Human Development and Family Sciences, Ireland

Program Dates: May 19 - 28, 2026

Application Deadline: December 12, 2025

Deposit Deadline: December 12, 2025

You can pay your $700 deposit online here:

• Under "Categories" select "Student Travel Deposit: Education, Health, and Human Services"
• Under "Items" select "Faculty-Led: Human Development & Family Science, Ireland"
• From there, you can add the item to your cart and complete the payment.

Withdrawal Deadlines:

• After mid-February: Airfare is non-refundable and students will be responsible for payment of the airfare even if they withdraw.
• After mid-April: students will be responsible for:
  • 100% of all applicable travel and program-related fees.
  • Any applicable portions of tuition fees.
  • Any applicable group travel fees.
• After the start of the program, students must pay all fees and no refunds will be possible regardless of the circumstance.

Final Payment Deadline: The remainder of the program fee will be billed to your Kent State student account. The program fee deadline aligns with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's summer due dates. You should refer to the first Summer due date.

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: HDF 42089 or HDF 52089—Human Development and Family Science International Experience

Number of Credit Hours: 3

KSU Sponsoring College: Education, Health, and Human Services

Course Description: This course provides a comparative analysis of interpersonal relationships and families across the centuries in Ireland and the U.S. We will explore societal influences on families such as religion, traditions, history, immigration, and the economy.

Faculty Contact Information

Professor's Name: Dr. Maureen Blankemeyer

Title: Associate Professor

Email: mblankem@kent.edu

Phone: 330-672-9397

Eligibility

• You must be in good academic standing with an overall GPA of 2.5 or better for undergraduate students and 3.0 for graduate students. Exceptions may be made with permission from the instructor.
• Graduate students are required to take HDF 52089.

Program Language of Instruction: English.

Maximum Capacity: 20 students.

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence, sites, and departure city are subject to changes in availability and cost.

May 19:

• Depart for Dublin, Ireland.

May 20:

• Arrive in Dublin Airport and transfer to Kinvara.
• Visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland. Built in 1425, it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendor. The adjacent Bunratty Folk Park is a living reconstruction of the homes and typical environment found in Ireland over a century ago. Set on 26 acres, the impressive park features over 30 buildings in a ‘living’ village and rural setting.
• Walk the Flaggy Shore, visit picturesque Dun Gaire Castle and enjoy the breathtaking views of Galway Bay.
• Finish the day with a group welcome dinner.

May 21:

• Meet Aine Bird of the Burrenbeo Trust at the Kinvara Community Centre. Burrenbeo is a charity that engages with local and visiting communities, old and young, to generate a sense of informed pride in their heritage and landscape. They work tirelessly to conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Burren. Burrenbeo Trust is an inclusive organization dedicated to shaping a brighter future for the Burren, its communities and all those who love this special place.
• Visit a local school and meet the teachers and students there.
• Visit the Dolmen Centre, part of Brothers of Charity Services Ireland. The Dolmen Centre supports people with intellectual disabilities to live fulfilling, independent lives. A community-based service, they make crafts to sell locally at the Kinvara Farmers Market as well as run a pre-loved bookshop.
• Dinner at a local restaurant.
• Meet with Kinvara Tidy Towns and join them in their evening tasks of caring for and improving the village environment. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a cup of tea with the local volunteers and learn how Kinvara Tidy Towns seeks to collaborate with all members of the community to protect, maintain and enjoy this beautiful village.

May 22:

• Depart by private motorcoach for the SCCUL Sanctuary, which was established in 2002 to help prevent and alleviate poverty and distress in Galway City and County. Nestled in over 100 acres of beautiful woodlands in the Kilcornan Estate of Clarinbridge, the SCCUL Sanctuary runs tailored therapeutic retreat days for community groups and individuals who are facing a crisis in their lives or who are in need of healing.
• Depart for Galway City - free time to explore the city and get some lunch
• Return to Kinvara, evening free

May 23:

• Explore the Cliffs of Moher. Rising like a cathedral into the sky some 700 feet over the wild Atlantic Ocean, the Cliffs of Moher are a symbol of Ireland and are world-renowned for their beauty. The views from the Cliffs stretch as far as Galway Bay and the Aran Islands in Scotland.
• Gaelic Games - spend the afternoon at the local GAA club, learn about and play the national sports of Gaelic Football and Hurling which are integral to Irish community life.
• Evening of dinner and Irish music.

May 24:

• Depart for Killarney. Travel via the Shannon ferry. 
• Evening free.

May 25:

• Depart for full day excursion to Dingle and Slea Head, the most westerly part of Ireland. 
• At Dunquin, visit the Blasket Centre and learn about the traditional island life and literary legacy of the unique community who lived on the remote Blasket Islands.
• Evening free.

May 26:

• Depart for Dublin.
• Stop at the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland's most important historic sites. There, you will get the chance to see several medieval buildings: a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House. 
• Evening free

May 27:

• Follow along on Secret Street Tours of Dublin to see the main sites and learn about the history, songs and stories of Ireland’s lively city. You’ll also learn about this non-profit organization that enlists people who have experienced homelessness to lead a walking tour of Dublin, sharing stories of cultural and historical landmarks of the city.
• Visit to the National Traveller Women's Forum office in Temple Bar. 
• At Dublin’s Docklands, climb aboard the Jeanie Johnston, an authentic replica of the tall ship from 1847 which transported emigrants from famine-stricken Ireland to the New World.
• Free to explore Dublin
• Farewell dinner.

May 28:

• Depart for the U.S.

Dublin, Killarney, and Kinvarra in Ireland

Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, Ireland is a European island divided into two countries: Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, which is not. The official languages are Irish and English. The currency is the euro in the Republic of Ireland and pound sterling in Northern Ireland.

The population of the Republic of Ireland consists of roughly 5 million people, and its capital is Dublin. Northern Ireland has a smaller population of about 1.9 million people, and its capital is Belfast. Students will spend their time in the Republic of Ireland, visiting Dublin as well as the cities of Killarney and Kinvara. 

Dublin is one of the six UNESCO cities of literature, and it is the birthplace of the famous author Oscar Wilde. Literature runs all throughout the city and there are plenty of book festivals and world-class libraries. The city is also known for its wonderful museums, gardens, and huge celebrations around Saint Patrick.

Kinvara is a beautiful village in County Galway where students can appreciate the colorful streets full of local restaurants and pubs that represent traditional Irish cuisine. Your education abroad program will also include a visit to Dunguaire Castle, and a chance to explore the local farmers market.

With only 15,000 inhabitants, the town of Killarney is known for having over 50 pubs. Students will fall in love with the 19th-century colorful buildings and stunning national parks and gardens.

Transportation

As part of the program fees, the following costs are included: airfare, private bus transportation to program sites, and lodging. Students will be responsible for any optional transportation during their free time.

Airports

Students will travel roundtrip as a group via Cleveland Hopkins airport and Dublin International Airport. Students have the option to extend their trip at their own cost.

Accommodations

Hotel lodging is included in the program fees. Students will share hotel rooms with classmates, unless extra payment is made for single accommodation.

Meals

All breakfasts and four dinners are included in the program fees. Students should bring money for lunches, four dinners, and optional snacks. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals are typically available upon request. If you have any food allergies, please inform us in advance.