Irish Folklore (Hons) University College Dublin

Overview

Studying folklore is primarily concerned with the history and culture of ordinary people, and with the evolution and role of tradition at a vernacular level. As an academic discipline, Folklore (or ethnology) involves the exploration of oral literature, social tradition, material culture, popular belief and practice, as well as traditional music and song. 

The Irish Folklore (Hons) program at University College Dublin explores the dynamics of communal memory and of culture as a collective phenomenon. It looks at the nature of popular tradition and the way in which such tradition is transmitted, usually outside of official channels and often across vast distances of time and space.

The educational values are centred on the promotion of a spirit of enquiry regarding the nature, persistence and dynamics of tradition in everyday life. They encourage students to develop a reflective approach to their studies, while also emphasising the centrality of fieldwork and archival sources to their research and learning. 

Teaching is carried out in lectures, in small-group tutorials, and in seminar-style participatory classes.

Careers

A degree in Irish Folklore is relevant to anyone interested in popular culture, tradition and society, and their interconnections. It provides an excellent basis for careers in: 

• Heritage Bodies and Institutions

• Community Organisations and Local Development Initiatives

• Media and Journalism

• Teaching

• Areas related to Irish Studies, Local Studies and Ethnic Studies

• Communications

Graduates are prepared to pursue MA and Diploma courses in Irish Folklore at graduate level, as well as MLitt and PhD studies, specialising in one of the many areas of the subject.