The Burns Library Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies Chair was established in 1989 by a generous gift of the Burns Foundation of San Francisco, California. The Foundation was set up by the family of the Honorable John J. Burns, for whom the library is named. A distinguished scholar, writer or artist who has made significant contributions to Irish cultural or intellectual life is brought to Boston College for either a semester or full academic year. The Burns Scholar uses the library's renowned Irish Book and Manuscript Collection for his or her research. The chairholder also teaches one course per semester and delivers two public lectures on an Irish Studies related topic.

Current Burns Library Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies (2009-2010)

Thomas Bartlett
Professor of History, National University of Ireland

Previous Burns Library Visiting Scholar in Irish Studies 1991-

• Diarmaid Ferriter (2008-2009)
  Historian 
  Video from Front Row: Unfulfilled Promise; Sex and the Archbishop

• John F. Deane (Spring 2008)
  Irish Poet and Fiction Writer
  Listen to a poetry reading [1 hr]* John Deane gave April 2008 at the Burns Library.
  
• Brendan Kennelly (Fall 2007)
  Irish poet
  Listen to a poetry reading [1 hr]* Brendan Kennelly gave at the Burns Library in October 2007. Introductory remarks were given by Robert K. O'Neill, Ph.D.
  
• Tom Garvin (2006-2007)
  Professor of Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin.
  View video from Front Row. 
  
• Maria Luddy (2005-2006)
  Professor of History at the University of Warwick.
  View video from Front Row. 
  
• Gerald Dawe (Spring 2005)
  Poet literary critic; Director of Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing, Trinity College, Dublin.
  View video from Front Row.
  
• Mick Moloney (Fall 2004)
  Professor of Music and the Irish Studies, New York University
  
• Peter Gray (Spring 2004)
  Senior Lecturer in History, University of Southampton
  
• Margaret Kelleher (2002-2003)
  Senior Lecturer, Department of English, National University of Ireland - Maynooth
  
• Breandán Ó Buachalla (2001-2002)
  Formerly of University College, Dublin
  
• Patricia Donlon (2000-2001)
  Former Director of the National Library of Ireland
  
• Paul Bew (1999-2000)
  Historian, Political Scientist, The Queen's University Belfast
  
• Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill (1998-1999)
  Irish poet, author
  
• Bernard Meehan (Spring 1998)
  Keeper of Manuscripts, Trinity College, Dublin
  
• Alvin Jackson (1996-1997)
  Historian, The Queen's University Belfast
  
• Kevin Whelan (1996-97)
  Historian, geographer; Director of the Keogh Center for Irish Studies, University of Notre Dame
  
• Timothy O'Neill (Spring 1995)
  Calligrapher, historian
  
• Seán Ó Tuama (Fall 1994)
  Irish language scholar, National University of Ireland, Cork
  
• Maurice Harmon (1993-1994)
  University College, Dublin, Professor of Literature, literary critic and author
  
• Margaret MacCurtain O. P. (1992-1993)
  Historian, National University of Ireland, Dublin
  
• Alf Mac Lochlainn (1991-92)
  Film and literary critic, bibliographer, cultural historian and novelist who served as director of the National Library of Ireland

*Real Player Required (download)