The Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies and Notre Dame Global jointly sponsor the Keough-Naughton Library Research Awards in Irish Studies for Visiting Scholars. These awards provide grant funding to assist scholars who travel to the Notre Dame campus to use the collections of the Hesburgh Libraries for research in all aspects of Irish studies.
The Irish Studies collections of the Hesburgh Libraries, primarily print, include a wide-ranging fiction collection, a strong seventeenth- and eighteenth-century print book collection, a wealth of theatre and fine arts materials, Irish Revival resources, and collections on Berkeley, Burke, and Swift. Lists and descriptions may be found in this guide: Irish Studies Resources for Graduate Research.
The award is intended to defray the cost of travel and accommodation for research visits of one to three weeks in duration. The value of the award is normally between $1,000 and $3,000 USD. Awardees may be established scholars, graduate students, or postdoctoral scholars. Applications from international locations are encouraged. An important consideration will be the relevance of the Hesburgh Library collections to the proposed research project.
Special Awards
Awards for Research in the Irish Language
Tá bailiúchán leabhar Gaeilge Leabharlann Hesburgh ar an mbailiúchán leabhar clóite Gaeilge is fearr agus is cuimsithí i Meiriceá Thuaidh. Tá dámhachtain, a bunaíodh sa bhliain 2025 mar chuid de Chlár Léann na Gaeilge, ar fáil do scoláirí ar mian leo leas a bhaint as an mbailiúchán agus as lámhscríbhinní, ar mhaithe le taighde nuálach a dhéanamh.
Ní foláir do scoláirí atá ag déanamh taighde go sonrach ar an nGaeilge nó ar ábhar a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge (idir chultúr, stair, litríocht agus teangeolaíocht na teanga), an fócas sin a chur in iúl go soiléir san iarratas agus a mhíniú conas a bhaineann an togra taighde leas as an ábhar Gaeilge atá i Leabharlann Hesburgh. Úsáidtear an dámhachtain (idir $1,000 agus $3,000) chun costas taistil agus lóistín a ghlanadh le haghaidh cuairteanna taighde. Maireann na cuairteanna cúpla seachtain (idir seachtain amháin agus trí seachtaine go hiondúil). Fáiltítear roimh iarratais ó scoláirí seanbhunaithe, mic léinn iarchéime agus scoláirí iardhochtúireachta nó taighdeoirí neamhspleácha. Iarrfar ar iarratasóirí rathúla teistiméireacht leictreonach a sholáthar ina gcuirtear síos ar an gcaoi ar bhain siad leas as an mbailiúchán leabharlainne. Mar aon le litir ag cur síos ar an togra, ní foláir CV agus buiséad cruinn a sholáthar.
The Hesburgh Libraries boast the finest collection of Irish-language printed texts in North America. The Irish-language award, introduced in 2025 as part of the Program for Irish Language Initiatives, is intended to defray the cost of travel and accommodation for research visits of one to three weeks in duration. The value of the award is normally between $1,000 and $3,000 USD. Awardees may be established scholars, graduate students, or postdoctoral scholars. Applications from international locations are encouraged.
Scholars specifically researching the Irish language or topics related to the Irish language, its culture, history, literature, or linguistics should indicate this focus clearly in their application and explain how the project engages with Irish-language materials held by the Hesburgh Libraries. Successful applicants will be required to provide a testimonial describing how their project benefited from the award.
New in 2026: Awards for Research in the S.B. Kennedy Collection
In 2025, the Hesburgh Libraries acquired the papers of curator and art historian S.B. Kennedy, whose landmark publication, Irish Art & Modernism, 1880-1950, still inspires artists and scholars today. His research papers include dossiers on numerous Irish artists, most notably Paul Henry and members of the White Stag Group. The S.B. Kennedy Award is intended to defray the cost of travel and accommodation for research visits of one to three weeks in duration. The value of the award is normally between $1,000 and $3,000 USD. Awardees may be established scholars, graduate students, or postdoctoral scholars. Applications from international locations are encouraged.
Processing of the S.B. Kennedy Collection is ongoing, and a finding aid will be available online soon.
How to apply
The deadline for receipt of applications for the 2026-27 award cycle is Monday, December 14, 2026.
Applicants should contact Dr. Matthew Knight ([email protected]), Irish Studies Librarian, to discuss their proposed research prior to submitting an application.