UCC Study Abroad Student Ambassadors

Study Abroad Ambassadors are here to help you on every step of your study abroad journey. These students are a wealth of on-the-ground knowledge about UCC/Cork and are happy to connect with future study abroad students. Shoot them an email and ask all of your pressing questions! See a full list of all ambassadors here, or scroll down to meet your UCC ambassadors.

On-Campus Ambassadors, Class of 2026

Nora Brannegan '26 Mathematics, Pre-Med

My name is Nora Brannegan, and I’m a senior mathematics major on the pre-med track here at HC! I studied abroad in Cork, Ireland, for the Spring 2025 semester. I have been Irish-step dancing competitively for most of my life, so a study-abroad program in Ireland has always been a dream of mine. I was even able to take two traditional dancing classes at University College Cork! One of my favorite things to do while abroad was to head over to a local pub near Blarney Castle and listen to my dance teacher play live music with her band. Every once in a while, we’d even dance together! There is no where else in the world that you can walk into a pub and jump onto the stage with an old friend to do a jig, which is why I cannot recommend Ireland more.

Contact: njbran26@g.holycross.edu, norabrannegan@gmail.com

Nicole Byrnes '26 Psychology, Studio Art

My names Nicole I’m a Psych major and Studio Art minor. I studied abroad at University College Cork for the 24/25 academic year. My favorite part about Cork was going to the Lough Cafe or walking around the city centre!

Contact: nrbyrn26@g.holycross.edu, nicole12252003@icloud.com

Matt Irving '26 Psychology, Studio Art

My name is Matt Irving, and I'm from New York. I'm a psychology major. I studied abroad in Cork, Ireland for the academic year, and I loved my experience because it allowed me to meet so many great people whom I would never have met had I not gone!

Contact: cmirvi26@g.holycross.edu, mattirving555@gmail.com

Alumni Ambassadors, Class of 2025

Erin O'Donovan '25 Political Science, Environmental Studies

My name is Erin O'Donovan, and I am a double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies with a minor in Geoscience! I studied abroad in Cork, Ireland, during the Fall 2023 semester and in Puerto Natales, Chile, with the School for Field Studies during the Spring 2024 semester. Two of my favorite moments from abroad were visiting the Old Head of Kinsale in County Cork and seeing King Penguins in the wild in Tierra del Fuego!

Contact: egodon25@g.holycross.edu, erinod03@gmail.com

Kelly Burke'25 Biology

My name is Kelly Burke and I am a Biology major! I studied abroad in Cork in Fall 2023. During my time in Cork, I loved immersing myself in Irish culture, meeting new people, and learning the rules of hurling.

Contact: kmburk25@g.holycross.edu, kellyyburke1@gmail.com

John Fogarty'25 Political Science, Rhetoric & Composition

My name is John Fogarty and I studied abroad at UCC during the fall 2023 semester. I loved being able to travel to and experience so much world history effortlessly while simultaneously getting to know my host city on a meaningful level, that could not be accomplished in a short-term stay.

Contact: jjfoga25@g.holycross.edu, johnfogarty222@gmail.com

Alumni Ambassadors, Class of 2023

Samantha Marzi '23, History, Biology

My name is Samantha Marzi and I am a History and Biology double major. In the Fall of 2021, I studied abroad at UCC, Cork, Ireland, and in the Spring of 2022 I studied abroad in South Africa through the OTS African Ecology and Conservation program. In Ireland, I loved the freedom to explore Cork and find all its hidden gems, like the Butter Museum, the Lough, and ice skating on Fota Island. South Africa provided me with unforgettable experiences in Kruger National Park, from biodiversity surveys on natural hot springs to day-long game drives seeing rhinos, lions, and the ever-elusive impala ;)

Contact: smarzi23@g.holycross.edu, skingm22@gmail.com

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