We're still on schedule for a Fall 2015 launch. The exploratory committee has put together an Irish & Irish American Studies minor proposal, which we've shoved off shore, so it's now begun its journey to about a dozen bureaucratic ports of call. First stops: all the academic departments that could be offering courses (Anthropology, Art History, English, Geography/Political Science, History, International Business, Music, Theatre, etc.). Final edits will come later this month. You can see the draft curriculum at our website.

Our very own Stephen White and the late David Heisser have written a biography of Charleston's Catholic Bishop Lynch, who, among other things, was the Confederate emissary to the Vatican. White will launch his book at the College of Charleston sometime this fall:

You can pre-order the volume from Amazon.com.

Joe Kelly and Trish Ward (both in the English department) will be offering students a 6-hour study-abroad course in Summer 2015. We'll study ancient Irish myths, especially the Finian and Ulster Cycles, their Medieval transmission from oral to literary culture, and their revival by writers like W. B. Yeats, J. M. Synge, Lady Gregory, and James Joyce in the 1890s and early 1900s. We'll spend time on both the east and west coasts, with highlights in Dublin and Sligo. The background picture is from our 2013 trip--in Doolan town looking at the Cliffs of Moher; the Aran Islands are off camera to the right. The video below was made by 2009 students.

On a visit to Charleston this summer, Paul Gleeson of the Irish Consulate in Atlanta took time out to meet with Joe Kelly and express his excitement about Irish and Irish American Studies at CofC, and he promised his help in promoting the new program. We look forward to a great working relationship with the Consul General.

Irish and Irish American Studies hopes to provide a comprehensive calendar of events of interest to the local community. If you have any event you'd like to add to the calendar, please send it to Joe Kelly, kellyj@cofc.edu.

The American/Celtic fab four, Castle Crossing, will be playing at the Scottish Games (see a link to the games above), and then again at the John's Island Irish pub, Seanachí (18 October, 8-11pm).

Cara Delay, History

Joe Kelly, English

Mark Long, Political Science

Moore Quinn, Anthropology

Trish Ward, English

Stephen White, Irish Historical Society/Karpelles Manuscript Museum

Email: kellyj@cofc.edu
Location: College of Charleston, George Street, Charleston, SC, United States
Phone: 843-953-4815

CofC student on the shore at Doolan, looking across at the Cliffs of Moher, July 2013.