Welcome to Irish Studies

 

Ireland and Empire: Seafaring, Slavery and Salvation in the Nineteenth-Century Atlantic World

June 7-9, 2012

“Ireland and Empire: Seafaring, Slaving and Salvation in the Nineteenth-Century Atlantic World” aims to bring together scholars whose work considers the representation and experience of the Irish in the British Empire during the nineteenth century. The conference sub-themes reflect areas of intensive transatlantic activity that involved Irish men and women of all classes and faiths. Several sessions of the conference will address various aspects of the Irish Catholic experience in the empire from the West Indies to Quebec, which to date has received far less attention than that of the United States. Irish scholars are beginning to grapple with the history of involvement in the African Slave trade and this is a particularly important sub-theme of “Ireland and Empire” since Irish involvement in both the slave trade and in the abolition movement reflected the often ambivalent relationship that many had with empire. The conference will also examine the Irish role in governing the empire and the role Irishmen in the British military had in enforcing imperial rule. “Ireland and Empire” will, however, focus on the Irish in the Royal Navy. Finally, by highlighting the experience of one medical family as a case study, the conference will also explore the experience of Irish medical practitioners and their relationship to the expansion and professionalization of medicine within the empire.   [Conference Program]

 

Irish Cinema

Fall 2012, students may be interested in taking a special topics course in Film Studies at Dalhousie University. THEA 4390.03 Special Topics in Film Studies: Irish Cinema can be taken through a Letter of Permission. This is an introduction to Irish cinema. The course moves more or less chronologically, and students will watch a wide variety of films: fiction films, documentaries, and some animation. Prerequisites needed are THEA 2311.03 (Film Analysis) and at least one other Film Studies course. Students interested in taking this course should meet with Dr. Michael Vance regarding the Letter of Permission.

The D'Arcy McGee Chair of Irish Studies

The D'Arcy McGee Chair of Irish Studies was established at Saint Mary's University by Dr. Cyril J. Byrne in the spring of 1986 by means of an endowment from the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax and the University. This was matched by the Department of the Secretary of State of Canada, Multiculturalism Directorate, under the terms of the Endowment Assistance Program.

With these initial funds, the Chair was set up to form a focal point for the study of all aspects of Irish and Irish-Canadian culture, particularly language, literature, history, political science and folklore. While Irish Studies inter-disciplinary courses are mainly for undergraduate students, donations to the trust fund have make possible the development of research projects and the expansion of library holdings at the Patrick Power Library, thus serving to attract graduate students and scholars in the field.

Another important concern of the Chair is interaction with the general community. This has be achieved through the provision of opportunities for local residents and others to pursue their interests in Irish and Irish-Canadian studies through lectures and other similar activities.

The choice of Saint Mary's University as a centre for Irish and Irish-Canadian studies is a natural one. Saint Mary's was originally founded by members of the Irish Catholic community in Halifax and has kept many of its Irish connections to the present. An early President, Father Richard Baptist O'Brien, taught monoglot Irish Haligonians in the Irish language, and for many years the college was run by the Christian Brothers, an educational religious order founded in Ireland. Further, while the influx of Irish immigrants was fairly general throughout the Atlantic region in the nineteenth century, Halifax was one of the major ports of entry.

The foundation of the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax (1786) to relieve the sufferings of the indigent Irish poor was remarkable not only for its early date but also because the Society was from the beginning non—sectarian. The Chair of Irish Studies has sought to maintain and expand this ecumenical spirit of ethnic solidarity and generosity by offering the culture and heritage of the Irish and Irish—Canadians to all who are interested in studying the varying streams of Irish culture.

This page last modified Friday, 27-Apr-2012 13:23:04 ADT