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.
The city of Dublin, on Ireland’s east coast, dates back to the time of the Vikings and beyond. For much of the last 1,000 years, it’s been Ireland’s cultural and political capital. Evidence of the city’s history, and its part in Ireland’s long struggle for independence, can be found all over the city.
The Book of Kells, an illuminated, eighth-century manuscript displayed in Trinity College, is probably Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure. The nearby National Gallery, on Merrion Square, has works by Jack B. Yeats, brother of the poet, among others. As you walk the streets of Dublin, in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus, you’ll see statues of Joyce, Swift, and Beckett. You’ll also hear music emanating from dozens of pubs, especially in the Temple Bar neighborhood on the south bank of the Liffey.

Program Description

University College Dublin (UCD) was established in 1854 and among its more famous alumni is the writer James Joyce. Historically, it was Dublin’s Catholic university—Trinity was for Protestants. The university consists of five colleges: Arts & Celtic Studies; Business & Law; Engineering, Mathematical & Physical Sciences; Human Sciences; and Life Sciences. UCD’s main Belfield campus is located 2.5 miles south of the city center, to which it is connected by a regular bus service.  The university is committed to academic research and to international relations. It has extensive libraries and computing facilities, as well as many sports and recreation activities for students.

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 Dublin website.