The Spire

Caroline Kramer ’26 & Abigail Clark ’26

Staff Writers

Dia duit ó Ghallimh! Hello from Galway!

Now being over a month into my study abroad experience, I have nothing but positive sentiments to report. It’s been an exciting journey exploring this beautiful new part of the world, and it’s still far from over!

My name is Caroline Kramer ‘26, and I am currently studying abroad in Galway, Ireland for the Spring 2025 semester. We departed the first week of January, and this was my first time out of the country! Quite the milestone, especially considering the only other flights I’d been on previously had been for Spring Break Immersion. I guess being from the smallest state means you’re used to driving everywhere. My first impression of Ireland aside from the green landscapes was how charming every aspect of it is — the people are so friendly and go out of their way to start conversation with you, and even the architecture in certain areas stands out to me, where the houses have a quaint, timeless beauty to them. Our group of 25 crusaders has had so much fun exploring Galway, especially Eyre Square, where all of our favorite pubs and shops are in the center of the city. But the true highlight has been the trips we’ve been lucky enough to take around Ireland and Northern Ireland with our Holy Cross coordinator, Kathleen! We’ve seen the Cliffs of Moher, Giant’s Causeway, and most recently, the Aran Islands. Each of these places has been so beautiful and has brought me a new perspective to European history and culture. The Aran Islands were particularly interesting to me — with a population of 820, the largest island Inishmore had such a peaceful atmosphere. There is only one grocery store on the entire island, and they didn’t have electricity until 1973. This quiet life to me represents a simpler, more connected way of living, where community and nature are at the heart of daily life. 

The most important takeaway of studying abroad for me so far is that every moment, no matter how big or small, holds value. Some days are full of excitement and adventure, such as my recent weekend trip to London, England with five of my friends where we had the time of our lives exploring the city. But not every day looks like that, and in between the lines of the bustling travel weekends and lively nights at the pubs, it is the quieter moments — going to class, running errands, and hanging out in the dorms — that shape this experience just as much. It’s easy to get caught in the trap of the glamorized study abroad narrative where every day is thrilling and extraordinary; I’ve come to learn that embracing mundanity in addition to the excitement has been vital, for every day is an adventure of its own. I am filled with indescribable gratitude for this experience so far and cannot wait to see what the remaining three months have in store.

I’m now handing it off to my dear friend Abigail Clark ‘26!

My study abroad experience thus far has been very similar to Caroline’s and I echo all of the sentiments that she shared about exploring and immersing ourselves in the everyday life of Galway. 

One of the most fascinating and wonderful parts about studying abroad in Galway is how small, united, and uniquely Irish the city is. I appreciate being only a 20-minute walk from the heart of the city and being able to experience the lives of residents here. It seems that in every cafe, pub, or restaurant you walk into, groups of friends, young and old, are bumping into one another and sharing stories. Everyone truly enjoys and celebrates one another’s company and can do so in a casual but inviting fashion. While we were on our trip to the Aran Islands, we all spent the last part of our afternoon in one of the only restaurants and pubs on the island. When we walked in, the bartender and customers were talking about their families, showing true care for one another. While Galway is a much larger area than Inishmore, I see the same thing occur throughout the city.

One of the more surprising but most immersive parts of my experience so far is the presence of Gaelic around the city. Every sign, bus stop, and elevator has Gaelic written as the first language with English repeated underneath it. When I attended Sunday Mass at the Galway Cathedral this past week with some of my friends, they recited the “Our Father” in Gaelic. It was so incredible to hear the whole church echo the same prayer we all knew but in another language. While the celebration of Mass felt just like home, we all got to experience the uniquely Irish way of it. I decided to take Gaelic as one of my classes here at the University of Galway and I have already learned so much. Saying something as simple as “Thank you” or “How are you?” in this historical language is such a wonderful addition to my learning in Galway. 

Before coming abroad, I was so excited to travel all around Europe which I have begun to do. Knowing that we are a three-hour flight from Spain or an hour flight from Paris is such an amazing feeling. There is so much to explore across the continent that is right in front of all of us. However, I share in Caroline’s expression how incredible traveling around Ireland has been as well. I am so lucky to have my Holy Cross community in Galway that is as eager to see the country as I am, whether it be visiting a centuries-old cave or simply eating at a new restaurant in Galway. There is so much to see right at our fingertips and I can not wait to see what the rest of my abroad experience will bring!

Featured images courtesy of Caroline Kramer ’26 & Abigail Clark ’26