This is event is free and open to all friends of the Celtic Junction Arts Center. Participants are asked to register in advance for one of the two identical Zoom sessions.

Registration is no longer available.

Join Dr. Steven Griffith for a “taste” of Irish history from prehistoric times to the present day. This overview of Irish history will be of special interest to those intending to travel to the Emerald Isle and those who would like a broad look at Irish history before enrolling in one of the more in-depth Irish history classes at the Irish College of Minnesota. It is designed for those with no experience with the history of Ireland. We will begin with basic geography, move on to discuss 10 key moments in Irish history, and finish by briefly exploring the complicated politics above and below the Republic of Ireland’s border with Northern Ireland. Along the way, we will explore the unique art and culture of the people of this complicated and beautiful island. 

By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to articulate the basic geography and history of Ireland, trace the relationship between Ireland and Britain, and explain the origins of the political challenges present in modern Ireland. 

Dr. Steven Griffith is Senior Vice President and Academic Dean Emeritus at Simpson College, in Indianola, Iowa. Previous to joining the faculty at Simpson, Griffith taught in the theatre department at Gustavus Adolphus College. He received his B.A. from Gustavus and his M.F.A. and Ph.D at the University of Minnesota. While at Gustavus, Griffith taught courses in design/tech, Irish drama, arts management, and led many study tours to Ireland. He has taught courses in Irish drama and history with the Irish College of Minnesota since 2020.