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Studies & Degrees in Irish Culture

Irish culture is studied at university under the name Irish studies: an interdisciplinary field that looks at Ireland and its diaspora through literature, history, language, music, politics and religion. It is not a single discipline. A student reads novels and poetry in one course, studies the history of emigration in another and may learn some Irish (Gaeilge) in a third.

The subject has plenty of material. Four writers born on the island have won the Nobel Prize in Literature: W.B. Yeats in 1923, George Bernard Shaw in 1925, Samuel Beckett in 1969 and Seamus Heaney in 1995. Yeats and Lady Gregory founded the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1904 as a national theatre for Ireland. UNESCO has inscribed three Irish practices on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: uilleann piping in 2017, hurling in 2018 and Irish harping in 2019.

What students learn

Programmes are built from courses given by several departments. Hofstra University, for example, lists courses on Irish business, dance, film, history, literature, politics, religion, theatre and society. Fordham University draws on literature, history, Catholic studies and political science. Common themes are:

  • Literature in English and in Irish, from early texts to contemporary fiction and drama
  • History: colonisation, the Great Famine, emigration, independence and the conflict in Northern Ireland
  • The Irish language and its present position
  • Traditional music, dance and sport
  • The Irish diaspora, especially in the United States

Language is a real part of the subject. The Constitution of Ireland names Irish as the national language and first official language, with English recognised as a second official language. In the 2022 census 1,873,997 people said they could speak Irish, 40% of the population aged three and over who answered the question, according to the Central Statistics Office. Sport is another: UNESCO describes hurling as a field game played by two teams that dates back 2,000 years.

Qualifications and levels

In the United States, Irish culture is mostly offered as a minor, a secondary field of study taken next to a main subject (the major) within a four-year bachelor's degree. Both programmes described on this page work that way. Fordham's Institute of Irish Studies offers an interdisciplinary minor designed to pair with a variety of majors, and students choose the emphasis themselves. Hofstra offers an undergraduate minor in Irish Studies.

Elsewhere the subject also exists as a master's degree and as a doctoral research area, usually in departments of English, history or Celtic studies, and universities in Ireland run summer schools and study abroad semesters for visiting students. The length and credit value of each programme depend on the university, so check the programme page before applying.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists three active schools for Irish culture, all in the United States and all in or near New York: Fordham University in New York City, Hofstra University in Hempstead, on Long Island, and Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Teaching is in English.

Fordham, a Jesuit university founded in 1841, states that it is home to the first Irish studies programme in the United States; its institute also hosts conferences, lectures and Irish cultural events on campus. Hofstra's programme has a film series, a lecture series and partnerships with Irish organisations on Long Island and in Queens. Fairfield University is a Jesuit university founded in 1942; its current Irish studies offer could not be confirmed from its website for this page, so ask the university directly.

A semester or summer in Ireland is the usual complement to a minor taken abroad. Students who plan one should ask their home university which credits it will recognise.

Careers

Irish studies is an academic field, not a professional qualification, and it is normally combined with another subject. Hofstra states that its minor may prepare students for careers in the arts, conflict resolution, international affairs, international business, education and translation, and for advanced degrees in a wide range of subjects. Graduates also work in publishing, museums and heritage organisations, cultural tourism and journalism. There are no official employment statistics for the field on its own.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Irish to study Irish culture?

No. The programmes listed here are taught in English. Irish language courses are an option in many programmes and are useful for anyone who wants to read early literature or continue to research.

Can I take a full degree in Irish culture?

At the universities listed here it is a minor taken alongside a major, not a full degree. Master's degrees and doctorates in Irish studies exist at other universities.

What is the difference between Irish studies and Celtic studies?

Irish studies covers Ireland and its diaspora across several disciplines, mostly through English-language sources. Celtic studies concentrates on the Celtic languages (Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton and others) and their older literature.