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SGOIL ARO-LEIǯINN NA ǯAEÒILǯE
SCHOOL OF IRISH LEARNING
Governors :
LIEUT.-GEN. SIR WILLIAM
REV. E. HOGAN, S.J., LITT.D.
JOHN MACNEILL, B.A.
BUTLER, K.C.B.
DOUGLAS HYDE, LL.D.
WHITLEY STOKES,
MRS. J. R. GREEN
THE RT. HON. SIR A. P.
D.C.L.
EDWARD GWYNN, M.A.
MACDONNELL, G.C.S.I.,
JOHN STRACHAN,
K.V.O., LITT.D.
LL.D.
Director :
KUNO MEYER, PH.D.
Trustees :
LORD CASTLETOWN
REV. W. DELANY, S.J., D.D.
W. P. GEOGHEGAN
Students' Committee :
R. I. BEST
MISS M. BYRNE
J. G. O'KEEFFE
P. BRADLEY
MISS M. O'KENNEDY
E. O'NAUGHTON
J. H. LLOYD
EAMONN O'NEILL
Secretary :
R. I. BEST
Treasurer :
J. G. O'KEEFFE
Bankers :
THE HIBERNIAN BANK, DUBLIN
27 CLARE STREET,
DUBLIN, November, 1903
THE first Session of the School of Irish Learning has just closed. Three Courses have been held in the Aula Maxima of University College, St. Stephen's-green, kindly lent by the authorities for the purpose. During July, Professor John Strachan, LL.D., lectured for four weeks, two hours daily, on Old-Irish Grammar. For these lectures forty students of both sexes enrolled themselves, nearly all of whom were more or less conversant with Modern Irish. Several of them came from distant parts, such as Galway, Cork, Waterford, and Belfast, for the purpose of attending these classes, and one student came specially from Sheffield. In addition to these lectures, Professor Strachan held a class in the mornings for more advanced students, with whom he read the Táin Bó Cúalgne. For this purpose, Mr. Edward Gwynn, F.T.C.D., kindly lent his rooms in Trinity College.
In September, Professor Kuno Meyer conducted a class in Irish palæography and the reading of mss. This class, which met for an hour and a half daily during three weeks, was attended by twelve students. Irish mss. of various ages were read and studied in photographic reproductions; and instruction in the methods of cataloguing and editing was given. It is hoped that some of the work done by the class will soon be ready for publication.
During the same month, Dr. Henry Sweet took a class in practical phonetics with special reference to modern Irish. This class was attended by twelve students. The object of the course was to give the students such a knowledge of speech-sounds and pronunciation as would enable them to understand and investigate the history of the language, to restore the pronunciation of Old-Irish, and to write down the Modern Irish dialects in an accurate phonetic notation for the benefit of present and future generations of scholars.
The management of the School was as follows:—Mr. Charles M'Neill undertook the work of honorary treasurer and secretary; Mr. R. I. Best acted as honorary Librarian. The fees for each Course were one guinea; but this was not enough to cover expenses. A sum amounting to £150 was subscribed by friends. Of this sum, a portion has been applied to paying the lecturers, and another to purchase the nucleus of a working library. For the latter, valuable gifts of books have also been received from several friends, and from the Council of the Royal Irish Academy.
An association of the students has been formed, each student paying a yearly subscription; and through the kindness of Mr. Thomas Kelly, Castletown, the school has been temporarily housed in suitable rooms.
It is intended, in connexion with the School, to start a periodical devoted to Irish philology, literature, and history. One of the chief objects of such a periodical will be the publication of collations and editions with translations into English, of ms. materials bearing on Irish Literature and History. Professors Kuno Meyer and John Strachan will be the editors. To give an idea of the work to be done, the former has drawn up a short statement, which is annexed.
Arrangements are being made for at least three Courses during the next Session. Early in January, Mr. John Sampson, Librarian of the University of Liverpool, will hold a bibliographical class treating of the method to be observed in describing and cataloguing ancient and modern mss., with special reference to those of Ireland. In March and April, Professor Kuno Meyer will resume his Course on Irish Palæography and the reading of mss. During June and July, Professor J. Strachan will