This summer, 13 UWF music students participated in a 10-day summer study abroad course hosted by the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick in Eastern Ireland. During their stay, students explored topics including poetry, story-telling, theology, song, philosophy and history led by internationally renowned Irish traditional musicians Owen Ó Súilleabháin, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Nóirín Ní Riain.

To share the impact of this unique experience, the Summer 2024 Irish Experience cohort has since created evolving works of word and song representing the exceptional training they received abroad. The students’ work includes individual and group musical performances and spoken word poetry, which will guide guests through many aspects of traditional Irish Culture.