Enriching the international dimensions of education
The Center for Irish Studies
Honoring our roots
Archbishop John Ireland, the Irish-born founder of the University of St. Thomas, believed education was how the Irish and Irish-American communities could best honor their heritage, and secure their future.
In March 1996, the university formally established the Center for Irish Studies. Since then, St. Thomas has flourished as a national presence for scholarship and programs devoted to Irish culture, literature and the arts. Our Irish roots can be found throughout campus, including the widely-recognized New Hibernia Review and the Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Poetry, as well as the Celtic Collection, which was started back in 1917.
The Center for Irish Studies advances teaching and scholarship in Irish studies for students, faculty and friends of the university through its publications, instruction and public programs. The Center enriches the international dimensions of education at St. Thomas and affirms the many historic and contemporary bonds between the university, Ireland, and the Irish-American community.
Our Contributions to the Community
Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Poetry
The Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Poetry was established in 1997 to honor outstanding Irish poets. Since then, the Center for Irish Studies has invited and celebrated many world-renowned poets with the support of the St. Thomas and Twin Cities communities.
The prize honors both the literary achievement of the poet and their contribution to the writing community in Ireland. Honored poets have visited St. Thomas for up to a week where they meet with students, visit classes and take part in a variety of public events. The visit concludes with a free public reading on campus.
New Hibernia Review
New Hibernia Review is a multidisciplinary journal of Irish Studies and the cornerstone of the Center for Irish Studies. It offers plainly argued writing on Irish life and culture for the scholar and lay reader alike. Through its journal, the Center actively seeks to present a variety of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives, in addition to the traditional literary and historical study of the Irish culture and people.
Each issue also includes an opening memoir or informal essay, a suite of new poems from an Irish poet and book reviews. Content contributors can contact the editor for more information.
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James Rogers Award
Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Poetry
The Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Poetry was established in 1997 to honor outstanding Irish poets. Since then, the Center for Irish Studies has invited and celebrated many world-renowned poets with the support of the St. Thomas and Twin Cities communities.
The prize honors both the literary achievement of the poet and their contribution to the writing community in Ireland. Honored poets have visited St. Thomas for up to a week where they meet with students, visit classes and take part in a variety of public events. The visit concludes with a free public reading on campus.
New Hibernia Review
New Hibernia Review is a multidisciplinary journal of Irish Studies and the cornerstone of the Center for Irish Studies. It offers plainly argued writing on Irish life and culture for the scholar and lay reader alike. Through its journal, the Center actively seeks to present a variety of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives, in addition to the traditional literary and historical study of the Irish culture and people.
Each issue also includes an opening memoir or informal essay, a suite of new poems from an Irish poet and book reviews. Content contributors can contact the editor for more information.
Subscribe today:
James Rogers Award
Luke Morgan Wins the 29th Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Poetry Award
Morgan, born in Ireland in 1994, lives in Galway and is the author of three acclaimed poetry collections. His debut, Honest Walls, was published by Arlen House in 2016, followed by Beast in 2022. He was also a winner of the inaugural Poetry Ireland/Trócaire competition.
His third collection, Blood Atlas, was released this spring in conjunction with his selection as the 2025 recipient of the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Poetry Award at the University of St. Thomas. Established in 1997, the award honors exceptional Irish poets for both their literary achievements and their contributions to the wider community of writers in Ireland.
Leadership
Dr. David Gardiner
Dr. David Gardiner joined St. Thomas in 2019 as the Director of Irish Studies and Editor of the New Hibernia Review.
Bio
James Silas Rogers
James Silas Rogers is the Director Emeritus of Irish Studies.
Thomas Dillon Redshaw
Thomas Dillon Redshaw is the Founding Director and Honorary Editor of New Hibernia Review. He retired from St. Thomas in 2012.
Contact Us
Questions? Feel free to reach out to learn more about the Center for Irish Studies.
Mailing Address
Mail #5008
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Campus Location
We are located in room 122 of the O'Shaughnessy Education Center