© Ryan Brennecke

© Ryan Brennecke

What to hear more about Irish Studies at UM? Check out this article: Irish Studies at UM

🚨IMPORTANT NOTICE🚨

-

🚨IMPORTANT NOTICE🚨 -

‼️🚨A moratorium has been placed on the Irish Studies Program at the University of Montana, placing the program in immediate jeopardy. Without swift action, its future is at serious risk.

We urge you to read the attached information packet here for a fuller understanding of what is at stake, where the decision currently stands, and, crucially, what can still be done to help prevent its termination🚨‼️

🔗INFORMATION PACKET🔗

The Irish Studies Program at the University of Montana was established in 2006 and launched by former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. This program supports Irish language classes, as well as courses in music, history, and literature, and promotes sports programs in the area. The Irish Studies Program is proudly supported by the Friends of Irish Studies, who help further its mission to enhance Irish culture and heritage west of the Mississippi.

The program has strengthened the relationship between the community and Ireland. It features an exchange program with University College Cork and the Fulbright Commission Ireland, bringing Irish language teaching assistants to Montana.

Additionally, UM Irish Studies collaborates with the Irish government, the Silver-Bow Archives in Butte, and many other organizations. In 2024, the program proudly hosted the American Conference for Irish Studies. Irish Studies also partnered with the Montana Digital Academy to offer language classes to high school students, host a week-long immersion course, and more.

This past Saturday, October 4th, the Irish Studies Program in collaboration with the Creative Writing program held a once in a lifetime event at the historic Hotel Finlen in Butte, MT in conjunction with the inaugural “Festival of Irish Writing
Join the University of Montana’s Irish Studies Program at the WelcomeFeast on Friday, September 5th, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (on the Oval). This is a great opportunity to explore our curriculum, which includes courses in Irish language, litera
Grianstad an tSamhraidh sona daoibh! ☀️ Today marks the Summer Solstice in Ireland, the longest day of the year! 🇮🇪 Ancient traditions included lighting bonfires, holding joyful feasts, blessing crops to ensure good harvests, and even marriages💍
✨LÁ NA nAITHREACHA SONA DAOIBH | HAPPY FATHER’S DAY✨To all the incredible fathers in the world – those here, those dearly missed, and everyone celebrating Father’s Day in their own special way; your love and strength shape an
📣Get Ready for the Fáilte Montana Irish Festival📣 Mark your calendars!🤩 ☘️The Fáilte Montana Irish Festival is set for Friday, September 5th, 2025, at Caras Park in Missoula, Montana. Hosted by the Friends of Irish Studies in the W
☘️2025 Irish Delegation Visit to Missoula☘️ 🇮🇪From May 18th to May 25th, we had the pleasure of welcoming an Irish Delegation from Counties Cork, Waterford, Meath, and Cavan to Montana. Their visit was a wonderful celebration of the strong and end
☘️🇮🇪Montana Welcomes Irish Delegation🇮🇪☘️ ☘️The Friends of Irish Studies, Thomas Meagher Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow, members of the Montana World Affairs Council, and Montana Ambassadors eage

CALL FOR ACTION: What you can do to support the Irish Studies Program

  • Use the contact information below to send a short message explaining why the program matters and why the Irish language should remain at UM.

    Regent Chair Todd Buchanan: RegentBuchanan@montana.edu

    Regent Vice Chair Loren Bough: Regentbough@montana.edu

    Regent Dean Folkvord: RegentFolkvord@montana.edu

    Regent Heather Hoyer: RegentHoyer@montana.edu

    Regent Jeff Southworth: RegentSouthworth@montana.edu

    Regent Daniel Spoon: RegentSpoon@montana.edu

    Student Regent Carter Jasper: RegentJasper@montana.edu

    Clayton Christian - Commissioner of Higher Education and current Interim President of UM: cchristian@montana.edu

  • You can look up your legislator here:

    https://www.legmt.gov/districts/

    Tell them:

    • the Irish language program at UM is at risk

    • this program is tied to Montana history and international partnerships

    • the decision is moving quickly

    • you want them aware of the issue

    LETTER TEMPLATE

  • Comment on our Facebook post or make your voice heard by submitting a comment on our website about what the program has meant to you. We will compile testimonials and public comments and share them with decision-makers.

  • If you are part of an organization, school, cultural group, exchange partner, or community institution, please consider sending a letter of support.

  • Talk about it. Share our posts. Text people. Bring it up over coffee. Print some flyers and put them around town! (PDFs of flyers are available on the FISW website). This campaign depends on people knowing what is actually happening before the decision is made.