Irish Heritage

Irish Heritage

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Irish Language

Rath DeHoust, Máire Léan Shevlin, Caoimhín Cléirigh, Irish language instructors

Designed for beginners to fluent speakers, students will be divided into groups, each with its own instructor, based on abilities and needs. Groups will interact with one another and participate in joint activities. This format will enhance the objective of keeping Irish available as the living, spoken language at the very heart of Irish culture. Whether you’re looking to dive into the Tain Bo Culaigne or just pick up a few phrases for travel, this program will work for you! 10 SESSIONS

Sec 1: ON CAMPUS, Thursday, September 18 – November 20, 7-8:30pm (for all levels), $119

Search Course Code: XIRIL-000-SEP01

Sec 2: ZOOM option (for advanced level students only)

Search Course Code: XIRIL-000-SEP02

Register HERE (search by course code or title) or call us at 732-224-2315

LIVE ZOOM Contemporary Irish Short Stories

Rath DeHoust, Irish language and literature instructor

Often hailed as a ‘National Genre’, Ireland’s best writers continue to produce some of the most cutting-edge short stories on today’s literary scene. Delve into the works of some well-known as well as lesser-known authors, identifying the cultural and historical issues and events that have shaped Irish writers, and Irish society, today. Explore some truly exciting literature coming out of Ireland today from writers such as Colum McCann, Claire Keegan, Kevin Barry, Sally Rooney and others. PDFs of stories will be emailed prior to class. 6 SESSIONS

Monday, November 3 – December 8, 7-8:30pm, $99

Register HERE (search by course code or title) or call us at 732-224-2315

Search Course Code: XIRIL-000-NOP01

Eerie Éire - In The Shadow of The Celts - October 31st

Celebrate the spirit of Celtic Ireland’s festival of Samhain, today’s Halloween, by exploring the eerie undercurrents in Irish culture that have influenced literature, folklore, landscape and music. From the shadowy pages of Dracula to the windswept mounds of Newgrange, consider how Ireland’s folklore tradition has inspired both terror and transcendence and how Irish music has shaped collective memory. Journey into the haunted heart of Éire to discover the ways in which the past links to the present through story, stone, and song.

Join our most popular Irish scholars for three intriguing talks on the following topics:

Bram Stoker’s Dracula: A Tale of Irish Rage & Revenge
Maureen D. Brady, MA, NYU Glucksan House Ireland

Access Ireland’s National Folklore Collection: A Rich Source of Local Customs & Stories
Patrick McGowan, MA, Montclair University

History & Lore of Newgrange and the Céide Fields
Henry McNally, MA, Fordham University

Following lunch, tap your feet and sing along to a Story & Song presented by the Cook College Ramblers

We’ll make time during the program to share stories, express our gratitude and acknowledge the immeasurable contribution Hank has made to Irish Heritage at Brookdale.

Friday, October 31, 9:30am – 3pm, $99

Register HERE (search by course code or title) or call us at 732-224-2315

Search Course Code: XHUMG-000-OCP05

The "Down-To-Earthness" of Robert Frost and Seamus Heaney

Patrick McGowan, MA, Montclair University

Irish Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney and American Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Frost both enjoyed critical acclaim and a wide readership. Both also feature prominently in school curricula in the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Heaney has often acknowledged Frost’s role in his own development as a poet. We’ll read a selection of poems by each poet, explore common themes, and consider the influence Frost had on Heaney’s verse. 3 SESSIONS

Monday, October 20 – November 3, 10am – 12pm, $79

Register HERE (search by course code or title) or call us at 732-224-2315

Search Course Code: XIRIG-000-OCP01

Book vs Movie? Small Things Like These

Maureen D. Brady, MA, NYU Glucksman Ireland House

Delve into a critical examination of the adaptation of Claire Keegan’s acclaimed Small Things Like These from a gently disquieting novella into a major motion picture starring Cillian Murphy to determine what is gained or lost in translation from page to screen. Reading the book prior to class is encouraged to gain an understanding of the author’s style – her spare prose, moral subtlety, and emotional restraint. Set in 1980s Ireland, the narrative shines a light on moral courage in the shadow of institutional abuse in Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries. We’ll discuss and compare how each version handles themes of guilt, silence, resistance, and compassion.

Wednesday, December 10, 10am – 12:30pm, $49

Register HERE (search by course code or title) or call us at 732-224-2315

Search Course Code: XIRIG-000-DEP01

Ireland's Favorite Folk Songs

Patrick McGowan, MA, Montclair University

Tune into the ten final songs from RTEs 2019 Ireland’s Favorite Folk Song poll along with other folk songs that just missed the cut. Discover the stories behind many of the songs, hear multiple versions of some for comparison, and develop an appreciation of the rich history and traditions of the Irish folk song. 3 SESSIONS

Tuesday, December 2-16, 10am – 12pm, $79

Register HERE (search by course code or title) or call us at 732-224-2315

Search Course Code: XHUMN-000-DEP01