Irish studies

Short description: Interdisciplinary field of research

Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary field of research devoted to the study of Irish language, culture, literature, politics and history in Ireland and elsewhere. It is sometimes subsumed within the category of Celtic studies and European studies.

In 2018, the Irish government launched a Global Ireland initiative which was designed to promote all aspects of Ireland, including culture, diplomacy and business, internationally.

Centres

There are a number of academic centres devoted to research and teaching in Irish Studies throughout the world. Each of the universities in Ireland has particular expertise in aspects of Irish studies. In Dublin, University College Dublin hosts the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore which offers a Masters in Irish Studies as well as other courses. The Department of Irish and Celtic Studies at Trinity College Dublin offers various full-time and part-time courses. University College Cork hosts CELT (Digital Humanities Resource for Irish history, literature and politics) and offers a Certificate in Irish Studies , In Limerick, the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance located at the University of Limerick hosts the Global Irish programme, while there is an Institute of Irish Studies at Mary Immaculate College. At Maynooth University there is the School of Celtic Studies while at the University of Galway the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies hosts an Irish Studies programme In Belfast, the Institute for Irish Studies was established in 1965 at Queen's University Belfast. This university also hosts the Seamus Heaney Centre which promotes all aspects of creative writing. Ulster University also has a range of expertise in Irish and Celtic studies.

In Britain there is the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool and the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. The University of Glasgow hosts the Centre for Scottish and Celtic Studies which includes expertise in Irish studies. A Chair of Celtic Studies was established at the University of Glasgow in 1956 followed by a Chair of Gaelic Studies in 2010. London Metropolitan University hosts an Archive of the Irish in Britain in its Special Collections. There is also substantial expertise in Irish literature and history research at the University of Manchester, King's College London, University of Edinburgh and the University of Cambridge

Elsewhere in Europe there is interest in Irish studies reflecting the long engagement of Ireland with the continent. In Germany, there is a Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Flensburg and at the University of Würzburg. In France, there is the Paris Centre for Irish Studies at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University Paris 3. In Belgium, the Irish College Leuven was established in 1955 to promote education and research in international affairs. It collaborates with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in the organisation of the Leuven Centre for Irish Studies to promote research in Irish Studies and collaboration with Irish universities. In Spain, there are several centres for Irish studies including the Instituto Universitario de Estudios Irlandeses, Amergin at the University of A Coruña and the Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Granada, There are also centres of research into aspects Irish Studies in many other European countries including the University of Vienna.

With the history of Irish emigration to North America, it is not surprising that there are a number of centers of Irish Studies there. In the United States there are several centers including the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, at the University of Notre Dame, the Glucksman Ireland House, at New York University the Center for Irish Studies, at the Catholic University of America the Center for Irish Studies, at the University of St. Thomas (Texas) the Irish Studies Department at Fordham University, the Global Irish Studies program at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., the Irish Studies program at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and the Center for Irish Programs, at Boston College Quinnipiac University in Connecticut hosts Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute. Villanova University in Pennsylvania hosts a Center for Irish Studies. An Irish Studies program is housed within the University of California, Berkeley Institute of European Studies. Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut offers a minor in Irish Studies and also has a centre in Dingle, County Kerry for intensive study. The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee has a Centre for Celtic Studies which includes opportunity for intensive study of Irish language and literature.

In Canada, there is the School of Irish Studies, at Concordia University in Montreal while Saint Mary's University (Halifax) in Nova Scotia has an interdisciplinary programme in Irish Studies and hosts the D'Arcy McGee Chair of Irish Studies.

Again, as a result of emigration to Australia and New Zealand there is considerable interest in Irish studies there. The University of Otago has a Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies which hosts the endowed Eamon Cleary Professor of Irish Studies and offers an undergraduate minor in Irish Studies. The University of Melbourne hosts the Gerry Higgins Chair in Irish Studies.

There is also interest in Irish studies in South America and other parts of the world. In Japan, in 2015, Waseda University established an Institute of Irish Studies.

Publications

Academic journals

There are a number of journals devoted to publishing the results of research in Irish Studies. These include:

• Australasian Journal of Irish Studies
• Canadian Journal of Irish Studies
• ÉIGSE: A Journal of Irish Studies
• Irish Studies Review
• Irish Historical Studies
• Irish Studies in International Affairs
• Irish University Review
• Nordic Irish Studies
• Review of Irish Studies in Europe
• Studi Irlandesi: A Journal of Irish Studies
• Studia Hibernica: an annual journal of Irish Studies

Books series

There are several book series devoted to aspects of Irish studies. These include:

• Irish Studies, Syracuse University Press
• Reimagining Ireland, Peter Lang
• Irish Studies in Europe
• Irish catalogue, Manchester University Press
• Irish Culture, Memory, Place, Indiana University Press

Organizations

Several organizations have been established in various countries to promote research and collaboration in Irish Studies. There is the European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies, British Association of Irish Studies, the American Conference for Irish Studies, the Canadian Association for Irish Studies, the French Society for Irish Studies, the Asociacion Espanola de Estudios Irlandeses (Spanish Association for Irish Studies)(AEDEI) and the Irish Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand

Internationally, there is the International Association for the Study of Irish Literature, and the Society for the Study of Nineteenth-Century Ireland.

In Ireland, there are many relevant organizations including the Irish Women's Writing Network, and the Irish Labour History Society.