Eleventh Class of George J. Mitchell Scholars Arrive in Ireland

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The eleventh class of George J. Mitchell Scholars was welcomed to Ireland at a reception at University College Cork Monday evening. UCC President Michael Murphy welcomed the Scholars, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin T.D., gave remarks and US-Ireland Alliance President, Trina Vargo, introduced the Scholars.

Minister Martin, who was Ireland’s Minister for Education when the Scholarships were established in 1999, welcomed “the Mitchell programme's growth over the last 11 years and as Minister for Foreign Affairs I appreciate the continued importance of international exchange from an added perspective. Ireland, the United States and individual Scholars have much to gain from this opportunity for the exchange of ideas and knowledge in areas from Biology, Environmental Health and Quantum Physics through to the engagement of disadvantaged youth in education and academic achievement. Indeed the topics to be addressed by the 2011 Mitchell group during their time of study here in Ireland are a clear illustration of the shared political, social and economic challenges facing many countries and the world. We all realise that the history shared by Ireland and the US is special and, while it might not seem as relevant now, our links serve as reminder that all nations are intertwined and linked in one way or another. Working together and sharing our understanding are principals clearly demonstrated by the nine Scholars here today and indeed by the 117 highly qualified US students who have participated in the Mitchell Scholarship programme in the past".

President Murphy said, “UCC is honoured to have the opportunity to co-host with the US-Ireland Alliance, the annual celebration of the arrival in Ireland of a new class of Mitchell Scholars. For over a decade, UCC and all of the Irish universities have been beneficiaries of this wonderful programme designed to strengthen and remould the relationship between our two countries. The Mitchell Scholars are very special people. Exceptionally talented, academically accomplished, and exhibiting curricula vitae that surprise in every line, they provide invaluably challenging benchmarks for our own students. They are ambitious and energetic, committed to understanding, in one year, what makes us Irish, what "European" means, and to assimilate that learning to shape leadership careers back in the United States. The Mitchell Scholars Programme, I am certain, will prove to be one of the 20th century's most insightful investments in preserving Irish influence in US public policy and in cultural connectedness between us."

Ms. Vargo recounted the arrival activities of the Mitchells, which included a dinner in Kinsale, a day in Cork city, a trip to Ballymaloe Cooking School, a cooking class with chef Rory O’Connell, and a sunny day spent touring Cobh with Mrs. Mary Wilson, who educated the Scholars on the history of Cobh and Cork.