Irish Studies Research Articles

Irish Studies, the West and the Rest: Thinking Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Academic Publications

Irish Studies, the West and the Rest: Thinking Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Academic Publications

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Irish Studies

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Irish Studies

Guest editorial. Revisiting the Slow Food Movement: Three Cases of Heritage, Innovation, and Sustainability in Alternative Food Networks

The special issue, ‘Revisiting the Slow Food Movement: Three Cases of Heritage Innovation and Sustainability in Alternative Food Networks', explores the integration of Slow Food principles within Alternative Food Networks (AFNs) to enhance sustainability and cultural heritage preservation. By analysing case studies from Afghanistan, Ireland, and Switzerland, the editorial illustrates how AFNs can address food security, local communities' social adherence, economic viability, and environmental sustainability. The Afghan case emphasises collaborative agribusiness for resilience and market access, the Irish study focuses on sustainable lobster fishing practices, and the Swiss example highlights the revival of traditional red berry cultivation. Utilising the Triple Bottom Line framework, this editorial explores the multifaceted benefits of AFNs in fostering sustainable food systems that align with local cultural practices and innovative agricultural techniques. This special issue provides valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars aiming to develop more resilient and equitable food systems globally.

Maternal Thrombocytopenia is not predictive of neonatal thrombocytopenia: A single-centre Irish study

Maternal Thrombocytopenia is not predictive of neonatal thrombocytopenia: A single-centre Irish study

The dawn and twilight of Old Irish scholarship

ABSTRACT Even though the publication of Johann Kaspar Zeuss’s monumental Grammatica Celtica (Zeuss 1853) marks the beginning of the modern, scientific study of the Old Irish language, short excerpts of the most important textual witnesses of Old Irish, the so-called Old Irish glosses, preserved in 8th–9th-century manuscripts on the European Continent, had appeared in print since the early 18th century. This article gives an overview of these early publications from the 18th and early 19th century by Johann Georg von Eckhart, Domenico Vallarsi, Lodovico Antonio Muratori, and Vittorio Amedeo Peyron, and assesses their role as early trailblazers in the study of Old Irish.

Position of Persia on the problem of «Russian transit» in the XVI–XVII centuries: a plot about Shirvan cities

The article attempts to consider the position of the Persian Safavid state on the question of using the territory of the Muscovy empire for the development of the European-Asian relations in the period of the XVI–XVII centuries with the use of the method of diachronic analysis and historical periodization. The aforementioned problem is studied as a separate aspect of scientific topics related to the place of the then Russia in the process of the European expansion into the countries of the East. The object of the analysis is the practical activities of the Persian administrations, which had both a direct and indirect relationship to the conventional topic of «Russian transit». Nowadays the experience of the comprehensive and conceptual study of this issue is absent not only in the domestic, but also in the foreign historical science. The specific subject of the study is related to the repeated promises of official Iran to transfer control over the largest centers of the historical region of Shirvan to the Russian tsars. The source base for this work was an array of diplomatic documents on the history of Russian-Persian interstate relations of the XVI–XVII centuries. These materials, in particular, reflected Moscow’s reaction to the Safavid proposals for territorial concessions. The scientific works of Russian-speaking and foreign specialists, including the largest representatives of classical and modern historical Iranian studies, were also used. The analysis made it possible to fit the diplomatic issue about the fate of the Shirvan cities into the context of the general problem of «Russian transit». It is hypothesized that the Persian government deliberately initiated this discussion taking into account the economic potential of the Volga-Caspian trade route. It is concluded that if the appropriate agreements between the two states were reached, the Russian empire could in the future produce a certain revolution in the intercontinental trade, especially in the silk market.

