CIAA

My daughter has been in Ireland for the past two weeks, and I am a bit jealous.  Yes, I realize that I just came back about a month ago, but who wouldn't want to be on vacation and not at work?  Last year while reading a newspaper online I stumbled across an article about a summer program for American High School Students of Irish decent that provides them the opportunity to spend two weeks in Ireland.  The Celtic Irish American Academy (CIAA) is founded and managed by Brian Fahy and his daughter, Dr. Johanna Clancy.  Both are involved in business and education within their local community of Galway City, in the west of Ireland.  With this program the students get to learn about their heritage, Irish culture and develop a sense of global awareness and how they fit into the global community.  

My daughter has flown alone before, Florida mostly to meet up with her mother and sisters who had flown ahead when they went to Disney World.  This was a bit different though, she wouldn't know anyone on the other end of the flight.  After a small bit of convincing, she was aboard with the idea of going...and she was glad she did.  She had a blast, visiting touristy places, an HQ of a major company, museums and universities as well as making new friends and some really powerful memories.  She took a ton of pictures which I am waiting to see and even wants to possibly study at one of the universities she visited.  Hopefully this adventure instilled a greater appreciation of Ireland/our Irish heritage and provided a boost of confidence before heading to university.  I really feel like she came back a slightly different person from who she was before she went.  Things like this make working a second job really worth while.