‼️🚨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🔗

Find out how you can support our campaign here

Irish music in Montana has become a fun part of the state’s music scene, even though it’s not as old as some other traditions here. Irish immigrants who came to Montana in the late 1800s brought their music with them, and it’s stuck around through festivals, pubs, and local bands. Instruments like fiddles, tin whistles, and bodhráns can often be heard in cities like Missoula, Billings, Bozeman, and Butte, especially around St. Patrick's Day.

Events like the Fáilte Montana Festival, An Rí-Rá, and many other festivals, celebrate Irish music and culture, while informal jam sessions help keep the tradition alive. Whether at a local bar or a community gathering, Irish tunes—like jigs and reels—are a fun way to experience the state’s mix of cultures.

Each year, the Friends of Irish Studies are excited to team up with Chris Sullivan and the Foust Family to offer musicians a one-of-a-kind chance to play together along the scenic banks of the Flathead River; The Mission Mountain Traditional Irish Music Camp.