“I set out to get the Plaza Mayor illuminated green for St Patrick’s Day” Ben’s Erasmus+ Experience in Spain

In February 2012 whilst on Erasmus in Salamanca, Spain, I set out to try and get the Plaza Mayor of the city illuminated green for Saint Patrick’s Day. I was met by a resounding ‘NO’ from every source of support that I sought. However I decided not stop there and to keep trying.

After speaking with a local event organiser who told me that I was wasting my time, I contacted several Irish politicians who were members of the Tourism Committee in Dáil Éireann, all of whom informed me that it was a great idea but; ‘maybe next year’. Tourism Ireland and the Irish Embassy were supportive but their response was similar in that ‘we haven’t enough time or resources’.

Basically I was told that I was on my own and was advised not to bother wasting my time.

Despite hearing the words ‘no’ time after time, I was determined to find a way to make it happen. After a month of several emails, phone calls and letters on Tuesday the 13th of March (just four days before St. Patrick’s Day) I received a call from the office of the Mayor of Salamanca, Snr Alfonso Fernandez Mañueco, informing me that our proposal had reached their office after I had found an old blog page of his and messaged that directly. They thought it was a fantastic idea and that they would be delighted to implement it!

Overcome with delight and satisfaction I immediately began writing emails about the story of our achievement to inform every single individual who had told me that the project was impossible and a waste of my time. I then decided to inform the Irish media about the event by sending random emails to various broadcasters. I wasn’t too optimistic about the response I would receive but I felt like I needed to at least try spread the good news purely because of the sheer volume of people who had repeatedly laughed at my attempts to get the Mayor of a city I wasn’t even from to pay for an event to promote Ireland.

Ben and Mayor of Salamanca, Snr Alfonso Fernandez Mañueco

The media response was amazing.

Practically every Irish national media agency was looking to talk to me and find out more about the story. I found out that various radio programmes on RTÉ were fighting over who got to broadcast it!

The Spanish national and local media also loved the initiative and decided to share the story across Spain. Even the local Salamanca community really embraced the idea of celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in their city centre.

With the support and help of my Erasmus and Spanish friends, we began publicising and preparing for the event. It was to be the first Irish Heritage project of its kind in the city.

We were able to spread the word across Spain and even got local businesses involved. As a result of our efforts, over 1,000 people came to the Plaza for the event. People came to Salamanca from cities across the country such as Madrid, Galicia, Malaga and Seville just to name a few.

After the event I was honoured to receive a letter of congratulations from the President of Ireland, as well as the Tánaiste and Minister for Tourism. The event was even discussed during leader’s questions in the Dáil. A couple of weeks after the event I was delighted to welcome the Irish Ambassador to Spain to Salamanca and had the pleasure of introducing him to the Mayor! The ‘greening’ is now an annual event and I still receive correspondence from the Mayor every year on St. Patrick’s Day.

As a result of my Erasmus year abroad I was given the confidence to never give up on an idea or project that you believe in. No matter how many obstacles that might be presented in front of you anything is possible if you keep the faith and never stop pursuing it.

I also believe that it was this experience that gave me the confidence to run for Student Union President in Maynooth University. After two years as the SU President and a year in marketing I decided to apply for a position in the International Office at Mary Immaculate College where I now currently work. I absolutely love my current role and believe that this is the career path that I want to take long-term.

I firmly believe that I would not be in this current position had I not decided to do an Erasmus study year abroad. Aside from the fantastic academic developments I made by studying in a different language, I would never have had the confidence or skills to get to where I am right now without spending the year in Salamanca. It truly was one of the best and most significant decisions of my life to date!

Ben and Mayor of Salamanca, Snr Alfonso Fernandez Mañueco

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