A Brazilian teacher and graduate of Mary Immaculate College (MIC) has officially launched a novel based on her experiences studying in Limerick at the College.
Carol Pereira—author of Limerick Beyond Time—was part of the first group of Brazilian teachers to visit MIC in 2018 under the CAPES programme, a foundation within the Brazilian Ministry of Education which supports students to pursue further study at home and abroad. In 2019, Carol received a Government of Ireland Scholarship to return to MIC and to complete an M Ed in Middle Leadership and Mentoring.
To date, Carol has published nine books, some of which are used in schools in Brazil and have been approved by the State Department of Education there.
Speaking about the novel, Carol said: “This book was a way to share my Limerick with the world, to show the beauty, charm and magic I saw from the moment I first set foot in the city. Limerick itself is an enchanting city—beautiful, warm, and full of life. Irish people are truly wonderful, and studying in a country where education is respected and taken seriously was a dream come true. I would recommend MIC and Limerick to any international student.”
She currently resides in Canada but a number of her CAPES classmates have made Limerick their home.
Dr Holly Cowman, Director of International Engagement at MIC said: “We are delighted to host the launch of Limerick Beyond Time here at MIC and honoured to welcome the Ambassador of Brazil to Ireland, H.E. Mr Flávio Helmold Macieira and his wife to the campus for the first time, along with members of the Brazilian community in Limerick, including Honorary Consul of Brazil in Limerick, Leticía Bastos.
It is inspiring to see how Carol’s experience of living in Limerick and her time at the College have shaped and influenced her novel. At MIC, we take pride in our vibrant international student community and partnerships, welcoming over 500 international students each year. We wish Carol every success with the book, and in her future educational and literary careers.”
Prof. Emer Ring, Dean of Education at MIC congratulated Carol on the launch of her book and warmly welcomed the Ambassador and his wife, noting that as well as many other international cohorts, “Brazilian students have greatly enriched life here at MIC”.
The event on 22 April was attended by the Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Mr Flávio Helmold Macieira and his wife, Mrs Josiane Cotrim Macieira. Earlier in the day, the Ambassador visited the Mayor of Limerick at City Hall, before meeting with current CAPES students at MIC. Ambassador Macieira holds an MA in International Relations, which he completed at University College Dublin (UCD) in 2002.
The Honorary Consul also conducted a Q&A with Carol, during which they spoke about living in Limerick, the academic journey at MIC and the inspiration behind her latest novel.
