US universities use Connemara for tourism programmes

For the past four months 20 American students and two college professors have studied, worked and enjoyed life in Tullycross and its environs.

The students, aged from 19 to 22, are from the Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and this summer sees students from two more colleges, Maine Maritime College and Kirkwood in Iowa coming for a similar programme. And in September of next year, a fourth college, Lourdes, also in Michigan, will come to take part in a four month stint.

Organised by Connemara West Plc, which is the longest and most successful local development company in Ireland with over 30 years experience, it is dedicated to improving the economic, social and cultural quality of life of the local community of Letterfrack, Tullycross and the Renvyle peninsula.

Dr Kevin Heanue of Teagasc and chairman of Connemara West Plc explains that tourism has always been an important part of the Connemara economy.

The student exchange started before the formal establishment of Connemara West when in 1973, thanks to the connection between Letterfrack Furniture College and Grand Rapids, which was then the biggest furniture producer in the world. As efforts were made to get the local college recognised by the GMIT, a student exchange between it and Aquinas College came about.

The students initially stayed with host families but then stayed in the newly built Tullycross Cottages and each student was ‘adopted’ by a host family who had them to dinner once a week.

The demand for the programme increased and its success sees requests from other US colleges to take part in similar programmes.

Dr Heanue explained that the students study Irish literature, history and culture but also intern in a number of local employers like Connemara West PLC, the Connemara Local Radio, GMIT and Letterfrack Furniture College, Connemara National Park, Connemara Forum Development organisation and the local VEC.

“There are formal classes and they intern about one day a week and this is their forum to develop good relations with the local community and they also get credits in their colleges for taking part in this overseas study programme as well las their intern work,” he said.

Of course some of them have interacted better than others over the years and there have been about six or seven marriages out of this exchange programme!

“Majority of the US students who come on this programme are women and some of them did fall in love and indeed have settled down in the locality but a few have also returned to their US homes with a Connemara spouse!” he explained.

The Tullycross Holiday Homes are now occupied a good part of the year with these American students but in the height of the summer season they are available to holidaymakers.

Such is the success of this particular study programme that they held their own Gathering event at County Hall in Galway City last October, when some of the students returned for a visit.

Dr Heanue said that Connemara West would continue to pursue education based tourism strategies to complement its traditional tourism.

“In this way, the economic base of the region is being strengthened, the social and cultural life of residents improved, and the objectives of Connemara West Plc are being achieved,” he added.