SIGNATURE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Villanova鈥檚 Center for Irish Studies celebrates the rich culture and history of Ireland and its diaspora with a compelling lineup of programs each academic year, bringing Irish theatre, film, dance, history, literature and more to Villanova鈥檚 campus.
In addition to events help on campus, the Center regularly collaborates on events with local Philadelphia and Delaware Valley Irish-American groups, such as the , the , the , the and the .
ANNUAL EVENTS
Heimbold Chair Readings
Each spring, the Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies offers two events. The signature event is an evening reading and talk as part of the Villanova Literary Festival, and it is held in the Presidents鈥� Lounge in Connelly Center. This event begins with a reception of alongside live Irish music, and then students from the attached English course, 鈥淎uthors on and off the Page,鈥� introduce the Heimbold Chair. The second Heimbold event is held in the afternoon in the Falvey Library Speakers鈥� Corner. It features a 鈥淐onversation with the Heimbold Chair鈥� and puts the visiting Irish writer in dialogue with other writers, academics and artists. Both events are free and open to the public.
James Joyce and St. Brigid's Birthday
Each year in early February, the Center for Irish Studies gathers at a local pub to honor the birthday (Feb. 2) and works of celebrated Irish author James Joyce and St. Brigid's Day (Feb. 1) and the traditional holiday of Imbolc. The social gathering features readings and songs by students, faculty and the general public, local Irish musicians, performances from the Villanova Irish Dance team, great food and drink, and lots of good craic! It is free and open to the public鈥攁ll are welcome.
St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Celebration
Every March, the Center celebrates St. Patrick's Day with a host of events featuring music, literature, performances and more.
Cultural Events and Academic Lectures
The Center regularly hosts Theatre productions and collaborations, film screenings, poetry readings and more cultural events open to the Villanova community and the public. Our Irish Dance Team performs in the annual Intercollegiate Irish Dance Festival, open to the public. The Center invites renowned Irish hisorians, writers and cultural icons to campus to present on a variety of topics of academic and cultural significance.
SYMPOSIUM
The Center is committed to serving as a premier academic resource for the exchange of ideas and information about the Irish diaspora, and thereby hosts academic conferences and symposiums, inaugurated in 2016 when the program was elevated to a Center thanks to a transformational gift from the Connelly Foundation.
Fall 2024
鈥淧rotesting Across the Divide: Social Movements in Conflict Societies,鈥� at 蜜桃TV
Fall 2023: "The Greening of Irish Culture: Sustainability in the Irish Public Sphere," at Monaco's , invited scholars, writers, and artists from Ireland and the diaspora to present and discuss priorities and strategies to address sustainability and climate change.
Fall 2021: 鈥淐reative Acts: The Dynamics of Artistic Ireland,鈥� at Monaco鈥檚 , examined the history, impact and support of the arts in Ireland and the diaspora through the lens of cultural institutions; diversity, inclusion and experience; and politics.
Spring 2021: 鈥淭he Northern Ireland Peace Process after Brexit,鈥� at 蜜桃TV, brought together key figures from Northern Ireland and the US who have been at the forefront of the peace process, in both research and practice.
Spring 2020: "The Referent of Ireland" at 蜜桃TV was designed to build on fresh work on reference鈥攐r how the text refers to a world outside of the text鈥攊n order to rethink the aesthetics and politics of nineteenth-century Irish literature.
Fall 2018: 鈥淣avigating the Betweens of Irish Studies鈥� was the Mid-Atlantic American Conference for Irish Studies hosted by 蜜桃TV.
Fall 2016: "Who鈥檚/Whose Irish?: Philadelphia Stories from Penn to the Present鈥� was an interdisciplinary conference to explore new directions in scholarship on the Irish in the greater Philadelphia area. Read James Murphy's, PhD, essay about the event in the
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
From left, William and Julia Moulden Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD; University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD and 19th Ambassador of Ireland to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason.
The Center for Irish Studies serves as an invaluable resource for the Irish-American community, particularly in the Philadelphia region, offering top-tier programming. With a vast network both locally and abroad, the Center is a destination for distinguished scholars and speakers. In addition to the annual Heimbold chair, Irish Ambassadors to the US, politicians and others have come to campus for events or to speak with students.