Irish Studies—Literature & History (MA)

This is an interdisciplinary programme, drawing on the disciplines of English, History, Irish, Sociology and Political Science, and is run within the Centre for Irish Studies. The programme focuses on the 19th and 20th centuries and provides a critical examination of key issues in the historical, cultural and social development of modern Ireland. The approach is interdisciplinary throughout, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the Irish experience from the early 19th century to the present day. The Centre for Irish Studies, which offers this MA, has established itself as one of the premier locations worldwide for interdisciplinary research and advanced teaching on the cultural, social and political endeavours of Irish people, in Ireland and beyond.  As the only centre dedicated to Irish Studies in Ireland, its integrated, interdisciplinary programme of learning explores key aspects of the Irish experience in its historical and contemporary settings.

As well as the Irish-language module on campus, students will receive further instruction in the Connemara Gaeltacht, attending two intensive Irish language weekend courses in the Connemara Gaeltacht. Field trips, guest seminars and workshops are also scheduled throughout the academic year.

Graduate Research Training is provided to support and direct MA dissertation research.

Subjects in this course are:-

• Required IS105: Young Ireland to the Free State: Writing in English, 1849-1922
• Required IS106: Decline & Revival: Language, Literature & Society 1800-1939
• Required IS104: Ideology, Politics & Society in Ireland, 1800-1921
• Required IS108: The Politics of Modernity: Writing in English, 1922 to the present
• Required IS109: Gaelic & Free: Cultural Politics & Writing in Irish since 1939
• Required IS204: Dissertation
• Required IS107: Divided Ireland: Politics & Society since 1921