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"WHEN THE IRISH FIRST CROSSED THE SEA OF MOYLE, THEY WERE KNOWN AS THE 'SCOTI', AND IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE THIS AS PROPHETIC OF THE NEW IRISH-SCOTTISH CONVERGENCE."
Seamus Heaney

(Member of RIISS Advisory Board)

Partnerships

The Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies (RIISS) exists to promote comparative and interdisciplinary research and graduate training on the history, literatures and languages and cultures of the two countries.

Formally inaugurated by Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, on St Andrew's Day 1999, the Institute presents a full programme of seminars, conferences and symposia, and offers Masters and Doctoral programmes in Irish and Scottish Studies in its academic and administrative home, Humanity Manse, an elegant eighteenth century town house in the heart of Old Aberdeen.

Around eighty scholars at Aberdeen across the disciplines of history, language, literature, philosophy, politics, sociology, geography, economics, law and divinity are affiliated to the Institute. This is believed to the largest concentration of Scottish and Irish expertise in any university in Europe. Through the Irish Scottish Academic Initiative, the Institute also enjoys close relations with leading researchers at Trinity College, Dublin, Queen's University Belfast, University of Strathclyde and the University of Edinburgh.

pic: Lanyon Building, Queen's University, Belfast
Queen's Univeristy, Belfast

pic: Regent House, Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin

pic: King's College, University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen

In 2001, the Institute incorporated the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies with its partner institutions, Trinity College, Dublin and Queen's Belfast. The partnership was awarded nearly £890,000 to establish the unit, the first AHRC research centre to be created in Scotland. It has allowed the development of fourteen research projects, recruitment of six research fellows and substantial enhancement of the graduate training and events programme. The success of the centre led to its being one of only two to be awarded a second round of funding - £1.34M over five years from 2006.

Aberdeen 's commitment to Irish-Scottish Studies has led to key appointments in a variety of disciplines across the College of Arts and Social Sciences, providing a unique environment for the interdisciplinary study of the two cultures. At a time of radical change and development in both countries, powered by new political possibilities, Aberdeen will continue to play a key role in the development of mutual understanding and cultural collaboration.

 

Arts and Humanities Research Council

The AHRC Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies >>