Irish Cultural Center offers fall Irish language courses

Date: 8/15/2011

CHICOPEE — The Irish Cultural Center (ICC), in cooperation with Elms College, announced that the following Irish Language courses will be offered in the fall semester beginning on Sept. 7: Novice Irish 1, Intermediate: Advanced Practice, and Introductory Irish Language.

The ICC considers itself fortunate that, once again, an Irish Language Fulbright Teacher, Padraic Deiseach, will play a key role in the Irish Language offerings.

Deiseach will teach the three-credit course, Novice Irish 1 Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. from Sept. 7 at Dec. 16. To enroll, visit or call the registrar’s office at 265-2314. Those who wish to audit the course pay half the tuition: for people 65 or older the cost is $100, plus a $20 registration fee.

On Wednesday evenings from 6:40 to 9:10 p.m. Deiseach will teach the Intermediate: Advanced Practice Irish Language course from Sept. 7 to Dec. 14. The course will be offered either for three credits or on a non-credit basis through the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. This course is designed for students who have studied with Tom Moriarty and Chip Costello over the years, and who wish for additional opportunities to practice and develop their ability in the language. To enroll for credit, visit or call the registrar’s office at 265-2314. To enroll for non-credit, visit or call the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at 265-2218. Cost is $175. ICC members receive a $50 discount.

Introduction to Irish, taught by Moriarty, with the assistance of Deiseach, will be offered on Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. from Sept. 13 to Dec. 13. It is focused on all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening in an interactive enjoyable experience for those with little or no prior study of the language. To register, call the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at 265-2218. Cost: $150. ICC members receive a $50 discount.

The classes will continue during the second semester. For further information, call the ICC at 265-2537, or Moriarty at 592-6951. The ICC at Elms College offers programs in art, music, literature that promote the Irish language in order to “keep the Irish arts alive.”

Elms College is a co-educational, Catholic college offering a liberal arts curriculum that gives students multiple perspectives on life. Founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Elms College has a tradition of educating reflective, principled, and creative learners, who are rooted in faith, educated in mind, compassionate in heart, responsive to civic and social obligations, and capable to adjusting to change without compromising principle.