Centre for Irish Studies

Irish Studies is an integrated, interdisciplinary programme of learning which seeks to explore key aspects of the Irish experience in its historical and contemporary settings. The Centre for Irish Studies at NUI Galway is dedicated to research and advanced teaching on the cultural, social and political endeavours of Irish people, on the island of Ireland and beyond.

 

Jack B Yeats and John Sloan: Ireland and America, 1910-1916

This project will compare and contrast the illustrations by Jack B Yeats, in the Irish magazine 'A Broadside', with the illustrations by John Sloan in the American magazine 'The Masses', and to examine the social, cultural, and political significance of their work. (Jenny Mc Carthy, Arts Faculty Postgraduate Fellow)

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann: (re)shaping tradition 1951-1972

The rationale for this research project is based on two distinct goals: firstly, to document the genesis and development of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and secondly, to further develop an epistemology of Irish music within the field of Irish Studies, using Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann as the ethnographic sample by which this can be achieved. (Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Anarchism in Irish Culture and History

This project focusses on an examination of Anarchism, both as a political philosophy and as a kind of mentalité,in Irish culture and history. The intention of this work is to inquire into the possibility of a relationship between the philosophy of anarchism and the record of rebelliousness in Ireland. (Leo Keohane , Arts Faculty Postgraduate Fellow)

Irish migration to Cuba, 1835-1844

This project will focus on the accounts of 300 Irish railroad workers, contracted in New York in 1835, to work in Havana and investigate the many questions concerning their recruitment, their experience, and their survival/settlement on the island of Cuba. Situating this migratory experience within a context of race and class politics, at a time of nationalist struggles, in two colonial islands, on either side of the Atlantic the research proposes to examine the position of this group of Irish immigrants as colonized 'Other' within the Iberian Atlantic system of slavery and colonial labour. (Margaret Brehony, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar).

Beyond the local: redefining regionalism in the traditional music of Sliabh Aughty and its diaspora

This thesis will examine the Sliabh Aughty dialect of Irish traditional music, which encompasses the traditional music communities of East Clare and East Galway. The indigenous dialectical traits, and that of its New York-based diaspora will be explored to evaluate the contribution of this archaic genre to Irish and Irish-American music culture. ( Tim Collins, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Italian 'readings' of Ireland

This project explores policies and strategies of translation informing the Italian translations of contemporary Irish authors. Primary areas of interest are translation studies, literary theory and comparative literatures. (Debora Biancheri, Lady Gregory Fellow)

The French Connection: the influence of French writing on the Galeic revival 1893-1939

Through a systematic investigation of the literary and critical work of key figures in the Gaelic revival, this study will assess the extent to which the emergence of new literary forms and ideas in Irish are directly or indirectly attributable to the influence of French writing and culture. (Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Historical 'fact' vs folk memory: the creation and representation of 'heroes' in the Irish ballad tradition

This project will examine the construction of 'heroes' in the Irish ballad tradition, their relationship to accepted historical narratives, and the influence of song in Irish social memory.(Therese McIntyre, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Ideology and language in the polemical works of the gaelic aintiquarian Sylvester O'Halloran (1728-1807): a Gramscian perspective

The purpose of this research is to examine the polemical works of the Gaelic antiquarian Sylvester O'Halloran as an instrument of political protest to delegitimise the hegemonmic power of English colonial rule in Ireland.(Claire Lyons, Galway Doctoral Fellow)

Coming 'home': Place, identity and second generation return migration

This project will examine the experience of the second generation Irish from Britain who have chosen to return to their parental homeland.   It will explore the multiple meanings of home to migrant communities, the emotional attachment people develop for particular places and the way in which this feeling of connection to place can shape identity.   (Sara Hanafin, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Culture economies: traditional Irish music and the concept of sustainable rural development

This project proposes to conceptualise the link between culture and sustainable rural development by problematizing traditional Irish music as a cultural resource. Informed by historical cultural policy, the study will attempt to rationalize the different ways in which peripheral localities and communities have tapped into the resource of traditional Irish music, and how this informs ideas of self-identity in an increasingly multicultural society. (Verena Commins, Connect Doctoral Fellow)

Researchers at this centre have access to the following facilities and equipment:

View the full list of NUI Galway research facilities

We have no vacancies at this time.

