Ireland appeals to the student of literature, as well as to historians both ancient and modern. Despite its small size and centuries spent in England’s shadow, Ireland has produced, and continues to produce, a catalog of great writers: Jonathan Swift and Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and W. B. Yeats, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. And the country’s contribution to music, both traditional and contemporary, is hardly less impressive. 

In between visiting sites from literary history—Joyce’s Martello Tower, Yeats’s Isle of Inisfree—and enjoying Irish music, whether in a cozy pub or at a festival, you should make time to visit Ireland’s natural attractions. These range from the Giant’s Causeway in the far north to the Ring of Kerry in the south west, with all the bogs, mountains, castles, fishing villages, and fast-evolving cities like Belfast, Dublin, and Cork in between.

Cork is a port city on Ireland’s south coast. It’s the second-largest city in the Republic of Ireland and enjoys a keen rivalry with Dublin. Cork was European Capital of Culture in 2005, and music, theater, dance, film, and poetry all play a part in city life. Notable architectural features include the Red Abbey, a 14th-century Augustinian abbey of which only the bell tower now remains, two 19th-century cathedrals, and some fine Georgian buildings.

Much of Cork’s nightlife is centered on its plethora of pubs. If you like your beer dark, you should try one of two rivals to Guinness, Beamish and Murphy’s—both are brewed in Cork. The city makes a great base from which to explore the south of Ireland, especially the mountains and beaches of Kerry. Closer still is Blarney Castle where, if you kiss the famous stone, you’re guaranteed the gift of the gab!

Program Description

University College Cork (UCC) was established in 1845 as one of three Queen’s Colleges.  It is believed to share the site where the city’s patron saint, Saint Finbarr, once had a monastery and school. Today it is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland and has some 12,500 undergraduates, including 2,400 overseas students from almost 100 countries.  UCC is one of Ireland’s leading research institutions. It is made up of four colleges: Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences; Business & Law; Medicine & Health; and Science, Engineering, and Food Science. The university has scored high marks in surveys of international students for its sports and social facilities.

Information at a Glance

• Academics

• Academic Calendar

• Accommodations and Meals

• Optional Excursions
  

• Program Costs

• Scholarships

• Travel Brochure

For more information about this program, please visit the University College Cork website.