NOTTINGHAM IRISH STUDIES GROUP ran a short course on Modern Irish History from October 2nd to November 6th 2008. It was presented by Pat Murphy, and got excellent audiences and feedback. 
FULL description of course HERE
Irish History feedback - Go raibh maith agaibh.
Thanks to everybody who attended and to the Irish Centre for providing the venue and staffing the bar.
People liked the informal approach, and found the talks detailed, very well prepared, informative, well put together, concise, and well-balanced. They commended the tutor, Pat Murphy, for his fairness, objectivity, fluent delivery, thorough, in-depth knowledge and research, and excellent presentation. Members enjoyed the discussions and audience participation.
What other courses/talks would you be interested in? Email suggestions to info@nottinghamisg.org.uk

Loughborough University will host an Irish Studies conference 11-13 Sept 2009. More info:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ea/News%20and%20Events/Texts%20and%20Contexts.html

IRISH LANGUAGE CLASSES @ NOTTINGHAM IRISH CENTRE

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 7.30-9.00 pm.
Irish language classes have been running at the Irish Centre, Wilford St,  for four years. We currently have beginners and intermediate classes. Classes are run on a ‘self-help’ and mutually supportive basis. We use a variety of materials including Buntús Cainte and Turas Teanga, plus games, puzzles and pictorial material. We meet fortnightly on alternate Wednesdays. We take a summer break after 15 July and resume the second Wednesday of September.
Upcoming dates: De Chéadaoin (Wed): 17 Meitheamh (June); 1 & 15 Iúil (July);  9 & 23 Meán Fómhair (Sept); 7 & 21 Deireadh Fómhair (Oct); 4 Nollaig  (Dec) 2009.
Classes cost £2 each per session . Also, the Irish Centre expect anyone using the centre to join. Membership cost is £2 per annum.
————————————————————–

Irish language classes in Mansfield:

We meet on the first Tuesday of the month 7.30 - 9pm at [Wetherspoon’s pub] The Court House NG18 1HX , in Market Square. We’re a small, friendly group using Buntús Cainte and lots of pictorial material to learn Irish in an informal way. All welcome, including beginners. £2.50 per session. Upcoming dates: De Máirt: 7 Iúil (July); 4 Lúnasa (Aug); 1 Meán Fómhair (Sept); 6 Deireadh Fómhair (Oct); 3 Samhain (Nov) ; 1 Mí Nollag (Dec) 2009.

For more information email info@nottinghamisg.org.uk.
If you would like some free Irish language worksheets, get in touch and we’ll send some, with simple stories and exercises in Irish. We recommend this website: http://talkirish.com/

The Irish Reading Group meets monthly, usually on a Wednesday, in Nottingham Central Library, Angel Row, to discuss a wide range of Irish literature. Recent books discussed: Beloved Stranger by Clare Boylan;  Hugo Hamilton’s The Speckled People: Memoir of a Half-Irish Childhood; Shade by Neil Jordan; Booker Prizewinning The Gathering by Anne Enright; Reading in the Dark by Seamus Deane; Clare Boylan’s Emma Brown.
Many thanks to Marie Stott and Jane Brierley for their hard work in co-ordinating this reading group.