Program in Irish Studies
 The Irish Studies Program explores various aspects of a culture which has produced the oldest vernacular literature in Europe, a rich tradition of Celtic art, and a devotion to scholarship which perhaps was crucial in saving Western civilization. As a nation, Ireland has had a long, turbulent and fascinating history. In the last century, Ireland has changed from a conservative, agricultural country to a modern, technologically aware one, from a colony of Great Britain to a free, democratic republic, and from one of the poorest nation's in the world to one of its most prosperous.
Irish Studies at Fairfield affords students the opportunity to investigate the contributions of Ireland to the world in terms of its literature, history, politics, film, and art. Now affiliated with the National University of Ireland, Galway, The Irish Studies program, through study aborad, also allows students to take Irish focused courses in archeology, economics, sociology, linguistics, and the Irish language.
Profile
John Daly '08
Irish studies minor
 "My grandfather was an immigrant from Belfast and I have had an interest in Ireland and Irish history since I was young. With the Irish Studies minor, I have gained a better understanding of my family history and the country's own exciting past. I've been given the chance to look critically at the political unrest and read some of the great Irish writers and playwrights, and I took the Galway Experience over the summer to witness the country's beauty firsthand. There I studied everything from folklore to politics and got a chance to witness the culture from tour groups to the Aran Islands and Gaelic football in the All-Ireland Tournament. The program gives me a chance to gain a better understanding of my family roots and a culture that is very interesting to me." |
| 
