Irish Studies

Why Galway?
Much to the irritation of non-natives, Galway continues to claim the title of Ireland’s capital of culture, home to the Druid Theatre Company, An Taibhdhearc, the Galway Arts Festival, Babaró Children’s Festival, the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, and Macnas, who pioneered street-theatre in Ireland.

Within striking distance of the Aran Islands, and the rich musical hinterlands of Clare, and Sligo, Galway is also a UNESCO city of film, and will shortly be declared Ireland’s premier bilingual city. A short distance from the city, the Connemara Gaeltacht is the largest in the country and the traditional arts of sean-nós song and dance make their own contribution to the city’s dynamic cultural diversity.

Why Irish Studies?
Irish Studies offers small group teaching in a supportive environment and a programme of study designed to meet the needs of individual students, preparing them for life and work outside the classroom through a range of transferable skills while deepening their knowledge and understanding of modern and contemporary Irish culture.

Our graduates have gone on to take up positions in teaching, journalism, administration, and marketing and to further study in Ireland and overseas. Graduates of Irish Studies have also competed successfully for prestigious research funding awards, both nationally and internationally.

Why me?
Irish Studies is particularly suited to students with a deep interest in modern and contemporary Irish literature, music, history, language and culture. The emphasis in all our programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels is on new approaches to Irish writing, and to Irish music and dance, both popular and traditional.