More than 70 million people worldwide can claim descent from Irish emigrants. Yet this is a small island with a population of less than 5 million. Ireland is the most westerly country on the European seaboard and as an island can be described in geographical and physical terms as being on the edge of Europe. Being on the edge has provided the platform for Ireland to create many global links.

Migration is central to the Irish psyche, language, lore, storytelling, literary works, art works and music of the Irish at home and abroad. But engaging with Ireland in the world opens up questions and challenges about a number of contexts, including migration, artistic and literary exchanges, cultural encounters, translation, the relationship between empire, colony, and nation, and its position within and between Europe and the Anglophone world.

Theme Members

Projects, News and Events

• Global Futures of Irish Studies' Roundtable Series
• Conversations on Ireland and Latin America
• Book Discussion: Irish Immigrants in Peru 
• New Book Released by Theme Member Róisín Kennedy
• Symposium in the Series 'What Does it Mean to be Irish Today?'
• Listen Back: Podcasts from the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore
• Citizenship, Emigrants and Voting Rights Post-Brexit
• Béaloideas agus Eitneolaíocht na hÉireann
• Folklife and Ethnology Seminar: Dr Tiber Falzett
• UCD Centre for Canadian Studies Festival: Landspeak
• Canadian Association of Irish Studies 2021 Seminar