Fourth Irish Studies Seminar

The 4th Irish Studies Seminar, a two-week, cross-border collaborative programme involving St Patrick's College and Stranmillis University College in Belfast, took place in June. This is a 2-week programme for students and faculty from Middlesex Community College, Lowell, Massachusetts and is one of the developments that has arisen out of the Wider Horizons Programme. Ten students and two members of staff attended. The visitors spent the first week in Belfast and the second in Dublin staying at St Patrick's College. The seminar involved a mixed series of lectures and visits to places of cultural, political, historical and theatrical interest in both the North and the South of Ireland. Participation in the seminar entitles students to three course credits in their College. The interdisciplinary academic programme in St Patrick's College involved a range of inputs from College staff including Dr Alan Titley who lectured to the group on the topic of Irish literature; Dr Daire Keogh who spoke about the founding of the Irish state; Dr Andy Burke who lectured about the Irish educational system; and Dr Carmel Dinan who talked about contemporary Irish society. Mr Michael Mangan also welcomed the group to St Patrick's Primary School and facilitated classroom observation by the visitors whilst there. Guided tours and lectures were also conducted at Dublin Castle, Trinity College, the Dáil, and Kilmainham Jail. The programme was organised and co-ordinated in the North by Maurice Blease of Stranmillis College, and in the South by Carmel Dinan of the Education Department.