German-Irish research

Both Ireland and Germany/NRW are home to great universities. While many German universities study Irish culture through the lense of the English language, i.e. as part of English Studies (in German Anglistik), there are several research facilities and researchers with a specific focus on Ireland and/or the Irish language.

International Irish studies organisations

• EFACIS, European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies. EFACIS is a Belgian non-profit sitting in Leuven at its Irish College. The Irish College Leuven has been established in 1984 at the site of a former Irish Franciscan college from the 17th century.
• IASIL, International Association for the Study of Irish Literatures.

German/NRW universities with special research on Ireland

• The University of Bonn has a Department of English, American and Celtic Studies (IAAK) which has a Celtic Studies section studying Celtic languages including Irish (Abteilung Keltologie)
  • You can actually do Celtic Studies as a minor subject of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bonn, studying Celtic languages with the option of studying the Irish language specifically
  • The SKSK (Studienhaus für Keltische Sprachen und Kulturen) where people outside the university can learn Irish and other Celtic languages has strong ties to the University of Bonn's IAAK
• The University of Wuppertal has a Department of English and American Studies which also includes the renowned Irish Studies Centre
  • Irish Studies Wuppertal studies culture on the island of Ireland as well as in its diaspora
  • Irish Studies Wuppertal is headed by Professor Katharina Rennhak and has strong ties to EFACIS, the European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies
• The TU Dortmund University has a Department for Language, Literature and Culture(ISLK) which has an English Studies section with research on Irish culture and language
  • The English Linguistics are being chaired by Professor Patricia Ronan whose lingustic research includes an emphasis on Ireland

German/NRW universities with English Studies

All other universities in NRW have English studies sections/depts and offer a place to do research on Irish culture & English lingustics focussed on Ireland

• NRW universities with English studies, list ordered by distance from the Rhinelands' urban centre
  • Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
  • University of Cologne/Köln
  • University of Duisburg-Essen
  • Ruhr University Bochum
  • University of Münster
  • RWTH Aachen University
  • Bielefeld University
  • University of Paderborn
  • University of Siegen

Irish universities with special research on Germany

• The University of Limerick has a Centre for Irish-German Studies (CIGS) chaired by Professor Gisela Holfter
  • The CIGS researches both German studies, studying the German language and culture, and Irish-German relations from an intercultural perspective
  • The CIGS publishes the book series Irish-German Studies in collaboration with researchers from other universities in Ireland, Germany and beyond
  • The CIGS is also involved in many Irish-German social and cultural events in Limerick and Ireland
• The following Irish universities have departments or disciplines focussed on German language and/or culture
  • University College Cork
  • Maynooth University
  • Trinity College Dublin
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Galway