Gaeilge Goes Global – Irish government funds Celtic position at StFX

The StFX Celtic Studies department has added another full-time professor to its department this year thanks to the Irish government. And that’s good news for both the department and its students.

Prof. Simon Innes joined StFX Celtic Studies in September 2008 on a nine-month contract supported by a fund administered through the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs’ Ciste na Gaeilge, an Irish federal fund which supports various projects and organizations whose aim is to promote the Irish language.

His position means the department is able to offer classes in first and second year Irish Gaelic as well as a literature course in medieval Gaelic religious texts.

Students in Prof. Innes’ Irish Gaelic class

“It enabled us this year to expand our Irish Gaelic studies quite extensively,” says department chair Dr. Ken Nilsen, who has taught Irish Gaelic over the years including a course on Irish folklore since 1985.

Dr. Nilsen said he became aware of this special grant for third level teaching of Irish Gaelic overseas, and decided to apply. The grant is given especially to universities that have a track record in Irish studies.

StFX has a long history in teaching Irish studies. While the department usually offers a first year Irish Gaelic course, due to the department’s small faculty complement, it is only occasionally able to offer the second year course.

Prof. Innes is currently completing his PhD in Celtic Studies at the University of Glasgow. A native of Scotland and also a fluent learner of Scottish Gaelic, he began learning Irish Gaelic during his undergraduate degree. He has lived in Ireland where he participated in a university study exchange .

Prof. Innes says his time at StFX has been very beneficial. “I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been interesting to be involved in the Celtic Studies department. The student interest has been good. The students are doing very well, and the language lab element part of the course is bringing along their spoken skills.”

Some students have already expressed an interest in doing an immersion course in Ireland, he said, and the department is looking at establishing a regular Irish conversation circle.

Since 2006, when Irish Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv announced he was establishing a special fund of €300,000 per annum to promote the teaching of the Irish language at institutions abroad, the fund has helped support teaching of Irish at 30 different institutions from Boston to Berlin. Minister Ó Cuiv is the son of well-known Celtic scholar Brian Ó Cuiv and grandson of Éamon de Valera, one of the dominant political figures in 20th century Ireland.