Ireland field experience connects aspiring veterinarian to the heart of Irish horse racing
Notre Dame sophomore Scarlett Powell got to see firsthand how a veterinarian from one of Ireland’s most storied horse-racing families cares for some of the fastest horses on the Emerald Isle.
During a highly personalized field experience arranged through the Keough School’s Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, Powell shadowed Sarah O’Brien of Carriganóg Racing, an elite racehorse training facility in County Kilkenny run by Sarah’s brother Joseph, one of Ireland’s most accomplished trainers. A sophomore biology major who plans to become a veterinarian, Powell scheduled the weeklong experience to follow her summer parasitology course at Notre Dame Kylemore, offered through Notre Dame Global.
“I wanted to make the most of being in Ireland,” Powell said. “And I knew that spending time with the O’Brien family at Carriganóg would provide even more opportunity for cultural immersion and also give me a better understanding of how a skilled vet applies veterinary science to equine health.”
Powell, a dual citizen of the United States and Poland and a longtime member of the Polish Equestrian Association, was no stranger to horse racing. But the opportunity to witness large-animal veterinary practice in a country that is internationally recognized for its equine expertise was special.
“I was able to have a close look at veterinary medicine in one of the best horse training operations in the world,” she said.
Alongside Sarah O’Brien, Powell observed veterinary procedures ranging from joint injections and blood tests to emergency wound treatments after training accidents.
“Seeing Sarah dive in during a crisis — calm, skilled, completely focused — was incredible,” Powell said. “It was clarifying for me. I realized I want to be a vet who works on the move, traveling farm to farm and helping animals directly.”
Work days at elite facilities like Carriganóg are long, beginning before sunrise and often stretching well into the evening.
“I would be at the stables from six in the morning until six at night, and it never felt long,” Powell said. “Everyone there truly loves what they do.”
To understand the significance of the O’Brien family’s generosity in welcoming a student to its storied grounds, it helps to appreciate their place in Irish sport. Joseph’s father, Aidan O’Brien, runs Ballydoyle Stables in County Tipperary and is widely regarded as one of the greatest horse trainers in the world. The O’Briens have dominated Irish and international racing for decades, earning them the moniker “The First Family of the Turf,” as described by the Irish Independent.
Ireland’s passion for horse racing runs deep. The sport is both a cultural tradition and an economic powerhouse, contributing nearly €2.5 billion annually to the national economy and supporting more than 30,000 jobs. The country’s mild climate, fertile pastures and centuries-old breeding heritage have made it a global center for thoroughbred breeding and training.
Fortunately for Powell, Keough-Naughton Institute assistant director of programming Gráinne McEvoy, who is from Ireland, had a family connection to the O’Briens.
“I sent a message, and Joseph replied almost immediately,” McEvoy said. “He didn’t hesitate — he said he’d be delighted to have Scarlett spend time at Carriganóg.”
Powell’s placement came together thanks to McEvoy’s local ties and also the kind of close-knit networking that defines Irish professional life.
“It’s a small, interconnected place,” McEvoy said. “When people see enthusiasm and initiative, they’re often very willing to open doors.”
A phone call between O’Brien, McEvoy and Powell quickly followed the initial exchange.
“Scarlett was nervous,” McEvoy recalled. “She had written notes for what she wanted to say, but Joseph was very down-to-earth—no fuss, just wanted to help her make it work.”
For Powell, the Carriganóg experience represented more than just career exploration — it was a continuation of a lifelong calling.
In her project proposal to the Keough-Naughton Institute, Powell described veterinary work as a vocation rooted in compassion: “In wanting to be a veterinarian, I am not working, rather I am serving,” she wrote.
Powell’s time in Kilkenny deepened her appreciation for how veterinarians are viewed in Irish culture.
“They’re seen with quiet respect,” she said. “People recognize that animals can’t tell you where it hurts, so you have to listen differently. That makes the work feel almost holistic—like you’re interpreting something beyond language.”
McEvoy emphasized that student-initiated placements are an important part of what the Keough-Naughton Institute encourages. While Powell’s experience wasn’t one of the more structured internships that Keough-Naughton offers as part of the Irish Internship Program in collaboration with Notre Dame Dublin, it aligned with the institute’s mission: to connect Notre Dame students with Ireland’s culture and excellence in various fields. The institute supports experiences like Powell’s on a rolling basis, especially when they deepen a student’s understanding of Irish life or contribute to comparative learning.
Powell lived with a host family near the stables, where she experienced firsthand the warmth and informality of Irish life.
“Ireland felt more genuine than the U.S.” she said. “People are friendly without being performative. And there’s a lot of respect, especially between younger and older generations. I felt taken seriously.”
Powell, whose mother is from Poland, also found a sense of familiarity.
“There’s something similar between Ireland and Poland: small countries with big histories, strong family ties and a deep sense of community,” she said. “It made me feel at home.”
Back at Notre Dame, Powell continues to build on her Irish experience. She plans to return next summer for a Notre Dame Global course on compassionate care in medicine, part of a new interdisciplinary minor she is pursuing.
“It connects perfectly,” she said. “Animals feel pain just like humans do. Showing compassion to them, and to the people who care for them, is part of being a good veterinarian.”
Reflecting on her time at Carriganóg, Powell said the experience helped her connect academic theory and compassionate practice.
“On campus I learn the biology and systems,” she said. “In Ireland, I saw what it means to serve: to care for living beings that depend entirely on your attention and respect.”
Read more from Scarlett Powell on her Ireland experience.
How to get involved with the Keough-Naughton Institute
Students interested in pursuing field experiences, research or internships in Ireland can reach out to the Keough-Naughton Institute, part of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs.
The institute supports student-initiated opportunities anchored in rigorous academic research on a rolling basis, particularly those that connect with Irish culture, society or areas of professional excellence. Many students combine these experiences with existing study abroad programs or other academic coursework in Ireland.
To learn more or to discuss a proposal, students can contact Gráinne McEvoy, assistant director of programming for the Keough-Naughton Institute, or visit irishstudies.nd.edu.
Originally published by at keough.nd.edu on November 05, 2025.