About the Project
Léamh: Learn Early Modern Irish began as a digital humanities project at the University of Connecticut. Originally funded by a seed grant from Connecticut’s Humanities Institute in 2012, the project was envisioned as a means to facilitate the greater use of early modern Irish sources in scholarship across fields and disciplines. In the absence of learning materials – grammar, dictionary and guide – acquisition of Early Modern Irish has always been difficult. Léamh is intended to address that absence by offering guided translations of a wide range of texts and genres, a grammar with basic paradigms and descriptive summaries, and a searchable reference glossary. The site also offers tutelage in reading manuscripts through means of a stand-alone guide to paleography. For a bit of background on the project and its goals, have a listen here:
Helping People Get Started with Early Modern Irish
Léamh was begun by non-specialists wishing to help others like themselves gain confidence in reading original-language sources. As such, it is constructed to harness both the insights of learners and the expertise of specialists in the pursuit of optimal learning outcomes. To understand what newcomers to Early Modern Irish might find difficult or confusing, it is necessary to ask them. Thus, each sample text on the site is analyzed and translated by specialists and non-specialists alike. Specialists provide explanation, context, accurate translation, and learning tips and pointers; readers of “intermediate” level work through the texts and identify questions and areas of confusion, which are shared with scholar experts whose responses to those queries form part of the “General Guide” and “Detailed Guide” tabs.
Institutional Supporters
Publishing Supporters
- Ainm.ie (Fiontar, Dublin City University)
- Cló Iar-Chonnacht
- The Dublin Institute for Advances Studies School of Celtic Studies
- The Irish Texts Society
- The Royal Irish Academy
Participants
Aberystwyth University
- Peadar Ó Muircheartaigh (Welsh and Celtic Studies)
Catholic University of America
- Dr. Samuel Fisher (History)
Drew University
- Patrick Mahoney (PhD candidate, Linguistics)
Independent Scholars
- Eoin Horning-Kane
- Gavin Horning-Kane
Maynooth University
- Dr. Deirdre Nic Chárthaigh (MACMORRIS)
- Dr. Eoghan Ó Raghallaigh (Modern Irish)
- Prof. Patricia Palmer (English; MACMORRIS)
National University of Ireland, Galway
- Dr. Liam Ó hAisibéil (Department of Irish)
Montreal Diocesan Theological College
- Dr. Hilary Bogert-Winkler (Pastoral Studies)
New York University
- Dr. Hilary Mhic Suibhne (Glucksman Ireland House)
Trinity College, Dublin
- Dr. Eoin Mac Cárthaigh (Irish)
- Dr. Bríd McGrath (History, and lecturer in palaeography)
- Prof. Damian McManus (Irish; Centre for Irish-Scottish Studies)
Université de Bretagne Occidentale
- Dr. Gregory Darwin (Lecteur)
University of Connecticut
- Andrew Bacon (MFA; University Information and Technology Services)
- Sarah Bertekap (PhD candidate, English)
- Emmet de Barra (MA candidate, History)
- Jennifer Eustis (MetaDiscovery Librarian, University Libraries)
- Mackenzie Fox (BFA candidate, University of Connecticut)
- Brooke Foti Gemmell (Design Technologist, Greenhouse Studios)
- Dr. Wes Hamrick (Mellon Fellow, Greenhouse Studios)
- Maureen Harris (MA, History)
- Dr. Brendan Kane (History; Literatures, Cultures and Languages)
- Tom Lee (Design Technologist, Greenhouse Studios)
- Timothy Morris (BA candidate, University of Connecticut)
- Laura Rahmig (BA candidate, University of Connecticut)
- Joel Salisbury (Assistant Professor, Digital Media & Design)
- Dr. Tom Scheinfeldt (Digital Media & Design; History; Greenhouse Studios)
- River Soma (Greenhouse Studios Graduate Assistant; Art & Art History, School of Fine Arts)
University College Cork
- Dr. Síle Ní Mhurchú (Modern Irish)
- Dr. Emma Nic Cárthaigh (Early and Medieval Irish)
- Prof. Padraig Ó Macháin (Modern Irish)
University College Dublin
- Dr. Marc Caball (School of History)
University of Edinburgh
- Prof. Wilson McLeod (Gaelic, School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures)
University of Glasgow
- Dr. Simon Egan (History)
- Dr. Sìm Innes (Celtic & Gaelic, School of Humanities)
- Dr. Aonghas Maccoinnich (Celtic History, School of Humanities)
- Dr. Geraldine Parsons (Celtic & Gaelic, School of Humanities)
University of Notre Dame
- Prof. Peter McQuillan (Irish Language and Literature)
- Dr. Brian Ó Conchubhair (Irish Language and Literature; Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures Irish Studies)
University of Virginia
- Jeremy Boggs (Scholar’s Lab)
Advisory Board
- Prof. Pádraig Breatnach (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)
- Dr. Marc Caball (University College, Dublin)
- Prof. Marie-Louise Coolahan (National University of Ireland, Galway)
- Dr. Mícheál Hoyne (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)
- Dr. Eoin Mac Cárthaigh (Trinity College, Dublin)
- Prof. Damian McManus (Trinity College, Dublin)
- Prof. Peter McQuillan (University of Notre Dame)
- Deirdre Nic Chárthaigh (PhD candidate, Irish and Celtic Studies)
- Dr. Emma Nic Cárthaigh (University College, Cork)
- Prof. Tomás Ó Cathasaigh (Harvard University)
- Prof. Pádraig Ó Macháin (University College, Cork)
- Dr. Michelle O Riordan (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies)