To: My Colleagues at Massasoit

From: Conor Johnston, Ph.D.

Date: January 7, 2000

Subject: Irish-American Studies at Massasoit Community College

Academic Vice-President Dr. Paul Beran has asked me to write to you on the above subject, as some of you may be interested in getting involved at some stage with Irish-American Studies. My sabbatical project, which has the enthusiastic support of Vice-President Beran and Massasoit President Robert Rose, is to establish a series of courses in Irish-American Studies at Massasoit, with the intention of developing a strong link with a four-year institution so that students would actually be able to minor in the field of Irish-American Studies.

You will be aware that there are Irish Studies Programs at many institutions across the country. These programs concentrate almost exclusively on the study of matters related to the island of Ireland. But there is no way in academia to formally study the Irish-American experience. (This is rather amazing, given that here are over 40 million people of Irish descent in the U.S.) Thus, all going well, Massasoit and whatever four-year institution we link up with will have the honor and prestige of establishing the first Irish-American Studies Program in the United States. (The studying of the Irish-American experience would, incidentally, by no means obviate study of the "mother country" as an understanding of the Irish experience is essential to an understanding of the Irish-American experience.)

Massasoit, in terms of timing, student population and location is in an excellent position to get this program underway. There is at present a growing interest in the United States in Irish-American matters. Witness, for example, the Irish Famine Commemorations of 1997, the role played by the U.S. in the Irish peace process and the ongoing growth in business relations and cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Ireland. In terms of student population, Massasoit has a large number of students of Irish-American background and there is a large Irish-American population in our service area. We are also perfectly positioned to draw upon: (1) the resources of other area institutions with interests in Irish culture (for example, Stonehill College, UMASS-Boston, and Boston College,) (2) the rich Irish-American culture of Boston and its environs, (3) and, for guest speakers, the scores of Irish writers, politicians and business people who pass through Massachusetts every year and are living examples of the Irish-American nexus.

Irish-American Studies at Massasoit and the four-year institution we link up with will have three parts: (i) course work, (ii) a brief "immersion" study visit to Ireland, and (iii) cultural enrichment.

1. The History of the British-Irish Relationship (3 credits)
2. An Introduction to the Irish (Gaelic) Language (3 credits)
3. The History and Sociology of Irish Immigration to the U.S. (3 credits)
4. Irish-American Politics (3 credits)
5. The Irish Voice in America – Literature, Theatre, and Journalism (3 credits)
6. The U.S. and Ireland – A History of Formal and Informal, Friendly and Unfriendly Relations (3 credits)

The above list of courses is a sampling. It by no means covers all areas of Irish-American Studies. Students minoring in Irish-American Studies will select six three-credit courses over two years from twelve courses offered. I envision eight of the courses being offered at the four-year institution and four at Massasoit. These courses are also expected to attract significant numbers of students who are not minoring in Irish Studies but are simply interested in a particular course.

1. Study in Ireland: Irish-American Studies program will include an optional intensive three to four week "mini-semester" at an Irish four-year institution. The Irish "mini-semester" will also include variety of cultural experiences.

For further information on Irish-American Studies at Massasoit Community College, please contact Dr. Conor Johnston at vcjohnston@aol.com