Erin Go Bragh!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Mercyhurst University!

As an Italian girl studying at an Irish Catholic institution with a rich Irish heritage, I feel like for the first time in my life, I have a purpose to fully celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

The Sisters of Mercy traveled from Dublin, Ireland and founded our school in September of 1926. Mercyhurst and its students show pride in their history and show it well during this green holiday.

Erie is the twin city to Dublin, Ireland so the Irish spirit was ever-present beyond our gates this weekend throughout the town. There was the annual St. Paddy's Day parade, music and tons of great food and green beer all along State Street, in downtown Erie.

Another wonderful aspect of this holiday, is that it makes me appreciate my international Irish friends who made the trek over the Atlantic, much like our Mercyhurst founders. At Mercyhurst, more than 40 different countries are represented by students studying here. During your time at Mercyhurst, you can't help but to get to know someone from a very different culture from your own.

There are many students who attend Mercyhurst from Ireland. And since last year MU opened their "Mercyhurst in Ireland" program, several students have the opportunity each term to study in Ireland. If I had to go through my undergraduate degree again, I would definitely take a term to study in
Ireland.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you've enjoyed a fun and safe St. Paddy's Day!