MA in Irish History and Civilisation
Where does Irish history come from? From the 1630s a small group of scholars, led by the Franciscan Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, wrote an entire history of Ireland from the beginning of time right up to their own date. This one-year taught MA course concentrates on this achievement and asks questions about its nature, aims and significance. These scholars debated about Ireland and its people, their histories and identities. These debates underlie the way many people look at the history of Ireland today. This course will draw on the Franciscan manuscripts, now held in UCD Archives, and will offer students a privileged insight into the nature of 'Irishnesss'.
This MA is part of the MA in History programme and has close links with other MA strands, including those specialising in the histories of early medieval and early modern Ireland. It is also relevant for those interested in questions of heritage and identity. For further information see here where you can also download the programme.
You can go straight to online applications here.
Course Director: Dr John McCafferty
Writing Irish History: The Four Masters and their World Online Exhibition
In 2007 a unique collaborative exhibition between the Irish Franciscans, the Royal Irish Academy, Trinity College Library, the Franciscan Library Killiney, the UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute and UCD Archives was mounted in the Long Room, Trinity College Library as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of St Anthony’s College in Louvain. The exhibition brought together all surviving copies of the Annals of the Four Masters for the first time since they were written in the 1630s as well as a wide selection of medieval and early modern manuscripts and rare books.
'Bringing History to the People': UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute and Franciscan Friaries Outreach Programme
The UCD Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute has developed outreach activities by connecting with Franciscan friaries throughout the country. These projects engage various groups in exploring aspects of history, as reflected in the history of the local Franciscan friary, through school projects in art and music, exhibitions, lectures and historical tours. Successful events were held in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal in 2007 and in Ennis, Co Clare in 2009 and another Cork City on 28-29 August 2010. Such collaboration leads to a stronger sense of identity in a community and to researchers communicating their work in a comprehensible style to the public.
The 'With My Bare Hands' Project, Heritage Week (27-28 August 2010), Granary Theatre, Cork City
The Heritage Council and the Arts Council awarded the Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute, the School of History, University College Cork and the Franciscan friary, Cork a grant to develop a performance based on the fourteenth-century account of a pilgrimage from Ireland to Jerusalem written by the Clonmel friar Simon FitzSimon (Symon Simeonis). The project involved historians (Dr Edel Bhreathnach, Dr Malgorzata Krasnodebska-D'Aughton), an actor (Mark D'Aughton) and a creative scriptwriter (Frances Kay) working with a youth drama group towards performances of the medieval narrative throughout Munster in 2010. A highly innovative performance was staged in the Granary Theatre, Mardyke, Cork City as part of Heritage Week 2010 on 28-29 August 2010.