Taoiseach launches Centre for Children’s Literature

In an exciting new development, the St Patrick’s Centre for Children’s Literature and Culture Studies was launched at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, on Monday 12 June by the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern TD.

Building on St Patrick's College English Department’s pioneering work in creating and developing Ireland’s only taught MA programme in children’s literature, and the College’s expanding doctoral programme in children’s literature, the Centre will provide a new focus for the study of children’s literature and culture in Ireland. The multidisciplinary nature of the Centre will enable scholars to focus on all aspects of children’s and young people’s literature and culture, from classic stories, poems, games and rhymes, to comics, graphic novels, film, video, rock music and lyrics, computer games, blog sites, and text messaging! The centre will facilitate the engagement of young people in taking ownership of and evaluating their own culture.

It will host seminars and conferences. It will build on its record of publications in children’s literature and culture, and will welcome visiting scholars, experts and students from abroad.

The Centre will offer teaching and research fellowships and scholarships. It will engage in joint projects with other institutions at home and abroad where appropriate. It is envisaged that a dedicated physical space will be devoted to the centre as part of the college’s building programme.

Such centres have been successfully established in places as far apart as California and South Africa as well as nearer home in France, Germany and Great Britain. St Patrick’s Centre will be the first such centre in Ireland.

Further information on the English Department may be accessed here.
Taoiseach launches Centre for Childrens Literature

Pictured at the launch (l-r) are Dr Pauric Travers, President, Dr Mary Shine Thompson, Co-ordinator of Research and Lecturer in English, Ms Celia Keenan, Director of the MA in Children's Literature, Mr Bertie Ahern TD, Taoiseach , and Dr Brenna Clarke, Head of English
last updated: Wednesday June 21 2006

Last Updated: Thursday September 21 2006