- 5 Weeks
- Tuesdays, February 25—March 26, 2025
- 6pm-8pm
- Muzzo Family Alumni Hall Room 400 (121 St. Joseph St.)
- $339 (includes HST & materials)
Immerse yourself in the heart of Irish culture with this interactive, in-person course. Over five weeks, you’ll learn the fundamentals of hurling, the fastest field sport, and Gaelic football, Ireland’s most popular game. Discover the beauty of céilí dancing, blending cultural theory with hands-on practice, and try your hand at making traditional Irish recipes like báirín breac. Finally, enjoy a screening of the acclaimed Irish-language film Kneecap, followed by a discussion on the politics of minority languages in Modern Ireland.
Learning Outcomes
Through this course, learners will:
Experience Irish cultural traditions, including sport, dance, cuisine, and language.
Explore the historical and contemporary significance of Irish cultural practices in shaping national identity
Investigate the role of tradition, media, and politics in the preservation and evolution of Irish culture.
Session Descriptions
Week 1 – Tuesday, February 25th, 6pm-8pm – Hurling. Learners will receive the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills of the fastest field sport in the world.
See Pa Sheehan on Breakfast Television discussing Hurling here!
Week 2 – Tuesday March 4th, 6pm-8pm – Gaelic football. Learners will receive the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills of the most popular sport in Ireland.
Week 3 – Tuesday March 11th, 6pm-8pm – Céilí dancing. This class will involve some theory-based content in which the learners will investigate the legitimacy of the céilí dance as characteristic of Irish culture. Learners will also be able to learn some céilí dances from expert teachers.
Week 4 – Tuesday March 18th, 6pm-8pm, Food. This class will enable the learners to make some traditional Irish recipes such as báirín breac and learn about the significance of the dish and how its significance has progressed in contemporary Ireland.
Week 5 – Tuesday March 25th, 6pm-8pm, Film. We will watch the highly acclaimed Irish language film, Kneecap. This will be followed by a discussion on the politics surrounding minority languages and what role these languages can play in contemporary Ireland.
About the Instructor
Pa Sheehan, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Celtic Studies program at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Pa holds a Professional Master’s in Education from the University of Limerick which focused on the teaching of both Irish and French. Pa is in his fifth year teaching in the Celtic Studies Program at St. Mike’s. He had previously spent two years teaching Irish at the University of Montana and at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Born in the beautiful west of Ireland, Pa’s work assuages any feelings of homesickness he may encounter. He has taught courses on Irish language, literature, traditional music, mythology, minority language media and sport. Pa’s classroom tends to be a loud place where students are encouraged to engage in discussion and debate.
Questions?
Please get in touch with ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
Application Form
SMCE4006 W25 – Experience Ireland: Sport, Dance, Food, and Film