Please visit our jobs section for a complete list of current vacancies.

Jack B Yeats and John Sloan: Ireland and America, 1910-1916

This project will compare and contrast the illustrations by Jack B Yeats, in the Irish magazine 'A Broadside', with the illustrations by John Sloan in the American magazine 'The Masses', and to examine the social, cultural, and political significance of their work. (Jenny Mc Carthy, Arts Faculty Postgraduate Fellow)

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann: (re)shaping tradition 1951-1972

The rationale for this research project is based on two distinct goals: firstly, to document the genesis and development of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and secondly, to further develop an epistemology of Irish music within the field of Irish Studies, using Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann as the ethnographic sample by which this can be achieved. (Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Anarchism in Irish Culture and History

This project focusses on an examination of Anarchism, both as a political philosophy and as a kind of mentalité,in Irish culture and history. The intention of this work is to inquire into the possibility of a relationship between the philosophy of anarchism and the record of rebelliousness in Ireland. (Leo Keohane , Arts Faculty Postgraduate Fellow)

Irish migration to Cuba, 1835-1844

This project will focus on the accounts of 300 Irish railroad workers, contracted in New York in 1835, to work in Havana and investigate the many questions concerning their recruitment, their experience, and their survival/settlement on the island of Cuba. Situating this migratory experience within a context of race and class politics, at a time of nationalist struggles, in two colonial islands, on either side of the Atlantic the research proposes to examine the position of this group of Irish immigrants as colonized 'Other' within the Iberian Atlantic system of slavery and colonial labour. (Margaret Brehony, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar).

Beyond the local: redefining regionalism in the traditional music of Sliabh Aughty and its diaspora

This thesis will examine the Sliabh Aughty dialect of Irish traditional music, which encompasses the traditional music communities of East Clare and East Galway. The indigenous dialectical traits, and that of its New York-based diaspora will be explored to evaluate the contribution of this archaic genre to Irish and Irish-American music culture. ( Tim Collins, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Italian 'readings' of Ireland

This project explores policies and strategies of translation informing the Italian translations of contemporary Irish authors. Primary areas of interest are translation studies, literary theory and comparative literatures. (Debora Biancheri, Lady Gregory Fellow)

The French Connection: the influence of French writing on the Galeic revival 1893-1939

Through a systematic investigation of the literary and critical work of key figures in the Gaelic revival, this study will assess the extent to which the emergence of new literary forms and ideas in Irish are directly or indirectly attributable to the influence of French writing and culture. (Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Historical 'fact' vs folk memory: the creation and representation of 'heroes' in the Irish ballad tradition

This project will examine the construction of 'heroes' in the Irish ballad tradition, their relationship to accepted historical narratives, and the influence of song in Irish social memory.(Therese McIntyre, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Ideology and language in the polemical works of the gaelic aintiquarian Sylvester O'Halloran (1728-1807): a Gramscian perspective

The purpose of this research is to examine the polemical works of the Gaelic antiquarian Sylvester O'Halloran as an instrument of political protest to delegitimise the hegemonmic power of English colonial rule in Ireland.(Claire Lyons, Galway Doctoral Fellow)

Coming 'home': Place, identity and second generation return migration

This project will examine the experience of the second generation Irish from Britain who have chosen to return to their parental homeland.   It will explore the multiple meanings of home to migrant communities, the emotional attachment people develop for particular places and the way in which this feeling of connection to place can shape identity.   (Sara Hanafin, IRCHSS Government of Ireland Scholar)

Culture economies: traditional Irish music and the concept of sustainable rural development

This project proposes to conceptualise the link between culture and sustainable rural development by problematizing traditional Irish music as a cultural resource. Informed by historical cultural policy, the study will attempt to rationalize the different ways in which peripheral localities and communities have tapped into the resource of traditional Irish music, and how this informs ideas of self-identity in an increasingly multicultural society. (Verena Commins, Connect Doctoral Fellow)

Researchers at this centre have access to the following facilities and equipment:

View the full list of NUI Galway research facilities

We have no vacancies at this time.

Please visit our jobs section for a complete list of current vacancies.