University College, Dublin; Dublin, Ireland
When I die, Dublin will be written in my heart. –James Joyce
Dublin has long-been a place of unparalleled literary and cultural distinction. The city’s sons and daughters read like a Who’s Who of literary history, and there few places in the world that can be compared to the literary importance of Dublin. It has produced three winners of the Nobel Prize in literature-- William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, and George Bernard Shaw—more than any other city in the world. Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, James Joyce, J.M. Synge, Sean O'Casey, Brendan Behan, Maeve Binchy, and Roddy Doyle all call Dublin home.
Aside from the incomparable people Dublin has produced, the city is also home to many culturally important museums and theaters, including the Dublin Writer’s Museum, which displays personal artifacts, fist editions, and many other objects of importance. Moreover, it is home to Ireland’s largest library and literary museums, including the National Print Museum of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland. Aside from the page, Dublin can also boast a rich history on the stage. The most famous and influential theaters in the city include the Abbey Theatre, which was founded by Yeats and a group of other writers to promote Dublin literary talents, and it has served as a breakthrough venue for artists and writers for many years.
In addition to its literary history, Dublin also has an important influence of cultural and the arts. On display at Trinity College, is the Book of Kells, a manuscript produced by Celtic monks in AD 800. The Chester Beatty Library displays the priceless collection of manuscripts, paintings, and drawings owned by American Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. These collections, dating from 2700 BC, draw artists and writers from around the world. In addition to these collections, Dublin is home to many art galleries and museums, including the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery, the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, The City Arts Centre, The Douglas Hyde Gallery, The Project Arts Centre and The Royal Hibernian Academy.
University College, Dublin
University College, Dublin (UCD) was founded in 1854 as the Catholic University of Ireland and is now the largest university in the Republic of Ireland, with over 22,000 students and 1300 faculty members. It is consistently ranked within the top two universities in Ireland, according to a variety of education surveys. Its alumni are as famous as its city, and include four of the eight former Presidents of Ireland and five of the ten former Irish Prime Ministers, as well as:
James Joyce Flann O’Brien Roddy Doyle
Marina Carr Denis Devlin Thomas Kilroy
Austen Clarke Brian Cleeve Trevor Joyce
Neil Jordan Colm Toibin Jim Sheridan
The UCD School of English, Drama, and Film has an academic and administrative staff of over 50 members and strong undergraduate and graduate programs. According to the School’s web site:
In the subject English we teach a wide range of subjects, including Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama, James Joyce and modernism, Romantic and Victorian literature, contemporary writing in English, American Writing, Early Modern Writing and culture, Women’s writing, gender studies, medieval studies and medieval drama. Courses are taught through lectures, seminars, and small-group teaching. Many distinguished writers – from James Joyce to Neil Jordan and Colm Toibín – are UCD graduates, and visits by writers are encouraged; the School has also made its mark in criticism and is proud to number Denis Donoghue, Seamus Deane and J.C.C. Mays among its emeritus professors.
UCD also boasts a strong film department, and because of its close association with the English studies area many of the courses involve both mediums. Course offerings include:
Critical Readings Children’s Literature
Literary Genres Getting Medieval
Reading the Middle Ages Eighteenth Century Literature
Twentieth Century Drama Irish Literature
Renaissance Literature American Modernism
Nineteenth Century Literature
Housing and Meals
At UCD, there are two types of housing available: single room dorm-style residence halls and three, four, five, and six bedroom apartments. The apartments are self-catered, meaning you will need to provide things like cutlery, pots and pans, plates, and other kitchen supplies. However, there are meals plans available regardless of your housing situation. All rooms are fully equipped and most have wireless internet access.
For further information, and to apply, please contact international programs:
http://www.international.psu.edu/
