A Short-term Study Abroad Program

Exploring the Artistic Imagination of Ireland

A Turas d’Anam Summer Program

hi·ber·ni·an /hīˈbərnēən/

adj. of or concerning Ireland 

ho·ri·zon /həˈrīz(ə)n/

noun. the limit of a person's present imagination

Program Overview

I am of Ireland…
come dance with me in Ireland.

– William Butler Yeats

Hibernian Horizon is a study abroad program designed for students and faculty of the performing arts and creative writing.

This is an invitation to become immersed in an alternative and experimental environment that will encourage and embolden the exploration of an individual artistic ‘voice’ beyond the prescribed or perceived norms of a particular cultural cannon.

Ireland has always represented this place in the collective imagination - a welcoming and lush landscape on the edge of known ancient world. Throughout the centuries, this miraculously green and fertile island, far out on the wild North Atlantic, was famed as a safe-haven, a place to replenish stores and come to ground - a promise as vital today as ever to those yearning to infuse their creative voice with the earthed genius of that place.

Located at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, the students and faculty will attend the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance. Now in its 27th year, this summer school hosts the top exponents of Irish traditional culture and academia. This is an unmatched platform to experience world-class leaders of the arts within an exceptional center of excellence. The founding ethos of the Irish World Academy prides itself upon the equitable blend performance with academic reflection while espousing the parity of esteem for all world cultures.

The setting of the campus of the University of Limerick is situated amidst stunning natural beauty. Located on the banks of the River Shannon, this waterway is at the heart of Ireland’s ancient creation mythology and has always served as the central nervous system for higher learning on the Island.

This experience is designed and presented by Owen and Mícheál O Súilleabháin, whose late father Mícheál founded the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in 1994.

Program Structure

1

Owen & Mícheál with Howard J. Reddy,

Vice President for University Advancement

University of West Florida

Intention Workshop

Half Day gathering in person or virtually

Led by Owen & Mícheál, students will be introduced to the historical specificities of Irish culture, tracing its evolution and observing its profound influence on the individual and global imagination.

Presented through song, poetry, myth and personal story, this session is an invitation to approach this experience as a personal, artistic voyage. Students will be invited into conversation with each-other

This workshop will present background and context of what will be experienced in Ireland, granting participants full permission to share in the depth and understanding of the significance of the places and people they will encounter.

Throughout this journey, all are encouraged to maintain an auto-ethnographic journal, serving as a personal record of their artistic exploration

2

Overseas Experience

Chose either 12 or 18 days based at the University of Limerick

The cornerstone of the program is the participation in the renowned Blas International Summer School, the flagship annual summer program of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance located on the beautiful campus of the University of Limerick.

The Blas Summer School has a well developed ethos where access to some of the most renowned musicians, singers and dancers in performance workshops is combined with classes and lectures given by experts in the academic study of our traditions. This follows the overriding ethos of all Irish World Academy of Music and Dance endeavors - where performance and reflection are seen as equal of stature and mutually beneficial.

Each day the students will immerse themselves in performance or creative writing workshops under the tutelage of esteemed practitioners. Additionally, daily lectures, Irish language classes and informal evening music sessions will provide invaluable insights into various cultural facets of Ireland's unique traditions.

Outside of the program of the Blas Summer School, students will embark on three captivating guided field trips, offering glimpses into Ireland's rich ancient past. From exploring Europe’s largest Neolithic Stone Circle at Lough Gur to casting off to the cliff-side for of Dún Aonghasa on the Aran Islands, and delving into the historical depths of the ancient Viking and Norman city of Limerick. Private recitals, showcasing the depth of Irish arts, will further enhance students' cultural immersion.

Shared meals and social experiences are another essential part of the experience, fostering camaraderie and meaningful connections among students, other attendees and faculty at the Blas International Summer School.

3

Reflection Workshop

Half Day gathering in person or virtually

We encourage schools to create a public event at the beginning of the Fall semester for the participants to share their art-form that was inspired by their Hibernian Horizon journey.

