Huang Yuan
Huang at the medieval manuscript and calligraphy workshop in the Russell Library
My name is Huang Yuan, from Wuhan University , China . From September to December 2015, I was exchanging in Maynooth University . I took five modules with the Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage: ID001 Introducing Irish Cultural Heritage, ID002 Medieval Spirituality and Pilgrimage, ID003 The Cultural Heritage of Newgrange, ID005 Cultural Heritage and Early Irish Heroic Tradition, and ID009 Irish for Local History. These modules introduced me to the Irish language, literature, archaeology, culture and history in a comprehensive way, which gave me a deeper understanding of Ireland, and made me love Ireland more and more. What’s more interesting is that we had a lot of field trips to wonderful Irish cultural heritages sites, such as Newgrange, Knowth, Hill of Tara, Clonmacnoise, Emain Macha, etc. Lecturers introduced us to the historical, archaeological and literary features and significances on these sites, which I suppose is the best way for us to learn about them and appreciate them. I enjoyed my classes with this centre profoundly. With four modules, students will be able to earn a Certificate in Irish Cultural Heritage, but I had five, which fully illustrates how much I love this program! I hope this program will help more and more students to learn about Ireland and hope the friendly relationship between Ireland and China will last forever.
(Huang, Wuhan University, China)
Claire Braeckman
Claire (on the right) participating in the letterpress print demonstration with designer and letterpress print expert, Mary Plunkett
The modules of the Irish Cultural Heritage at Maynooth are the perfect modules if you desire to know more about the country that is Ireland. All modules are accompanied by field trips. These fieldtrips are both a unique opportunity to discover parts of Ireland and a way to acquire a better understanding of what is discussed in class. Although the weather might not have been the best sometimes, as is to be expected in rainy Ireland, the different places we visited are of astonishing beauty. We got to see ruins and beautiful green nature, exactly the kind of things I desired to see when coming here. My favorite was Newgrange and its surrounding passage tombs. I didn’t realize there were such ancient monuments in Ireland. They are older than the pyramids! (And every Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fans, such as myself, would be delighted at the sight of Knowth. It’s like being in the Shire!) All these places played such an important role in the history of Ireland as well as in its literature and I don’t think I would have understood how much exactly had I decided to visit them on my own. (Also it’s very cheap).
The module on Irish literary tradition also offers two workshops in the old Russell Library. I learned some calligraphy with Tim O’Neill, a real scribe. I now know how to write in the same style as the text we can find in the Book of Kells. (How cool is that?!) The second workshop is an actual manuscript consultation. It is a unique experience to be able to touch, go through the pages and read from them. (Wow! To be honest no other words can describe the feeling.) And to be able to do that in the Russell Library, a place full of beautiful manuscripts (seriously, my inner bookworm squealed in happiness at the sight. It also looks a lot like the Hogwarts library. It’s not too hard to imagine that magic is possible in that place), making the experience even more incredible.
Sommer Shearer
Sommer on the field trip to Emain Macha
I decided to take modules in the Irish Cultural Department because I really wanted to expand my studies and learn more about the culture that I was moving into. The classes were wonderful. Not only do you have amazing opportunities such as handling manuscripts, you get to take field trips to the places you learn about in class. The field trips really helped. I wasn’t just listening to a lecture about a place, but I got to go and experience as many before me had. It is an experience that really makes you think and consider the landscape that the sites are situated in both geographically and culturally. On top of that, all of the professors strive to help you. They are both kind and knowledgeable. My home field of study is nothing related to literature or archeology, but I felt like I could understand the material easily. I will miss my classes.
(Sommer, University of Denver, CO, USA)
Julia Oesterreicher
'The Cave of the Cats'
When I arrived here in September, 2013, and heard about, "The Táin”, “Medb” and “Cú Chulainn” for the first time, I had no idea what my lecturers were talking about. Irish mythology and early Irish literature was completely unknown to me. I took up different courses in the Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage and my expectations were exceeded immensely! Not only did we have great lecturers who brought the heroes of the medieval tales closer to us with a passion that made us all want to know more and more about it, but we also had the unique opportunity to visit some of the sites mentioned in the tales on various field trips. On one trip we went to Cruachain, the royal seat of Medb and Ailill, and went into the “Cave of the Cats” which is also known as “The Gateway to Hell of Ireland”. And it was amazing! Having the opportunity to visit those sites made the stories much more tangible for us and wakened our interest even more. The Centre also organised a manuscript writing workshop for us which is something I never thought I would do but was great fun for all of us. The small size of the classes made it possible for us to discuss certain topics in great deal with fellow students and the lecturers. Everybody was very welcoming and helpful from the beginning and the atmosphere within the Centre was just great!
