Summer 2021 – Irish Studies in Ireland

On this program, students will immerse themselves in the life and culture of Ireland. Students will combine reading, classroom discussion, group stays and excursions throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and individual exploration to learn about Ireland past and present. The program will include:

reading and discussing modern Irish short stories, poems, and plays
visiting numerous sites of historical and cultural importance
attending plays, films, and festivals such as the Galway International Arts Festival and the Féile an Phobail in Belfast
interacting with working writers, historians, and performers in order to gain a better understanding of how Irish history, literature, politics, and the arts have informed each other

To understand how Ireland has been imagined and represented in selected works by distinguished 20^th and 21^st century writers
To learn about Irish history and politics, and how they have shaped and informed Irish literature and culture
To experience Irish rural and urban landscapes, and to gain an awareness of their presence in Irish history, literature, and art
To challenge and expand our cultural, aesthetic, and personal values through exposure to new ideas and environments

There are no prerequisites. The seminar is open to students of any major at Carleton. Participants are urged, prior to the start of the program, to take any 100-level or higher English course.

18 Credits

ENGL 274: Modern Irish Literature in Ireland (6 credits)

In Dublin we will read and discuss works by Joyce, Frank O’Connor, and Eavan Boland; in Galway, poems by Yeats; and in Northern Ireland, works by Seamus Heaney, Ciaran Carson, and Brian Friel, among others. We will also meet with writers and attend readings, lectures, films, and plays.

Instructor: Constance Walker

ENGL 264: Irish History and Culture (6 credits)

In this course we will examine the beliefs, practices, and relationships that shaped the Irish historical experience, providing students with an historical grounding for their explorations and studies in Ireland. In addition to history and politics, topics will include language, folklore, music, and visual culture.

Instructor: Local faculty

ENGL 292: Irish Field Studies (6 credits)

In consultation with the director, students will work in pairs or groups of three to design an independent research project that demonstrates their knowledge of Ireland. The projects will focus on Irish sites of cultural significance chosen by students: an archaeological site such as Newgrange, a historic building such as Kilmainham Gaol, a Belfast mural or other public artwork—the possibilities are vast. Student groups will design a presentation (e.g., digital slideshow, poster board, artistic collage, etc.) and present their projects at the end of the term.

Instructor: Constance Walker

Constance Walker is the Class of 1944 Professor of English and the Liberal Arts at Carleton College. Her scholarship focuses on British literature of the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries; she teaches courses oConstance Walker is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of English at Carleton. Her scholarship focuses on British literature of the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries; she teaches courses on British Romanticism, Jane Austen, and Irish literature. She has previously led ten off-campus programs in the UK and Ireland for Carleton and the ACM.

Students will stay in self-catering university apartments and dorms, youth hostels, and cottages.

Students will travel to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, live in Dublin, Belfast, Galway, and County Mayo, and attend the Galway International Arts Festival and the Féile an Phobail. In addition to regular visits to museums, there will be excursions to County Donegal, Newgrange, Croagh Patrick, the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, Thoor Ballylee and Coole Park, Derry, Giant’s Causeway, and numerous stately homes and castles.

Program will take place mid-June to late-August. Specific dates will be announced later.

All Carleton-sponsored summer break programs cover the costs of instruction, lodging, meals, group excursions, public transportation, medical and evacuation insurance, travel assistance, and most cultural events.

Students are responsible for passports and visas (when required), books and supplies, transportation to and from the program sites, and personal expenses during the program. Students will receive a program-specific Additional Cost Estimate.

Financial assistance is available. See the Off-Campus Studies website for further information on billing, financial aid, and scholarships.

The Ireland Seminar functions as a Carleton term of the academic year. Participants are required to take a leave of absence during the following winter term 2022; juniors should consult with the program director to plan for Comps.