The top Irish studies programs in North America

Irish Studies programs at North American universities is a growing trend.

MEGHAN SWEENEY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 6:54 AM

Updated Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 6:54 AM

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New York University (NYU) - Glucksman Ireland House

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Links to Irish Studies programs in the U.S. and Canada: CLICK HERE

Links to Irish Studies resources: CLICK HERE

Irish Studies programs at North American universities is a growing trend.

Today, there are dozens of programs across the U.S. and Canada, many of which provide an interdisciplinary approach to learning about a rich Celtic culture that's existed since the dawn of Western civilization.

IrishCentral has compiled a list of 10 exemplary Irish Studies programs in North America, complete with each program's philosophy and what they have to offer.

Here are our editor's picks:

NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY - Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies

Location: Notre Dame, Indiana

Program: Undergraduate Minor, Graduate Degree

About:

The Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary project devoted to teaching and research in Irish culture in all its internal and external relations. Established in 1993 under the intellectual leadership of Professor Seamus Deane, the Keough-Naughton Institute’s faculty now includes leaders in Literature, History, Film, Television and Theater and it is regularly supplemented by visiting professors, some of whom come to Notre Dame as Naughton Fellows in a reciprocal arrangement with Irish universities.

Christopher Fox, Director
Sean O’Brien, Assistant Director
Beth Bland, Senior Administrative Assistant
574-631-3555
irishstu@nd.edu

BOSTON COLLEGE - Center for Irish Programs

Location: Chestnut Hill, MA

Program: Undergraduate Minor, Graduate Degree

About:

The Center for Irish Programs at Boston College brings together all University Irish Initiatives. It has oversight responsibility for the Irish Studies program, the Irish Institute, the Burns Library Irish Collections, the Center for Irish Programs - Dublin, and the Irish Music Program. Boston College was founded, in part, to educate the sons of famine emigrants from Ireland who settled in Boston. The Center for Irish Programs continues this important aspect of the University's mission and heritage.

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Sorcha7 | Mar 21, 2012, 09:56 PM EDT

Aontaím leat, a Jerry. I'd be very interested in reading a follow-up story (Ms. Sweeney?) that tells us which of these programs teaches the Irish language and which (especially important) offers the most extensive program in Irish language study (more than two semesters of Irish).

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Sorcha7 | Mar 21, 2012, 07:01 PM EDT

Jerry, I completely agree with what you're saying... One of the keys to understanding a culture is, at the least, a basic understanding of its language. Without that, any course of study on any culture would be incomplete.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 21, 2012, 03:17 PM EDT

A Jerry Kelly: An bhfuil tú ag rá go bhfuil Gaeilge á múineadh i gclár Notre Dame? Ní raibh a fhios sin agam. Chun an fhírinne a rá níl ach rudaí diúltacha cloiste agam i dtaobh an chláir sin.

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Jerry Kelly | Mar 21, 2012, 01:49 PM EDT

Is iontach go bhfuil an méad sin d'ollscoileanna againn anseo i Meiriceá Thuaidh a bhfuil Léann na hÉireann ar siúl acu, but there are now enough Irish Studies programs that more stringent criteria should be applied to any such evaluation. Can you imagine a "Russian Studies" program without Russian? An "Italian Studies" program without Italian? A "Chinese Studies" program without Chinese? Of course not. First and foremost amongst such new criteria should be whether or not any given program examines Ireland through an Irish lens or an Anglo lens. In other words, is the curriculum based on Irish literature (filíocht, finscéalaíocht, seanchas, béaloideas, 7rl.), society (déanmhas, aicmí, Féineachas), and worldview (cruinneshamhail) like those at Notre Dame, CUNY (all branches), NYU, and others? Or is the curriculum based on English literature (Shaw, Wilde, Joyce, etc.), English society, English conflicts, and English worldview? Is it difficult to tell which is which, or to make the choice? Ninsa, as our ancestors would say.

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