裡橖眻畦

SIGNATURE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

裡橖眻畦s Center for Irish Studies celebrates the rich culture and history of Ireland and its diaspora with a compelling lineup of programs each academic year, bringing Irish theatre, film, dance, history, literature and more to 裡橖眻畦s campus.

In addition to events help on campus, the Center regularly collaborates on events with local Philadelphia and Delaware Valley Irish-American groups, such as the , the , the , the  and the .  

ANNUAL EVENTS

Heimbold Chair Readings

Each spring, the Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies offers two events. The signature event is an evening reading and talk as part of the 裡橖眻畦 Literary Festival, and it is held in the Presidents Lounge in Connelly Center. This event begins with a reception of alongside live Irish music, and then students from the attached English course, Authors on and off the Page, introduce the Heimbold Chair. The second Heimbold event is held in the afternoon in the Falvey Library Speakers Corner. It features a Conversation with the Heimbold Chair and puts the visiting Irish writer in dialogue with other writers, academics and artists. Both events are free and open to the public.

  

James Joyce and St. Brigid's Birthday

Each year in early February, the Center for Irish Studies gathers at a local pub to honor the birthday (Feb. 2) and works of celebrated Irish author James Joyce and St. Brigid's Day (Feb. 1) and the traditional holiday of Imbolc. The social gathering features readings and songs by students, faculty and the general public, local Irish musicians, performances from the 裡橖眻畦 Irish Dance team, great food and drink, and lots of good craic! It is free and open to the publicall are welcome.

  

St. Patricks Day Celebration

Every March, the Center celebrates St. Patrick's Day with a host of events featuring music, literature, performances and more. 

  • The Center for Irish Studies, in partnership with the 裡橖眻畦 University Alumni Association, hosted "Links Across the Atlantic," the 2021 St. Patricks' Day Celebration. The event included live segments of entertainment, from breakfast in Galway to lunch in Dublin, and culminated in a streamed Irish Music F癡is/Festival in the evening with renowned artists.

  • with Lunasa members Kevin Crawford (flute), Patrick Doocey (guitar), Cillian Vallely (Uilleann pipes); Karan Casey and Niall VallelyEileen Ivers and her band Caitlin Golding and Garrett Coleman; Joanie Madden (from Cherish the Ladies) and Dylan Foley (fiddler extraordinaire)
  • Se獺n Tyrrell and ine Tyrrell live concert, 

  

Cultural Events and Academic Lectures

The Center regularly hosts Theatre productions and collaborations, film screenings, poetry readings and more cultural events open to the 裡橖眻畦 community and the public. Our Irish Dance Team performs in the annual Intercollegiate Irish Dance Festival, open to the public. The Center invites renowned Irish hisorians, writers and cultural icons to campus to present on a variety of topics of academic and cultural significance.

  

SYMPOSIUM

The Center is committed to serving as a premier academic resource for the exchange of ideas and information about the Irish diaspora, and thereby hosts academic conferences and symposiums, inaugurated in 2016 when the program was elevated to a Center thanks to a transformational gift from the Connelly Foundation.

Fall 2024

Protesting Across the Divide: Social Movements in Conflict Societies, at 裡橖眻畦 University  

Fall 2023: "The Greening of Irish Culture: Sustainability in the Irish Public Sphere," at Monaco's , invited scholars, writers, and artists from Ireland and the diaspora to present and discuss priorities and strategies to address sustainability and climate change.

Fall 2021: Creative Acts: The Dynamics of Artistic Ireland, at Monacos , examined the history, impact and support of the arts in Ireland and the diaspora through the lens of cultural institutions; diversity, inclusion and experience; and politics.

Spring 2021: The Northern Ireland Peace Process after Brexit, at 裡橖眻畦 University, brought together key figures from Northern Ireland and the US who have been at the forefront of the peace process, in both research and practice.

Spring 2020: "The Referent of Ireland" at 裡橖眻畦 University was designed to build on fresh work on referenceor how the text refers to a world outside of the textin order to rethink the aesthetics and politics of nineteenth-century Irish literature.

Fall 2018: Navigating the Betweens of Irish Studies was the Mid-Atlantic American Conference for Irish Studies hosted by 裡橖眻畦 University.

Fall 2016: "Whos/Whose Irish?: Philadelphia Stories from Penn to the Present was an interdisciplinary conference to explore new directions in scholarship on the Irish in the greater Philadelphia area. Read James Murphy's, PhD, essay about the event in the 

  

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS

Group picture of University leadership and Irish visitors.
From left, William and Julia Moulden Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD; University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD and 19th Ambassador of Ireland to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason.

The Center for Irish Studies serves as an invaluable resource for the Irish-American community, particularly in the Philadelphia region, offering top-tier programming. With a vast network both locally and abroad, the Center is a destination for distinguished scholars and speakers. In addition to the annual Heimbold chair, Irish Ambassadors to the US, politicians and others have come to campus for events or to speak with students.

Director: Joseph Lennon, PhD
joseph.lennon@villanova.edu

Center Administrator: Danielle Redden
d.redden@villanova.edu

Administrative Assistant: Kiersten Ludy
kiersten.ludy@villanova.edu