the world a better place for all and we believe that investment in the opportunity to attend the Program is wonderful preparation for life for a High School student. This year the Academy will be attempting to reach out to Stoneman Douglas High School Florida. Celtic Irish American Academy hopes to make it possible for a number of students from Parkland County to experience the best of what Ireland has to offer.
The Program is based on the four key pillars of Service Learning, Culture & Heritage, Leadership & Entrepreneurship, and S.T.E.M. Students attend a variety of classes that include Literature, S.T.E.M., Enterprise, Gaelic and European languages, Coding, Public Speaking and Debating, Archaeology, Art and Music Therapy, amongst other topics.
Complementing the classes are practical demonstrations of Irish Music, Drama, Gaelic Games and Horse-riding. We visit a traditional Irish Farm and a US Multinational Company, as well as trips to the Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher and Dublin City. Finally, we include some meaningful Service Learning with the Simon Community and SCCUL Enterprises, teaching the students what it really means to give back to Community.
All in all, a life-changing experience awaits the students.
Celtic Irish American Academy is reachable through www.celticirishamericanacademy.com. Directors: Dr. Johanna Clancy and Mr. Brian Fahey Cranmore, 13 Dr. Mannix Road, Salthill, Galway, Ireland...Tel: +353 86 013 583 Email: [email protected]
Here’s a snippet on the Celtic Irish American Academy on Irish TV:
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