The Friends of Irish Studies in the West

The Friends of Irish Studies Activities for 2023The Friends of Irish Studies continued to fulfill their mission to support the Irish Studies program at the University of Montana and to preserve and promote Irish culture in Montana. Supporting Organizations and Institutions Promoting Irish CultureThe following accounts lists the names of the institutions or societies the Friends supported in 2023. The University of Montana Irish Studies Program1. Fulbright Teaching Assistants - The Friends provided financial support to offset the costs of bringing Fulbright teaching assistants, Darragh OKeeffe and Eilis OHerlihy for the academic year 2022/23 and Abaigal Drummy and Niamh Hetherington for the academic year 2023/24.2.Internship The Friends provided the financial support to offer Abaigal Drummy a summer internship at the University of Montana. Among the tasks assigned Abaigal as part of her internship were: i.Create pdf manuals of all online Irish language courses ii.Transcribe reading material for students from Irish Gaelic alphabet to Roman script iii. Assist with the Meagher Days in Virginia City iv. Build a website to promote the Friends Irish festival and the American Conference for Irish Studies (West) ACIS v. Generate the posters and promotional material for all Friends of Irish Studies events.3. The Friends provided the financial support to the University of Montana to offer two online courses. Irish Traditional Song was offered in the fall of 2023; and a course in Irish Traditional Music was offered in the spring of 2024.4. The Friends sponsored a three-week Irish language study abroad program in Dingle, Co. Kerry in May 2023. 11 students participated. The Butte Silver Bow Archives1. Digitization Project The Friends donated $5,000 to the Butte Silver Bow Archives to assist in the digitization of primary written material, photographs and images relating to the history of the Irish in Montana. The Montana World Affairs Council1. The Friends partnered with the Irish Consulate in San Francisco, the Montana World Affairs Council, the Butte Silver Bow Archives, Irish Studies at the University of Montana and with public schools and community groups in Montana and Ireland to create a high school virtual exchange program. The Friends donated $15,000 to this project. Listed below are the schools and organizations on both sides of the Atlantic that participated in this venture:Montana i. The Butte Silver Bow Archives ii. The Montana Office of Public Instruction iii. The Butte Silver Bow Public Schools iv. Project for Alternative Learning [PAL] high school, Helena v. Hays Lodgepole high school, Fort Belknap. vi. The Friends of Irish Studies vii. The Ancient Order of HiberniansIreland i. The Fulbright Commission, Ireland. ii. The Allihies Copper Mining Museum. iii. Waterpark College high school (Waterford). iv. Scoil Phobail Bheara high school (Cork) v. Cahermore National School (Cork). vi. Scoil an Chro R Naofa (Cork) vii. Coliste Ghobnatan high school (Cork).Cultural ActivitiesIrish Film1. The Friends provided the financial support for the showing of two Irish movies An Cailn Ciin and An Irish Goodbye at the University of Montana in November 20232. The Friends partnered with the Roxy Theater and the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula to sponsor the showing of the Irish film A Note for Nature in April 2024.Irish Music1. The Friends sponsored the Mission Mountain Irish Music Camp held in Charlo, Montana, in August 2023. Over 60 musician camped on the banks of the Flathead River for the four-day camp, while another estimated 50-60 made daily trips to the event.2. The Friends sponsored Lnasa as part of their St. Patricks Day celebrations in March 2024. The event was held at the UM Recital Hall in Missoula and was sell out.Irish Language Instruction 1. Evening classes The Friends sponsored ten-week Irish language evening courses for non-traditional students in the spring and fall of 2023. Over 100 students from all over the United States participated in these courses.2. Summer course The Friends revived the week-long Irish language immersion course in Butte Montana. This was the first time the event was held since 2019. The courses were directed at teachers and offered Montana Office of Public Instruction credits. 17 students participated.Irish Hurling1. The Friends of Irish Studies donated $3,000 in the fall of 2023 for the promotion of the Irish game of hurling in Montana. Festivals and Celebrations1. Filte Montana Irish Festival 2023The Friends organized and sponsored the Filte Montana Irish Festival in Missoula, Montana. The festival was held on Friday, 15 September to coincide with a Grizzlies football game and to provide Irish Studies students with the opportunity to participate. It was very successful in uniting the community and the university together for a celebration of Irish culture, and it drew a huge number of the out-of-town visitors in Missoula for the football game the following day. Over 5,000 people attended the event. 2. St. Patricks Day Celebration 2023 The Friends worked with the Ancient Order of Hibernians to organize the 2023 St. Patricks Day celebrations. Beginning with Mass, the program included an afternoon of music and dance and an event banquet and auction. Over 300 people attended the evening banquet, surpassing the record of the previous year.New CoursesIrish Language Courses The Friends continue to fund the creation of new online and blended courses in Irish culture. Irish History Course The Friends are providing the funding for the creation of online introductory course in Irish history.