The Reflection Workshop is a time to share what they might present at that event, and also reflect on the impact that the experience has had on them and their art-form.

Students will engage in conversation with another during this workshop, inspired by provocative questions, over-hearing themselves share new perspectives and depth in their artistic understanding.

These discussions serve not only as moments of introspection but also as preparation for the public presentation. Under the guidance of Owen and Mícheál, students will receive inspiration and encouragement to refine their presentation, helping them embody the essence of their learning journey and creative expression.

INTERVIEW WITH Professor Helen Phelan PhD

Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick

INTERVIEW WITH participants of Hibernian Horizon 2024

Director of the School of Music Corey McKern and Director of Voice Sheila Dunn at the University of West Florida

The Process

Program Leaders

Owen and Mícheál ‘Moley’ Ó Súilleabháin are brothers from an esteemed Irish musical and cultural lineage. Singers, storytellers, poets, their vocal harmony, poetry and stories of life experience are generously mixed with a wild sense of humor.

They draw from a huge repertoire spanning thousands of years, embodying Ireland in song: Ireland’s oldest tradition, Celtic sean nós; Medieval Gregorian Chant from the Monastic period; Irish folk songs in English and Gaelic; original inspirational pop-songs, and even human beatbox and Irish rap. 

The brothers have recorded and performed around the world with their mother, singer and theologian Rev. Nóirín Ní Riain Ph.D., in a trio called AMEN.

Their late father, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, renowned musicologist, composer and pianist, brought traditional Irish music and culture to the world stage and founded the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, home to the Blas International Summer School and an internationally recognized center of excellence in the arts.  The lads proudly continue their parents’ legacy - sharing the inspiring genius of Irish culture with people the world over.

Owen Ó Súilleabháin

Owen Ó Súilleabháin is a singer, composer, and teacher, and believes in the power of art to awaken our most dynamic and creative forms into being.

Mícheál ‘Moley’ Ó Súilleabháin

Mícheál ‘Moley’ Ó Súilleabháin is a renowned singer, poet, and speaker. His artistic identity lives on the threshold between things. He is a master of several worlds of music and poetic performance and composition. His way in the world exists between laughter and poignancy.

Education is not the filling of a pail,
but the lighting of a fire.

– William Butler Yeats

Begin the Conversation

Heads of School are invited to fill out the following form and Owen will be in touch with you shortly.

Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhair breac

Listen to the river and you will catch fish 
(Irish Proverb)

FAQs

  • Your students can spend 12 or 18 days in Ireland. You can chose to either attend one or both of the weeks of the Blas Summer School.

    Owen and Mícheál will meet with the students for a half day workshop at some point before the trip, either on campus in-person or virtually.

    They will also hold another half -day workshop after the overseas experience in Ireland.

  • Consulting and close collaboration while planning this experience for your college.

    Two half-day virtual workshops presented by Owen and Mícheál (there is an extra option for this to take place on campus for an more in depth exchange with the students)

    Accommodation and three meals a day in Ireland.

    Blas Summer School tuition and program costs.

    Day trips, guides, entry fees, ferry tickets and lunches.

    One of our team is always on call 24 hours a day in case of any emergency.

  • Airfare. The College is responsible for students’ flights and students’ valid passport and visa requirements.

  • Must possess a valid passport for international travel, or be able to obtain one before the travel dates.

  • Turas d’Anam LLC, registered in the states of New York and Florida, dba Hibernian Horizon, is covered for Comercial Professional Liability tour operator and travel agency insurance by Berkshire Hathaway Speciality Insurance.

    We require that the college also provides full insurance coverage for each person who participates in theHibernian Horizon program.

  • Based on 20 participants, this is an estimate of the cost broken down per person.

    12 days - $3,200

    18 days- $4,100

    This doesn't NOT include flights

    A portion of this per person cost includes a Consulting Fee that is paid upfront. The student or college then pays a per person Program Fee. This can be paid in three installments. The exact costs will be presented in the proposal drawn up after designing the experience that suits your college and students' needs.