Mercyhurst faculty's Irish experience plants seeds for centennial celebration
It was a journey unlike any other, filled with rewarding learning experiences, moments of profound inspiration, spiritual growth, and joyous camaraderie. It also planted the seed of a potential centennial project, eyed as part of Mercyhurst University’s 100-year celebration slated for 2026-2027.
It all began May 26 in Dublin, Ireland, where three Mercyhurst travelers—Drs. Maria Garase, Christy Rieger, and Daryl Georger—attended the 20th Carlow Roundtable, hosted by Carlow University at the Mercy International Center on Baggot Street. There, in the first House of Mercy built by Catherine McAuley in response to the needs of Dublin’s poor, the Mercyhurst group joined scholars with a common interest in Mercy education who came together to highlight their diverse perspectives and learn from each other.
Garase and Georger presented on “Voices and Mercy behind the Walls: Serving Incarcerated and University Students through our Prison Exchange Courses.” Rieger’s topic was “Writing in Relationship: Learning Outcomes and Mercy Values in a Community-Engaged Learning Project.” Each presentation was complemented by a roundtable discussion and, in true Irish style, a break for tea.
“The Carlow Roundtable was both grounding and inspiring,” said Rieger. “The outings deepened our appreciation of the Mercy legacy. Meanwhile, presentations by faculty and administrators at Mercy universities addressed our achievements and challenges, which were often similar. The informal conversations among Mercy colleagues were as valuable as the planned talks. Everyone was supportive and eager to share ideas.”
As part of their visit, the conference-goers strolled the historic sites of Dublin, including a walking tour of “Catherine’s Dublin” where she conducted her ministries; wandered about Grafton and Nassau streets, a shopping district with Trinity College at one end and a statue of Molly Malone at the other end; and took a day trip to Glendalough in County Wicklow, home to a 6th century Christian village founded by St. Kevin and later converted to a Monastic site.
After the weeklong conference, Georger’s daughter, Marie Georger, and Garase’s sister, Sarah Cuomo, joined them for an extended exploration of the Emerald Isle, visiting spots like the Blarney Castle, Kilkenny Castle, Guinness Storehouse, Ardmore Cliff, the Kilmainham Gaol (Jail), and other wanderings through Waterford, Tramore, East Dunamore, and Dungarvan, the latter highly regarded as Erie’s Sister City and home to Mercyhurst in Ireland, a popular study-abroad program.
"Two of the highlights of my trip to Ireland were presenting and discussing our work on Mercyhurst's prison education programming and talking to our Irish alumni about their experiences at Mercyhurst,” Garase said. “Discussing how our Mercy Mission is threaded through our professional work and how it is also immersed in the activities of our alumni was a beautiful experience.
“I also thoroughly enjoyed touring the Kilmainham Gaol. As a criminologist, who has facilitated a think tank on restorative justice and has taught college courses in a prison, the historical, architectural, and criminological significance of the prison was a very eye-opening and moving experience."
The culmination of the trip was an alumni event hosted by Garase and Georger with Mercyhurst alums living in Ireland, including Marina Boyle ‘21, Rory Hussey ‘02, Glen Caulfield ‘02, Kathleen Putney ‘05, Kerry McLaverty ‘02, Joyce O’Hara ‘97, Rod Power ‘90, and Clem Power ‘95. Maria Garase ’98, and Marie Georger ’18 are also Mercyhurst alumnae.
Georger credits longtime Hospitality alumnus and one of Mercyhurst’s first male graduates, Sam Veneziano ‘75, with arranging accommodations and event space for the alumni gathering at the 5-star Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow. Veneziano has 28 years of leadership experience with Marriott and is presently a self-employed hospitality consultant, residing just outside of Pittsburgh.
“It was a spectacular setting,” said Georger, who said the Irish alums were enormously enthused about the prospect of being involved in Mercyhurst’s centennial celebration and welcomed the centennial steering committee’s idea of a trip to Ireland.
“All seemed to feel that their Mercyhurst experience was vital in their growth and successes over the years,” he added. “Mercyhurst loyalty was quite evident, and sincere, as all the alums were excited to hear about the university's 100th birthday and their willingness to play a role in the planning of a 100th-anniversary trip to where Catherine McAuley started the Mercy Order.”
PHOTO: Gathered at the Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow, Ireland, are Mercyhurst alumni and friends, standing from left, Roderick Power, Clem Power, Dr. Maria Garase, Marie Georger, Marina Boyle, Kate Putney, Rory Hussey, Dr. Daryl Georger, and Glenn Caulfield. Seated are Joyce O'Hara and Kerry McLaverty.