Enriching the international dimensions of education
The Center for Irish Studies
Honoring our roots
Archbishop John Ireland, the Irish-born founder of the University of St. Thomas, believed education was how the Irish and Irish-American communities could best honor their heritage, and secure their future.
In March 1996, the university formally established the Center for Irish Studies. Since then, St. Thomas has flourished as a national presence for scholarship and programs devoted to Irish culture, literature and the arts. Our Irish roots can be found throughout campus, including the widely-recognized New Hibernia Review and the Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Poetry, as well as the Celtic Collection, which was started back in 1917.
The Center for Irish Studies advances teaching and scholarship in Irish studies for students, faculty and friends of the university through its publications, instruction and public programs. The Center enriches the international dimensions of education at St. Thomas and affirms the many historic and contemporary bonds between the university, Ireland, and the Irish-American community.
Jessica Traynor Wins the 27th O’Shaughnessy Poetry Award
The Center for Irish Studies and College of Arts and Sciences announced Jessica Traynor as the recipient of the 27th Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Poetry. The only prize of its type in the world, the O’Shaughnessy Award is granted to a poet resident in Ireland who makes significant contributions to the country’s cultural landscape and, with thanks to the generosity of the O’Shaughnessy family, to the U.S. as well.
Public Reading
In celebration of her award, we will host a public reading on Monday, May 8th from 7-9pm in the Iversen Hearth Room (ASC 340). President Rob Vischer will offer brief remarks and Traynor will read from her most recent collection, Pit Lullabies. This event is free and open to the public.
Our Contributions to the Community
New Hibernia Review
New Hibernia Review is a multidisciplinary journal of Irish Studies and the cornerstone of the Center for Irish Studies. It offers plainly argued writing on Irish life and culture for the scholar and lay reader alike. Through its journal, the Center actively seeks to present a variety of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives, in addition to the traditional literary and historical study of the Irish culture and people.
Each issue also includes an opening memoir or informal essay, a suite of new poems from an Irish poet and book reviews. Content contributors can contact the editor for more information.
Subscribe today:
Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Poetry
The Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Poetry was established in 1997 to honor outstanding Irish poets. Since then, the Center for Irish Studies has invited and celebrated many world-renowned poets with the support of the St. Thomas and Twin Cities communities.
The prize honors both the literary achievement of the poet and their contribution to the writing community in Ireland. Honored poets have visited St. Thomas for up to a week where they meet with students, visit classes and take part in a variety of public events. The visit concludes with a free public reading on campus.
The Celtic Collection
The Celtic Collection at the University of St. Thomas contains over 17,000 titles, making it one of the most significant Irish archives in the United States.
It includes:
- The O'Shaughnessy Collection of Irish Poetry
- The O'Shaughnessy Prize and Traffic Street Press
- The Irish American Cultural Institute Papers
- The Literary Magazine Collection
The collection was established on the eve of Irish independence in 1917. The Ancient Order of the Hibernians of Minnesota made the first donation to the collection of 500 documents mostly related to Irish politics in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Since then, the collection has grown significantly, including rare Irish poetry volumes, first editions from several small art presses of the early 20th century and much more.
New Hibernia Review
New Hibernia Review is a multidisciplinary journal of Irish Studies and the cornerstone of the Center for Irish Studies. It offers plainly argued writing on Irish life and culture for the scholar and lay reader alike. Through its journal, the Center actively seeks to present a variety of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives, in addition to the traditional literary and historical study of the Irish culture and people.
Each issue also includes an opening memoir or informal essay, a suite of new poems from an Irish poet and book reviews. Content contributors can contact the editor for more information.
Subscribe today:
Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Poetry
The Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Poetry was established in 1997 to honor outstanding Irish poets. Since then, the Center for Irish Studies has invited and celebrated many world-renowned poets with the support of the St. Thomas and Twin Cities communities.
The prize honors both the literary achievement of the poet and their contribution to the writing community in Ireland. Honored poets have visited St. Thomas for up to a week where they meet with students, visit classes and take part in a variety of public events. The visit concludes with a free public reading on campus.
The Celtic Collection
The Celtic Collection at the University of St. Thomas contains over 17,000 titles, making it one of the most significant Irish archives in the United States.
It includes:
- The O'Shaughnessy Collection of Irish Poetry
- The O'Shaughnessy Prize and Traffic Street Press
- The Irish American Cultural Institute Papers
- The Literary Magazine Collection
The collection was established on the eve of Irish independence in 1917. The Ancient Order of the Hibernians of Minnesota made the first donation to the collection of 500 documents mostly related to Irish politics in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Since then, the collection has grown significantly, including rare Irish poetry volumes, first editions from several small art presses of the early 20th century and much more.
Leadership
Dr. David Gardiner
Dr. David Gardiner joined St. Thomas in 2019 as the Director of Irish Studies and Editor of the New Hibernia Review.
Bio
James Silas Rogers
James Silas Rogers is the Director Emeritus of Irish Studies.
Thomas Dillon Redshaw
Thomas Dillon Redshaw is the Founding Director and Honorary Editor of New Hibernia Review. He retired from St. Thomas in 2012.
Contact Us
Questions? Feel free to reach out to learn more about the Center for Irish Studies.
Mailing Address
Mail #5008
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Campus Location
We are located in room 122 of the O'Shaughnessy Education Center