Two Carlow students celebrating outdoors

What Is a Celtic?

A Celtic is a Carlow student or alum who serves with purpose, leads with mercy, and breaks barriers to build a more just and merciful world.

Become a Celtic

At Carlow University, being a Celtic means more than wearing purple and gold. It means joining a community devoted to the future of you — and to creating a more just and merciful world. Rooted in our Catholic identity, the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy, and our Irish roots, Celtics use their education to heal, serve, and advocate for others.

Watch: what it means to be a Celtic

Irish Roots. Mercy Spirit. Celtic Pride.

Carlow University was founded in 1929 by the Sisters of Mercy, women who believed deeply in the power of education to transform lives. Our name and our Celtics identity trace back to Carlow County in Ireland and reflect the Irish heritage woven into our campus traditions.

Being a Celtic means carrying forward this heritage in ways that matter today — through Mercy, hospitality, service, discovery, and honoring the sacredness of creation. These five values are not just words on a page; they are the living traditions that shape how we learn, lead, and care for one another.

Mercy International Centre, Dublin
Students outside Carlow College Frances Warde Hall

"To be a Celtic is to stand in a long line of people who believe education is a force for healing, justice, and hope."

The Heart of a Celtic

Celtics are defined by how they show up — in the classroom, in their communities, and in the wider world.

At Carlow, a Celtic is:

  • Devoted to the future of you: We CU — and we're here for who you are and who you're becoming. That means seeing you as a whole person and equipping you to become a compassionate, responsible leader in your chosen field.
  • Rooted in Mercy and justice: Mercy is the heart of Carlow. Celtics are formed to create a more just and merciful world, every day — through their studies, careers, and civic engagement.
  • Committed to service and hospitality: At Carlow, service is a way of life, and hospitality is the welcome that makes a stranger feel at home. Celtics look for ways to serve and include, rather than stand apart.
  • Driven by discovery and expression: Discovery at Carlow is the spark of curiosity and the courage to venture into the unknown. Celtics are encouraged to ask questions, innovate, and use their voice — through research, creative work, and public service.
  • Connected to something larger: The Sacredness of Creation reminds Celtics that life is interconnected and holy. This shapes how we care for our communities, our environment, and each other.

Celtics don't just earn degrees — they build lives of meaning, guided by values that travel with them long after graduation.

Carlow student working in a lab
Carlow nursing students taking a blood pressure reading
Carlow students tutoring in a library

How Celtics Change the World

Being a Celtic isn't just about what you study — it's about how you live. These six pillars define what it means to be part of our community.

Carlow student gardening in the community

Celtics Serve with Purpose

"As a Celtic, I don't just learn about social justice — I live it. I'm in the community, making a difference, every semester."

Celtics don't just volunteer — they serve with intention, using their skills and hearts to create tangible change for those who need it most. Through the Celtic Experience pathways — civic engagement, service-learning, and community-based education — students work directly with the poor, sick, and marginalized, living Carlow's Mercy mission in action.

Carlow student high-fiving a young child

Celtics Lead with Mercy

"Being a Celtic means I lead with my heart. I don't just want to be successful — I want to lift others up."

Celtics practice courageous empathy. They stand with those at the margins and lead in ways that heal, unify, and transform. Grounded in the Sisters of Mercy legacy of "walking boldly into the chaos of others to transform lives," Celtics redefine leadership as rooted in compassion, not just ambition.

Carlow student presenting research

Celtics Break Barriers

"As a Celtic, I don't accept 'that's just how it is.' I ask why, and I work to change it."

Celtics challenge what's always been done. They confront injustice and work to build systems that are fair, humane, and merciful. Whether advocating for patients, communities, or systemic change, Celtics act "above and beyond technical responsibilities" to create a more just world.

Carlow nursing student in a clinical rotation

Celtics Act

"Being a Celtic means I don't just study nursing — I'm in clinical rotations, working with real patients, making a real difference."

Celtics learn by doing. They take what they learn into the world — through research, internships, service, and global experiences — and turn knowledge into tangible impact. The Celtic Experience offers five pathways that connect disciplines to hands-on problem-solving, preparing students to be both career-ready and impact-ready. 98% of Celtic alumni are employed within one year of graduation.

Carlow professor working with students

Celtics Belong

"As a Celtic, I'm not just a number. My professors know my name, my goals, and my story. I'm seen here."

Celtics thrive in a close-knit, caring community that sees their full story, celebrates who they are, and walks with them as they grow. In our small, relational environment, students form strong relationships with professors and find "a second home." Campus traditions like Celtic Celebration and symbols like Celti the campus dog reinforce the bonds that make Carlow feel like family.

Carlow art student working in the ceramics studio

Celtics Imagine

"Being a Celtic means I'm encouraged to think differently, to try new things, to imagine what's possible."

Celtics ask better questions, explore new ideas, and create solutions that didn't exist before. They are curious, creative, and ready to change the world. The Celtic Experience is designed to "unleash imagination" — encouraging students to think differently, try new things, and imagine what's possible.

The Celtic Experience: Learning by Doing

Carlow student tutoring a young child

You become a Celtic not only by enrolling at Carlow, but by stepping into experiences that connect learning with real-world impact.

Through the Celtic Experience, a university-wide initiative in experiential learning, students:

  • Engage in civic engagement and public service, building awareness of social issues and practicing leadership in real communities
  • Participate in community-based education and service-learning, bridging coursework with hands-on service
  • Explore the world through international education, gaining global perspective and cultural humility
  • Gain professional experiences that prepare them for purposeful careers
  • Conduct student research, asking hard questions and contributing new knowledge

These pathways help Celtics connect what they learn in class to what they hope to change in the world — making experiential learning a distinctive feature of a Carlow education.

Discover the Celtic Experience

Hear from Celtics

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what being a Celtic means to our students and alumni.

Carlow University campus

Ready to Become a Celtic?

If you are looking for a university devoted to the future of you — one that sees education as a path to who you'll become — Carlow University is ready to welcome you.

Here, you won't be just another student. You will be a Celtic: a compassionate leader, a curious learner, and a committed servant to the communities you call home.

Apply to Become a Celtic
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