Irish guests visit Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst College rolled out the welcome mat on Thursday, Sept. 29, for a delegation of government officials from Dungarvan, IE. The group was visiting Erie, with which it shares a sister city relationship, at the invitation of Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott. Mercyhurst and Dungarvan also share a relationship, this one of a longstanding nature that dates back to 1985 when Dungarvan students began studying on our campus through the John F. Kennedy Scholarship Program.
In recent years, the Town of Dungarvan has become home to the Global Intelligence Forum, organized by Mercyhurst’s intelligence studies program; and to Mercyhurst’s “Spring Term in Ireland,” in which faculty and students spend 10 weeks of study and hands-on learning in the thriving seaside market town on the southeast coast of Ireland.
While at Mercyhurst, the Irish contingent was treated to a tour of campus, a reception in which they reconnected with Mercyhurst faculty and students who had spent time in Dungarvan, and enjoyed a concert in Christ the King Chapel. The arrangements were handled by Dr. Heidi Hosey, dean of international education.
Visitors from Ireland included Town Mayor Teresa Wright, Cllr. Ann Marie Rossiter, Cllr. Damien Geoghegan and Cllr. Tom Higgins; also Joe O’Flaherty, town clerk; Fearghal Reidy, economic development officer; Tom Keith, visit coordinator, and his wife, Carmel; Peter Jones, sports coordinator; and Joe Moynihan, principal, St. Augustine’s College.
