Irish Research Funds

Emily Brunner, University of Chicago
“Irish-American Nationalists and the dilemma of national allegiance: 1910-1924” Brunner is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and teaches a seminar on writing and research methods.

Charles Fanning, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
“A Hidden Flowering: Irish America in the Depression Years”
Among the nation’s leading Irish Studies researchers, Fanning received his Ph.D. in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1993 he has been Professor of English and History and Director of Irish and Irish Immigration Studies at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Diane Hotten-Somers, Boston College
“The Greening of American Drama: Inventing Nationality in the Irish and American Theatre, 1850-2000”
A Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University, Ms. Hotten-Somers is a lecturer in the English Department at Boston College.

Tara McCarthy, University of Rochester
“The Evolution of Political Culture among Irish Women in America, from the end of Nineteenth Century through the 1920’s”
McCarthy, a Ph. D. Candidate at the University of Rochester, specializes in American History, Women’s History and Social Reform. In 2002, she received the Glyndon Van Deusen Dissertation Writing Award from the History Department of the University of Rochester.

Niamh O’Sullivan, National College of Art and Design, Ireland
“A Retrospective of John Mulvany’s Artwork”
O’Sullivan, a 2001 Ph.D. recipient from University College Dublin, has been a lecturer of History of Art and Design and Complementary Studies at National College of Art and Design since 1987.

Christian G. Samito, Boston College
“Proof of Loyalty”: Military Service, Justice, and Citizenship in the Civil War Era
Samito received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and is currently a Doctoral candidate in nineteenth-century American history from Boston College. He serves as a Teaching Assistant in Early Modern and Modern Europe and also as a historical consultant for Walden Media.

Michael Silvestri, Clemson University
“The Exploration of Irish-American Relationships with Indian Nationalists”
Silvestri, a Ph.D. recipient from Columbia University, is Director of the Advisement Center, College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson University. He also is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the History Department at Clemson.

Barbra Wall, Purdue University
“Unlikely Entrepreneurs: Irish Catholic Sisters and the Hospital Marketplace, 1865-1925”
Wall, a 2000 Ph.D. recipient from the University of Notre Dame, is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Purdue University. This past August, she was the recipient of two awards; The American Association for the History of Nursing Post-doctoral Research Award and, with Dr. Elaine Sorensen Marshall, The American Association for the History of Nursing Lavinia Dock Award for best research article published in a journal.




	The Irish Research Funds (IRF) award program was established by the IACI in 1988 with the belief that responsible inquiry into the Irish American experience is crucial to providing a lasting record of Irish and Irish American history, traditions, and contributions to Western Civilization. The IRF awards are the supported by restricted endowment funds from the O’Shaughnessy Family of St. Paul, Minnesota, the Irish Institute of New York, and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Philadelphia. All awards are given to projects exploring an Irish American theme. Deadline for consideration is October 1, 2007 for the 2008 Awards.
	Please note that if you are submitting an application electronically, you may submit one copy (please send to Jackie Walsh). If submitting an application via mail, please enclose the requested number of copies of your application.
	2003 Irish Research Fund Awardees: *Emily Brunner, University of Chicago “Irish-American Nationalists and the dilemma of national allegiance: 1910-1924” Brunner is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and teaches a seminar on writing and research methods. Charles Fanning, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale “A Hidden Flowering: Irish America in the Depression Years” Among the nation’s leading Irish Studies researchers, Fanning received his Ph.D. in American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1993 he has been Professor of English and History and Director of Irish and Irish Immigration Studies at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Diane Hotten-Somers, Boston College “The Greening of American Drama: Inventing Nationality in the Irish and American Theatre, 1850-2000” A Ph.D. Candidate at Boston University, Ms. Hotten-Somers is a lecturer in the English Department at Boston College. Tara McCarthy,* University of Rochester “The Evolution of Political Culture among Irish Women in America, from the end of Nineteenth Century through the 1920’s” McCarthy, a Ph. D. Candidate at the University of Rochester, specializes in American History, Women’s History and Social Reform. In 2002, she received the Glyndon Van Deusen Dissertation Writing Award from the History Department of the University of Rochester. Niamh O’Sullivan, National College of Art and Design, Ireland “A Retrospective of John Mulvany’s Artwork” O’Sullivan, a 2001 Ph.D. recipient from University College Dublin, has been a lecturer of History of Art and Design and Complementary Studies at National College of Art and Design since 1987. Christian G. Samito, Boston College “Proof of Loyalty”: Military Service, Justice, and Citizenship in the Civil War Era Samito received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and is currently a Doctoral candidate in nineteenth-century American history from Boston College. He serves as a Teaching Assistant in Early Modern and Modern Europe and also as a historical consultant for Walden Media. Michael Silvestri, Clemson University “The Exploration of Irish-American Relationships with Indian Nationalists” Silvestri, a Ph.D. recipient from Columbia University, is Director of the Advisement Center, College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson University. He also is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the History Department at Clemson. Barbra Wall, Purdue University “Unlikely Entrepreneurs: Irish Catholic Sisters and the Hospital Marketplace, 1865-1925” Wall, a 2000 Ph.D. recipient from the University of Notre Dame, is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Purdue University. This past August, she was the recipient of two awards; The American Association for the History of Nursing Post-doctoral Research Award and, with Dr. Elaine Sorensen Marshall, The American Association for the History of Nursing Lavinia Dock Award for best research article published in a journal.