This summer, John Carroll University History students traveled more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to Achill Island, Ireland, where they experienced history not through textbooks, but through the stories of the people who lived it.
Ryan Wellman '27 and Mackenzie Kelly '28 spent six weeks immersed in the Achill Island community as part of John Carroll's longstanding partnership with the island. During their stay, they conducted oral history interviews that will become part of the Achill Oral Histories collection, helping preserve the voices, memories, and traditions of local residents for future generations.
“For over the last decade, the History Department at JCU has been building on the ‘twinning' of Cleveland and Achill Island, a partnership first established in 2003,” said Rodney Hessinger, Professor of History. “This has included research on Irish immigrant voyages to Cleveland and the lived experience of life in the Irish Bend neighborhood of Cleveland. The Achill Island internships represent a deepening of this bond. Many people do not realize that the largest portion of Irish-Americans in Cleveland can trace their roots to this one island in County Mayo. But in Achill itself, Cleveland is on the tongue of nearly every person you meet. Our students have proven to be great ambassadors for JCU and Cleveland. They have also come to appreciate how documenting a shared history can help strengthen the bonds of community in our world today. I am so proud of the work they have done.”
As part of the experience, Wellman and Kelly completed Oral History Made Easy – Six Steps to Success, an internationally acclaimed oral history training program taught by Dr. Maye-Bansbury. The program combines classroom instruction, one-on-one mentoring, experiential learning, and professional development.
After completing the training, the students put their new skills into practice by conducting oral history interviews with members of the Achill community, capturing stories that might otherwise be lost to time.
Kelly interviewed renowned English cellist Alison Moncrieff-Kelly, who has spent summers on Achill since she was five years old, as well as Achill native and local legend Brigie Johnson. Although their backgrounds were different, both women reflected on the island's deep sense of community and the importance of grá—the Irish word for love.
“Oral history helps us retain not only individual memories and stories, but the culture of entire communities,” said Kelly. “It emphasizes the lived experience of everyone in the community, not just the elites who are most often chosen for conventional interviews.”
Wellman said the experience reinforced the power of community and the relationships he built throughout the summer.
“This internship was such an amazing way to develop many transferable skills and learn about a fascinating new culture,” said Wellman. “One of the main things that I took away from the oral history interviews I completed on Achill Island is that the people are incredible. Everyone is so dedicated and hospitable. The island has such a rich culture that values ‘meitheal,’ or the idea of mutual aid in a common community. The connections I made on this trip will extend far beyond the golden coasts of the island.”
Beyond conducting interviews, the students immersed themselves in everyday life on the island. They attended Irish language classes, took traditional dance lessons, explored local museums and historical sites, participated in community events and dinners, and hiked through Achill's rugged landscape. They also traveled to nearby Westport, Newport, and Galway, gaining a broader understanding of Ireland's history and culture.
For both students, the experience demonstrated that history is more than studying the past—it's about listening, preserving, and ensuring that a community's stories continue to be heard.
