Irish Folklore Joint Major (IFJ1)

Undergraduate (Level 8 NFQ, Credits )
Academic Year 2024/2025

Study Abroad

Duration:: 3 Year(s)
Next Intake:: 2024/2025 September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:: Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.

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Curricular information is subject to change.

The study of folklore looks at the role of tradition in popular culture, in the past and in the present. We inherit folklore from our own community and almost everyone possesses folklore of some kind, whether in the form of a proverb, a story, a piece of music or a game. Customs associated with particular times of the year, or important occasions in people’s lives, are part of folklore, as are aspects of material culture such as vernacular architecture. The study of folklore looks at the nature of popular tradition and the way in which it is transmitted, usually outside of official channels and often across vast distances of time and space. The UCD course investigates Irish folklore as a local expression of international cultural phenomena, making the subject particularly suitable for international students.

About this Course

Irish Folklore is taught in lectures, with additional tutorials in several modules.

Assessment in all modules involves a combination of semester assignment work and an end-of-semester exam.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
IRFL10010	Introduction to Folklore	Autumn	5
IRFL10040	Ethnography of the Everyday	Spring	5
Stage 1 Core Modules
Stage 2 Core Modules
IRFL20010	The Study of Folklore: Origins and Development	Autumn	5
IRFL20090	Folklife & Ethnology	Spring	5
Stage 2 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options
HUM20010	Career Readiness for Arts	Autumn	5
IRFL20030	The Narrative Art	Autumn	5
CCIV20070	Poets, Power and Performance	Spring	5
IRFL20050	Healers and Healing	Spring	5
IRFL20100	Oral history and tradition	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options
Stage 3 Core Modules
IRFL30080	Textual Analysis of the Irish Oral Tradition	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options
CCIV30110	Early Irish Myths & Sagas	Autumn	5
IRFL30030	The Life Cycle	Autumn	5
IRFL30090	Collectors of Song and Music	Autumn	5
IRFL30020	Calendar Custom	Spring	5
IRFL30100	Popular religion and belief	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options
Stage 4 Core Modules
IRFL30080	Textual Analysis of the Irish Oral Tradition	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options
CCIV30110	Early Irish Myths & Sagas	Autumn	5
IRFL30030	The Life Cycle	Autumn	5
IRFL30090	Collectors of Song and Music	Autumn	5
IRFL30020	Calendar Custom	Spring	5
IRFL30100	Popular religion and belief	Spring	5

There are opportunities for students to spend a year studying abroad while pursuing their BA in Irish Folklore. Possibilities for such study include Europe, Canada, the United States and Japan.

A degree in Irish Folklore is of relevance to anyone interested in popular culture, tradition and society, and their interconnections. It provides an excellent basis for careers in:

Heritage related organisations

The media

Teaching

Areas related to Irish studies & ethnic studies.

You can also pursue MLitt and PhD graduate studies in Irish Folklore in UCD, specialising in one of the many areas of the subject

The following advice is for Non-EU applicants. For Irish/EU/UK students, please apply via MyUCD.

The following entry route(s) are available:

BA Arts (BAU5) Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)	Entry in Sep 2024	Full Time - 3 Year(s)	Apply from Oct 2023	Apply