Rooted in AMU. Shaped by Ireland. Mount Melleray Abbey

• Ave Maria University's newly announced partnership with the historic Mount Melleray Abbey in County Waterford was recently featured on EWTN Nightly News. In the interview, Daniel Schreck, Chief Strategy Officer for Ave Maria University, discusses why the University chose the 200-year-old Cistercian monastery as the location for its new international campus and how the program will offer students a unique opportunity for academic, spiritual, and cultural formation. The semester-long program will immerse students in the rich monastic tradition of Mount Melleray while deepening their study of the Catholic intellectual tradition and the University's mission of forming leaders grounded in truth and faith.
• The Ireland Study Abroad Program at our Mount Melleray campus offers students a fully integrated Ave Maria University experience rooted in Ireland's rich Catholic heritage. Designed as a semester-long experience, the program combines rigorous academics, intentional spiritual formation, and immersive cultural experiences—all while keeping students on track for graduation. Set within a historic Cistercian monastery, the campus invites students into a rhythm of study, prayer, and community life that is deeply formative. Mount Melleray is an off-campus, study-abroad instructional site of Ave Maria University, operating under the University's academic accreditation and administered by the Florida campus through its own faculty. Apply Now Ireland Program Icon Student Life Life at AMU's Mount Melleray Abbey Campus Life at AMU's Mount Melleray Abbey campus is intentionally simple—and surprisingly full. You'll live and learn in a place built for community: a campus where your dorm, classrooms, chapel, dining hall, library, and faculty and staff are all within the monastery grounds. Days carry a steady rhythm of prayer, coursework, meals, and time outdoors—giving you the structure to grow and the space to breathe. Between classes, students gather in common areas, walk the grounds, explore the working farm, study in quiet corners of the abbey, and share meals together. And when the weekend comes? Ireland opens up—coastline, castles, trails, towns, and pilgrimage routes are all within reach. Your Campus at Mt. Melleray Interactive Campus Residential Community Residential life in a close-knit community with on-site dorms, classrooms, and shared spaces. Shared Meals Meals on campus each day, with the whole community coming together around the table. Campus Grounds Green spaces, courtyards, and walking paths for downtime and recreation. Integrated Formation A built-in culture of formation—where spiritual, community, and academic life reinforce one another. Sam Shephard Sam Shephard Executive Director of Mount Melleray Campus Professor of Biology “This is a unique pathway to ground the faithful, rigorous and joyful Catholic liberal arts program of AMU in an ancient tradition of Cistercian prayer, work and study.” Jesse Ray Jesse Ray Director of Student Programs “Ave Maria University's campus in Ireland may be new to us, but it is rooted in a much older story. Students inherit a place shaped for centuries by monks and faithful Catholics.” Dan Schreck Daniel Schreck Chief Strategy and Mission Advancement Officer “We are called to form the intellect and direct the will, but only in broadening the imagination of our students can they truly discover God's abundant calling. This is why we venture to Ireland.” Just Beyond the Abbey The academic schedule is designed with three-day weekends, giving students the freedom to explore Ireland independently (at the student's expense). Whether that means a trip into a nearby town, a coastal hike with friends, or a train ride to a historic city, travel becomes part of the formation—turning Ireland into a living classroom. And because Cork and Dublin airports are accessible, students also have the option to visit places across Europe. 1. Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark 2. Waterford Greenway 3. Coumshingaun Lake Loop Walk 4. Bunmahon Surf School 5. St. Declan's Way 6. Lismore Castle Gardens 7. Blackwater River 8. Traditional Irish shooting grounds 9. An Rinn (Ring, Waterford Gaeltacht) 10. The Rock of Cashel 11. Old Head Golf Links (Kinsale) Copper Coast UNESCO Global GeoparkWaterford GreenwayCoumshingaun Lake Loop WalkBunmahon Surf SchoolSt. Declan's WayLismore Castle GardensBlackwater RiverTraditional Irish shooting groundsAn Rinn (Ring, Waterford Gaeltacht)The Rock of CashelOld Head Golf Links (Kinsale) Coumshingaun Lake Loop Walk One of Ireland's most striking mountain hikes with unforgettable views. More to Explore Photo Gallery Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Gallery Image Frequently Asked Questions How does the Ireland program compare to Rome? What on-site leadership will be present? What majors can participate? Is the program safe? What about athletics? Can I participate in The Institute and FSP while in Ireland? Is Ave Maria University starting a new university in Ireland? Can I still graduate in four years? What's the weather like? Will I be able to travel? Why These Requirements Exist Ready to Experience Ireland? Jesse Ray Contact Jesse Ray Director of Student Programs (239) 402-7050 ireland@avemaria.edu Info Visit Apply Deposit Donate Ave Maria University Ave Maria University Presidential Seal Newman Guide Recommended College View AMU's EASE Grant Performance Measures Contact Us 5251 Donahue Street Ave Maria, FL 34142 (239) 280-2500 admissions@avemaria.edu Explore Academics About AMU Admissions Campus Life Quick Links Apply Now Deposit Enrollment Fee Campus Store My.AveMaria Canvas Self-Service IT Helpdesk Resources Canizaro Library Registration and Records Campus Safety Employment Accreditation Title IX Media Relations © 2026 Ave Maria University. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Study Abroad Ireland | Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University is rooted in a new and exciting chapter of its mission. The University's partnership with Mount Melleray Abbey, a historic 200-year-old Cistercian monastery nestled in County Waterford, Ireland, was recently spotlighted on EWTN Nightly News. In the interview, Daniel Schreck, Chief Strategy Officer for Ave Maria University, explained how this ancient monastic home became the ideal setting for AMU's international campus. The semester-long Ireland Study Abroad Program offers students a fully integrated Ave Maria University experience that combines rigorous academics, intentional spiritual formation, and immersive cultural experiences—all while keeping them on track toward graduation.

What makes Mount Melleray truly special is the intentional simplicity and profound community it offers. Students live, learn, and pray within the monastery grounds, where dorms, classrooms, the chapel, dining hall, and library create a close-knit residential environment. Days unfold with a steady rhythm of prayer, coursework, shared meals, and time outdoors, providing the structure needed to flourish while allowing space to breathe. This integration of spiritual, academic, and communal life creates a formation experience that goes beyond the classroom—one that echoes the very mission Ave Maria was founded to pursue.

Beyond the abbey walls, Ireland becomes a living classroom. The academic schedule deliberately includes three-day weekends, inviting students to explore everything from the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark to St. Declan's Way, from charming Irish towns to historic pilgrimage routes. Whether hiking coastal trails, visiting medieval castles, or simply experiencing authentic Irish culture, students discover how their Catholic faith has shaped an entire nation and people. With access to Cork and Dublin airports, the possibilities extend across Europe as well.

"This is why we venture to Ireland," reflected Chief Strategy Officer Schreck. By broadening the imagination of our students in a place shaped for centuries by monks and faithful Catholics, Ave Maria deepens its commitment to forming the intellect, directing the will, and inspiring a joyful discovery of God's abundant calling. For alumni seeking to support the next generation of leaders grounded in truth and faith, this partnership represents an extraordinary opportunity for formation that honors both our Catholic heritage and our forward-looking mission.