“They were huge, just massive” said Alan Barrett, recalling the skyscrapers on his first visit to America during a secondary school trip to New York City. “I really wanted to come back after that.” The County Clare native has now arrived in Boston to intern at CGM Funds on Newbury Street, supplementing his studies at the University of Limerick, where he is a third-year majoring in Business and Economics.

Alan hails from Ennis, County Clare and is very excited to begin his eight month adventure on the J-1 Irish Work and Travel visa program. The IIIC is a sponsoring organization for this visa, and Alan is one of over one hundred participants who are currently on the program through the IIIC.

The J-1 IWT program is for Irish university students and recent graduates who come to the United States for up to a year to gain international experience in their field of study. With this experience, they build increased knowledge and skills for future employment in Ireland.

This is Alan’s first time to Boston, and he is thrilled to be here, in spite of the cold. He hopes to take an excursion to Las Vegas while he is in the States. An avid hurler, Alan is planning to join a GAA club here in Boston once he gets settled and plans to make it to a couple of Bruins games.

Here at the IIIC, we welcome Alan to Boston and hope he has a great experience.