Cathasaigh Tenured

Specialist of Irish literature and mythology Tomas O Cathasaigh has been appointed Henry L. Shattuck Professor of Irish Studies, the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures announced this week.

Formerly a visiting professor from University College, Dublin, Cathasaigh began teaching at Harvard in September 1994. He has lectured in universities across Europe, Ireland and America.

"I'm delighted and looking forward to it," said Cathasaigh of his appointment, which begins on July 1, 1995.

Cathasaigh's tenure will fill the long-standing void left by Professor Emeritus of Irish Studies John Kelleher, who retired in 1986, said Department Chair Patrick Ford.

"I couldn't be happier," Ford said. "We've been looking for a long time for someone who had a store of knowledge of Irish language and Irish history from early times to the 20th century, someone conversant in early Irish literature, someone who was really well-known and respected in the Celtic world."

"We are just extremely fortunate to have him," Ford added.

Students praised the depth of Cathasaigh's knowledge and expressed satisfaction at his appointment.

"I'm thrilled," said Keith J. Wood '96, physics concentrator who took Cathasaigh's class Celtic 136: The Typology of the Hero in Early Irish Narrative last fall.

"He was an excellent teacher. I remember thinking, 'Boy, it's a shame he's just visiting for a year,'" Wood said. "He's very knowledgeable about early Irish literature. He looks at it from points of view never looked at before."

According to Cathasaigh, one of the moststimulating aspects of lecturing at Harvard hasbeen the different backgrounds of undergraduatesin his classes. The Irish system, in contrast,ensures that all students in the discipline havefirst had particular schooling.

"It's very interesting, and it's a newexperience for me," Cathasaigh said.

"You have students who are very keen, and whohave quite a different background. Some areconcentrating in a science subject, such asPhysics, and are energetically doing early Irishliterature," he said.

This semester Cathasaigh is teaching twoclasses, Celtic 137: Celtic Mythology and Celtic208: Early Irish Society

According to Cathasaigh, one of the moststimulating aspects of lecturing at Harvard hasbeen the different backgrounds of undergraduatesin his classes. The Irish system, in contrast,ensures that all students in the discipline havefirst had particular schooling.

"It's very interesting, and it's a newexperience for me," Cathasaigh said.

"You have students who are very keen, and whohave quite a different background. Some areconcentrating in a science subject, such asPhysics, and are energetically doing early Irishliterature," he said.

This semester Cathasaigh is teaching twoclasses, Celtic 137: Celtic Mythology and Celtic208: Early Irish Society