At a special ceremony held this afternoon in Iveagh House, the Minister for the Diaspora Joe McHugh T.D. has presented certificates to 20 Irish-American high school students from across the United States who have taken part in the first ever Global Irish Summer Camp.
Beginning on 20th July and concluding this week, the Summer Camp has involved classes and workshops on Irish history, language and culture, as well as visits to important sites across the island and other opportunities for learning about Ireland.
The Summer Camp has been funded under the Emigrant Support Programme operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Irish Abroad Unit and administered by the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland and UCD’s Clinton Institute.
Speaking today, Minister McHugh said:
“I am delighted to recognise the participants in the inaugural Global Irish Summer Camp.
Following a commitment in ‘Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy’, this initiative has brought together a group of 20 young Americans of Irish heritage to Ireland for the first Government-supported programme of its kind. It has proved an excellent opportunity for children of Irish emigrants to strengthen their links with Ireland.
Having met with the students, it is clear that they will leave with a new understanding and appreciation of Ireland which will last for many years."
Participants in this year’s Summer Camp will be invited to stay involved and build on their links with Ireland through a series of follow up projects and activities.
Note for Editors
The Global Irish Summer Camp is a new annual initiative supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Emigrant Support Programme. It was first proposed in the Government’s Global Irish Diaspora Policy as published in March 2015 (available at https://www.dfa.ie/media/globalirish/global-irish-irelands-diaspora-policy.pdf )
The high school students who participated in this year’s Global Irish Summer Camp were selected on the basis of an application process based on criteria such as their interest in Ireland and their overall motivation to learn more about their Irish connections.
The students in question have come to Ireland from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C, and Washington State. Their Summer Camp programme included classes and workshops on Irish history, language and culture, as well as introductions to hurling and football along with other outdoor activities. Additional details are available http://www.globalirishsummercamp.com/ .
The Institute of Study Abroad Ireland and UCD Clinton Institute were chosen to administer the Summer Camp programme following a competitive tender process.