About

The College of Arts & Letters’ Irish Language Initiatives benefit from a close relationship with the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies. It has partnerships with Fulbright Ireland, Oireachtas na Gaeilge, and Oideas Gael, and it works closely with several leading Irish universities.

Irish Language Initiatives build on the University of Notre Dame’s long legacy of teaching the Irish language. The first institution in North America to teach the language, Br. Simeon (Thomas Fleming) taught Irish as an additional subject as early as 1871.

Irish Language Initiatives are now firmly committed to promoting intellectual dialogue and scholarship to provide a deeper, interdisciplinary, and critical understanding of contemporary Irish language, literature, and culture in connection with global social processes.

The program hosts visiting scholars and postdoctoral fellows; collaborates with faculty affiliates; and works closely with centers, departments, and institutes across campus and internationally.

Mission Statement

The mission of Irish Language Initiatives is to establish the University of Notre Dame as a global leader in Irish-language studies by positioning the language within critical global conversations and demonstrating its centrality to the interdisciplinary study of Ireland’s past, present, and future.

We are dedicated to advancing research through original inquiry and publication that probes Irish-language perspectives on human culture. Simultaneously, we strive to elevate student linguistic and cultural proficiency to the highest levels, fostering a sense of solidarity and concern for the common good among our students.

Beyond the academy, we are committed to initiating collaborations that translate scholarship into actionable takeaways, providing policymakers with the essential tools to address pressing issues regarding An Ghaeltacht and language policy on the island of Ireland.

Our program supports Irish language scholarship, language acquisition, and studies through the following activities:

• Organizing annual seminars and international conferences on critical issues pertaining to the Irish language
• Bringing outstanding cultural performers to the University
• Funding research by graduate and undergraduate students
• Offering the only Irish-language postdoctoral scholarship in North America
• Creating opportunities for undergraduates to reach advanced proficiency levels and cultural competency
• Facilitating students studying in Ireland and attending cultural events such as Oireachtas na Gaeilge
• Advising on the university library’s world-class Irish-language collection