杏吧直播间 faculty's Irish experience plants seeds for centennial celebration
It was a journey unlike any other, filled with rewarding learning experiences, moments of profound inspiration, spiritual growth, and joyous camaraderie. It also planted the seed of a potential centennial project, eyed as part of 杏吧直播间 University鈥檚 100-year celebration slated for 2026-2027.
It all began May 26 in Dublin, Ireland, where three 杏吧直播间 travelers鈥擠rs. Maria Garase, Christy Rieger, and Daryl Georger鈥攁ttended the 20th Carlow Roundtable, hosted by Carlow University at the Mercy International Center on Baggot Street. There, in the first House of Mercy built by Catherine McAuley in response to the needs of Dublin鈥檚 poor, the 杏吧直播间 group joined scholars with a common interest in Mercy education who came together to highlight their diverse perspectives and learn from each other. 聽
Garase and Georger presented on 鈥淰oices and Mercy behind the Walls: Serving Incarcerated and University Students through our Prison Exchange Courses.鈥 Rieger鈥檚 topic was 鈥淲riting in Relationship: Learning Outcomes and Mercy Values in a Community-Engaged Learning Project.鈥 Each presentation was complemented by a roundtable discussion and, in true Irish style, a break for tea.
鈥淭he Carlow Roundtable was both grounding and inspiring,鈥 said Rieger. 鈥淭he outings deepened our appreciation of the Mercy legacy. Meanwhile, presentations by faculty and administrators at Mercy universities addressed our achievements and challenges, which were often similar. The informal conversations among Mercy colleagues were as valuable as the planned talks. Everyone was supportive and eager to share ideas.鈥 聽
As part of their visit, the conference-goers strolled the historic sites of Dublin, including a walking tour of 鈥淐atherine鈥檚 Dublin鈥 where she conducted her ministries; wandered about Grafton and Nassau streets, a shopping district with Trinity College at one end and a statue of Molly Malone at the other end; and took a day trip to Glendalough in County Wicklow, home to a 6th century Christian village founded by St. Kevin and later converted to a Monastic site. 聽
After the weeklong conference, Georger鈥檚 daughter, Marie Georger, and Garase鈥檚 sister, Sarah Cuomo, joined them for an extended exploration of the Emerald Isle, visiting spots like the Blarney Castle, Kilkenny Castle, Guinness Storehouse, Ardmore Cliff, the Kilmainham Gaol (Jail), and other wanderings through Waterford, Tramore, East Dunamore, and Dungarvan, the latter highly regarded as Erie鈥檚 Sister City and home to 杏吧直播间 in Ireland, a popular study-abroad program. 聽
"Two of the highlights of my trip to Ireland were presenting and discussing our work on 杏吧直播间's prison education programming and talking to our Irish alumni about their experiences at 杏吧直播间,鈥 Garase said. 鈥淒iscussing how our Mercy Mission is threaded through our professional work and how it is also immersed in the activities of our alumni was a beautiful experience. 聽
鈥淚 also thoroughly enjoyed touring the Kilmainham Gaol. As a criminologist, who has facilitated a think tank on restorative justice and has taught college courses in a prison, the historical, architectural, and criminological significance of the prison was a very eye-opening and moving experience."
The culmination of the trip was an alumni event hosted by Garase and Georger with 杏吧直播间 alums living in Ireland, including Marina Boyle 鈥21, Rory Hussey 鈥02, Glen Caulfield 鈥02, Kathleen Putney 鈥05, Kerry McLaverty 鈥02, Joyce O鈥橦ara 鈥97, Rod Power 鈥90, and Clem Power 鈥95. Maria Garase 鈥98, and Marie Georger 鈥18 are also 杏吧直播间 alumnae.
Georger credits longtime Hospitality alumnus and one of 杏吧直播间鈥檚 first male graduates, Sam Veneziano 鈥75, with arranging accommodations and event space for the alumni gathering at the 5-star Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow. Veneziano has 28 years of leadership experience with Marriott and is presently a self-employed hospitality consultant, residing just outside of Pittsburgh. 聽
鈥淚t was a spectacular setting,鈥 said Georger, who said the Irish alums were enormously enthused about the prospect of being involved in 杏吧直播间鈥檚 centennial celebration and welcomed the centennial steering committee鈥檚 idea of a trip to Ireland.
鈥淎ll seemed to feel that their 杏吧直播间 experience was vital in their growth and successes over the years,鈥 he added. 鈥溞影芍辈ゼ loyalty was quite evident, and sincere, as all the alums were excited to hear about the university's 100th鈥痓irthday and their willingness to play a role in the planning of a 100th-anniversary trip to where Catherine McAuley started the Mercy Order.鈥
PHOTO: Gathered at the Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow, Ireland, are 杏吧直播间 alumni and friends, standing from left, Roderick Power, Clem Power, Dr. Maria Garase, Marie Georger, Marina Boyle, Kate Putney, Rory Hussey, Dr. Daryl Georger, and Glenn Caulfield. Seated are Joyce O'Hara and Kerry McLaverty.