Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    The Friends of Irish Studies had a very brief public year in 2020, running from January to March. The Covid 19 pandemic caused the cancellation all our other activities we had planned. I provide a list below of these activities1.March 2020 Music concerts in Missoula and Butte featuring the Irish traditional band Dervish.2.May 2020 Tour of Ireland3.July 2020 Irish language immersion course in Butte4.August 2020 - Mission Mountain Music Camp5.October/November Public lectures in Butte and Missoula.6.December Christmas concerts in Butte and MissoulaIn response to the pandemic, the Friends invested in developing an online website to provide the community with access to Irish heritage and culture. The Friends continued to support the Irish Studies program at the University of Montana [UM] and provided funding to support community groups in Montana. Promoting Irish LanguageIrish Language 1.Summer Courses - The Friends contracted the services of an engineer to create a website to provide the community with access to classes in the Irish language, music, and song. This initiative was in response to the cancellation of the Irish language immersion course in Butte and the first courses online were offered to coincide with the dates of the immersion course. 20 students participated in this course. 2.Fall Course The Friends sponsored an online Beginners Irish I course in the fall, in response to requests from language enthusiasts around the country. Twenty students from 11 states participated in this courseInstitutional SupportThe Friends provided funding to the following institutions, organizations and societies to advance their work promoting Irish culture. UM-Irish Studies Program1.Fulbright Teaching Assistants - The Friends provided financial support to the UM to offset the costs of bringing a Fulbright Irish language teaching assistant to the University of Montana in the fall of 2020.2.Irish Traditional Song The Friends provided funding for the creation of an online course in Irish Traditional song. This course is now offered to UM students and to non-traditional learners.The Butte Silver Bow Archives1.Digitization Project The Friends donated funding in 2020 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.2.Online Platform The Friends continued their support for the online platform the gives the community access to the digitized records of Irish history in Montana.The Ancient Order of Hibernians1.The Friends donated funding to Division 1, Butte, of the AOH to assist in the restoration of St. Patricks Cemetery and to provide historical markers that identify the plots and tell the history of the members of Irish nationalist organizations who are buried in these plots.2.The Friends donated funding to Division 1, Anaconda, of the AOH in support of the divisions efforts to raise funding for a statue in honour of Marcus Daly. Cultural ActivitiesSt. Patricks Day Celebration This was the only public cultural event that the Friends sponsored and organized in 2020. They partnered with the Ancient Order of Hibernians to organized a daylong calendar of events. The activities included:i.St. Patricks Day Massii.Paradeiii.Irish whiskey tastingiv.Carousel ridesv.Banquet and Auction
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $29K

  • Friends of Irish Studies Initiatives

    The Friends of Irish Studies Activities for 2024The Friends of Irish Studies had a very busy 2024 organizing and supporting cultural events, sponsoring language courses, leading tours to Ireland, funding programs at the University of Montana, creating educational opportunities, and partnering with ACIS to host the American Conference for Irish Studies.Educational and Institutional Support1.The Friends funded the creation of a virtual exchange between elementary and high schools in Montana and in Ireland. Hosted by Inspired classroom, the project facilitated an exchange between 14 schools and ran for six weeks in the spring, 20242.The Friends donated the funding to the University of Montana to bring two Fulbright Teaching Assistants in the Irish language to campus for the academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25.3.The Friends donated the funding to UM to offer a 3-credit online course in Irish Traditional Music in the spring, 20244.The Friends donated the funding to UM to offer a 3-credit course in Traditional Irish Song in the fall, 2024 5.The Friends donated the funding to UM to offer a 2-credit course in Irish Traditional Dance in the fall, 20246.The Friends donated the funding to the Butte Silver Bow Archives to support the digitization of records that relate to the history of the Irish in Montana.7.The Friends sponsored online classes for non-traditional students in the spring and fall of 20248.The Friends organized and funded the one-week Irish language immersion course in Butte in July 20249.The Friends partnered with the American Conference for Irish Studies (ACIS) to host the western conference in Missoula in September, 2024Cultural Events1.The Friends hosted the traditional Irish music band, Lnasa, in the UM Recital Hall on 11 March 2024. This was a very successful event that attracted a full house. 2.The Friends partnered with the Ancient Order of Hibernians to organize the annual St. Patricks Day Parade, honor the Irish man and woman of the year, and host the St. Patricks Day banquet. The parade and banquet were a resounding success.3.The Friends sponsored the Mission Mountain Irish Music Camp again in the summer of 2024. Over 100 musicians attended the four-day event.4.Irish Festival. The Friends organized and hosted the Filte Montana Irish festival. Over 3,000 people attended this free event that focused on local musicians, dancers and performers. 5.The Friends donated funding to the Thomas Meagher Hurling Club in Missoula for the purchase of equipment.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $281.6K