Florence

The Centro di Studi irlandesi at the University of Florence was founded in 2009 by Fiorenzo Fantaccini and a group of young PhD students engaged in research in the literary culture of Ireland. Over time, other researchers and scholars have become members of the centre.

The centre has hosted various international initiatives (first of all, the conference on Irish Society, History and Culture: 100 years after 1916, which was organised in 2016 in collaboration with Istituto Universitario Europeo di Firenze [European University Institute of Florence] and the Florentine headquarters of the teacher-training Scuola Normale Superiore [SNS]) and meetings with influential representatives of Irish culture and academics in Irish Studies from various Italian and foreign universities.

The centre has promoted many publications produced by the Open Access Laboratory (LabOA), part of the Dipartimento di Formazione, Lingue, Intercultura, Letterature e Psicologia (FORLILPSI), including the “Class-A” (top-rated) periodical  Studi irlandesi. A Journal of Irish Studies (2001-), and nine essays and miscellaneous volumes on Irish literary culture.

Over the years, the centre has encouraged donations and promoted purchases. As a result, the Biblioteca Umanistica now boasts a library of around 3000 volumes and numerous journals on Irish-related topics.