John Hume Institute for Global Irish Studies
The University is home to many of the world’s leading scholars in Irish history, archaeology, literature, culture, drama and film, political and economic studies. Crossing academic disciplines, these scholars aim to reach out beyond their individual subjects to create a centre for global Irish studies that hosts events for a wider, general audience who are interested in seeing and experiencing Ireland in all her facets.
Located within the footprint of the UCD Gateway
precinct, this state-of-the-art building will act as a national and
international hub for the study of contemporary Ireland. It will
provide high quality research accommodation for up to 150 researchers
with associated administrative, exhibition and performance space.
This facility will provide a focus for UCD's Global Ireland Programme which addresses three fundamental and overarching questions:
- How did we get here and what does it mean to be Irish in the early 21st century?
- How do we govern ourselves in order to manage the challenges and opportunities ahead?
- What can we learn from our experience in the three contexts (British-Irish, European and global) in which we find ourselves?
The vision for the John Hume Institute for Global Irish Studies is to create an iconic building housing treasures from our past and present. The Institute building will be located in a prime location within the new landmark Gateway precinct on the UCD Belfield campus. Key components for the building include:
- a double height entrance foyer to accommodate exhibitions
- event and performance space
- multi-functional lecture theatre
- library and accessible archive
- conservation and archaeological laboratories
- study and work facilities for up to 150 PhD students and researchers
The Global Ireland Programme is part of a wider initiative to develop a National Platform for the Humanities. This will create an all-island, inter-institutional, research and training infrastructure. The facility will host programme activity under the Humanities Serving Irish Society (HSIS) and the Digital Humanities Observatory (DHO) projects, both part of the National Fourth Level Platform which will enable humanities dissemination through the use of information and communications technologies.
Provision of high-quality research and graduate facilities in the Global Irish Institute will be complemented through the co-location of multi-disciplinary research teams, and the improved access to National databases, archives and collections. Bright and attractive exhibition, group project and collaboration facilities will help engage students, staff and the wider community in an understanding of Ireland’s past and the potential to shape its future.
Building Description
The building is envisaged as a four storey structure.
The new building will provide, principle investigator offices, write-up
space for graduate students, administration and research support space,
exhibition and group project facilities, room for the Digital
Humanities Observatory Project, facilities for activity under the
National Platform for the Humanities, and virtual research libraries
and data exchange node facilities.
Interaction between building users is a fundamental tenet of the fourth level experience. The provision of attractive, functional space that will promote both organised and impromptu interaction is seen as a key requirement of the overall development. Formal break-out or social areas will include multipurpose exhibition space and small group presentation rooms. Informal communication or interaction will be encouraged through the provision of data exchange nodes - informal seating, generous notice board and whiteboard area, and strategic use of circulation spaces.
Project Timeline
Development of a building brief is at the early stage.
Contact
Brian Jackson
Director
Global Irish Institute
e: brian.jackson@ucd.ie
