While studying abroad in Dublin, Notre Dame students are invited to expand their learning beyond the classroom. Through community engagement, spiritual reflection, and independent research, students connect more deeply with Ireland, its people, places, and pressing questions. These opportunities encourage students to live out Notre Dame’s mission of educating the whole person while contributing to the common good.
Pilgrimages and Campus Ministry
Notre Dame Dublin supports an on-site campus ministry fellow to walk alongside students.
Pilgrimage is a powerful way to encounter both place and spirit. In Dublin, Campus Ministry invites students to journey—physically and spiritually—through some of Ireland’s most sacred landscapes and beyond.
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Easter Pilgrimage to Rome
Walk in the footsteps of the saints and deepen your faith during a special Easter pilgrimage to Rome in the spring semester. -
Pilgrimage to Kylemore Abbey
Discover the beauty and peace of this Benedictine monastery in the Connemara mountains, home to Notre Dame Kylemore. -
Pilgrimage Hikes
Each semester, students take part in reflective hikes at Glendalough, an early Christian monastic site, and Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain.
These experiences offer students space for contemplation, connection, and spiritual renewal in breathtaking settings.
Community-Engaged Learning and Service Opportunities
Make your semester in Dublin meaningful by serving others and learning from the communities around you. Through the Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) program, students can volunteer weekly with local organizations dedicated to education, equity, and care, and be a “force for good”.
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Barretstown Weekend Retreat
Each semester, a group of Notre Dame student volunteers travels to Barretstown, a therapeutic camp for children with serious illnesses and their families, for a weekend of service and solidarity.
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Youth Education Services (YES)
Support young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds by providing weekly homework help and mentorship in the Study Buddy program. -
Little Flower Penny Dinners
Join a long-standing effort to serve hot meals to those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Dublin’s inner city. -
SOLAS Project
An after-school youth programme for the children of the Liberties (Dublin 8). Solas Project is a charity with a vision to see an Ireland where all children and young people truly know their self-worth and can take full advantage of their potential. -
Loretto School Senior Primary
Coach basketball lessons to elementary students to keep them active and engaged in a new sport. -
Fighting Words
Inspire Ireland’s future authors by leading a writing workshop for students. Some classes are taught in Irish if you would want to brush up on cúpla focail! -
ECO-UNESCO
Educate the youth of Ireland about sustainability and environmental action. You may also assist with research projects about the organization’s mission. -
STAND.ie
Write articles on various social and political issues for STAND’s website aimed at university and postgraduate readers. If writing is not your strong suit, campaign for the STAND INSPIRE workshops.
Keep an eye out for new opportunities each semester!
These hands-on experiences offer a deeper understanding of Irish society and the challenges faced by its diverse communities, while cultivating empathy, purpose, and a sense of global citizenship.