Recently established, Irish Cultural Heritage at Maynooth University is an exciting new departure in the field of Irish Cultural Heritage studies. We are the only third level academic unit in Ireland offering interdisciplinary programmes of study in this area. We offer an exciting approach, which has at its core, innovative and interactive on-site study at iconic archaeological and historical sites, such as Newgrange, the Hill of Tara, and cultural institutions, like, the National Museum of Ireland.

Our academic team has a broad range of expertise in early Irish culture and heritage with specific interests in archaeology, social and cultural history, language, early Irish literature and folklore. We are also very well networked into other departments across Maynooth University, the wider heritage sector and we draw on this knowledge to further enhance our programmes.

We welcomed our first cohort of students from all over the world in Semester 2 of last year and were very encouraged by the uptake and the feedback. Field seminars included the UNESCO World Heritage site in the Boyne Valley, the monastic settlement of Clonmacnoise, the ‘royal’ sites of the Hill of Tara and Cruachain, along with a workshop on medieval manuscripts and calligraphy with renowned Irish calligrapher, Tim O’Neill. This engagement facilitated a better understanding of Irish Cultural Heritage.

We are currently finalising our postgraduate programmes in Irish Cultural Heritage and hope to announce these shortly. 

Please see below information leaflet on the course:
Semester 1 Semester 2