‘The voice of the child? The child has no voice’: an Irish study exploring the voice of young children in decisions regarding contact

Since January 2016, Irish family law courts have been obliged to take into consideration the voices of children in proceedings where decisions regarding contact with parents are being made. This article examines the findings of an Irish study that shed light on how young children’s voices are heard in decisions regarding contact with parents who do not, or no longer, live together. The views of key stakeholders who have some involvement with contact arrangements for young children in the 0–6 years age category are highlighted. A thematic analysis of the data was conducted in order to understand various perspectives on how and under what circumstances young children are heard in contact cases. The findings demonstrate that the voices of young children are virtually absent in family law decisions regarding contact. Determining factors relate to the infrastructure of the courts, a significant lack of resources to support the Irish family law system and significant variation in practice approaches between social and legal professionals. As a result of these findings, suggestions are proposed for informing practice and improving service delivery in family law in a way that best meets the needs and rights of young children.

The Decolonial Turn in Kurdish Studies: An Introduction

This special-issue introduction highlights the burgeoning movement toward decolonizing Kurdish studies, outlining its challenges and opportunities within the academic landscape. Central to the authors’ discussion is the concept of the coloniality of power, which offers a framework for understanding the enduring oppression faced by Kurds within the context of ongoing colonial domination in the Middle East. The introduction delves into themes of historical erasure and academic marginalization, shedding light on the struggle for recognition within not only national and regional variants of area studies such as Turkish, Arab, Iranian, and Middle East studies but also the Euro-American academy more broadly. Furthermore, the introduction underlines the potential of decolonial methodologies in reshaping the study of Kurds and Kurdistan, emphasizing the significance of amplifying voices from the ground, including those of Kurdish intellectuals, activists, and politicians. Through critical reflexivity and engagement with diverse perspectives, the editors of this special issue call for a reimagining of Kurdish studies that prioritizes epistemic decolonization, centering the experiences and agency of Kurdish communities.

Mixed-method Irish study exploring the role of diet in IBD based on an online questionnaire and a patient panel opinion.

Diet is a risk factor in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) pathogenesis. This study aims to examine the dietary patterns and beliefs of Irish patients living with IBD through an online questionnaire and subsequent open discussions with an IBD patient collaborator panel (PCP). All data presented here are selected and presented following the PCP's suggestions and views. This mixed-method study included an online questionnaire using a short food frequency questionnaire examining dietary patterns, dietary opinions, beliefs and behaviours (phase I). Six in-person PCP sessions were conducted, where findings from the online questionnaire, diet and lifestyle in the context of IBD were discussed in depth (phase II). The questionnaire revealed that respondents with active IBD are associated with the consumption of high-sugar, processed and meat-based foods while reducing their consumption of high-fibre foods. Individuals with active Crohn's disease have a decrease in overall daily energy consumption and a significant reduction in intake of fibre, non-starch polysaccharides, micronutrients [B vitamins (B1, B2, and B9), vitamin C, calcium] and trace elements (iron, zinc, copper and manganese). The PCP reported that food tolerability is limited during relapse, leading patients to prefer simple carbohydrates for energy, consistent with the dietary intake data. The PCP reported that most dietary advice was received during hospitalisation (relapse), focused on food avoidance, with little follow-up during remission. The consensus among the PCP was that factors, such as disease type, psychological aspects, dietary understanding and support, can influence peoples' dietary choices. In summary, we show that dietary intake in people with IBD varies and may depend on several factors, not just the disease itself. This PCP desires more dietary information and professional support outside of hospitalisation to assist with disease management.

The pasts, presents and futures of transnational and global Irish Studies: “Snapshots”

ABSTRACT As with any other discipline, we are periodically drawn towards reviewing the trajectory of Irish Studies, contemplating possible future directions: What is happening now? What should come next? Four scholars at varying stages of their academic careers and located in tertiary institutions in Ireland, USA, and Australia address these questions with specific reference to the transnational or global aspects of Irish Studies, a key focus of this special issue. Their brief “snapshots” take us on a journey starting with gendered migrant histories and the methodological challenges facing the often-disappointed researcher seeking the experiences of Irish-speaking diasporas, before engaging with new ways of confronting age-old questions about both Irish migrants’ implication in the dispossession of Indigenous populations and the historical racialisation of Irishness in Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. We are then introduced to research into revolutionary Ireland’s collective global consciousness and the development of a Global Irish Studies which seeks to create a sustainable dialectic between Irish and non-Irish-based scholars, finishing with the assertion that Ireland has always been a porous and transnational space, and that while it may have been hiding in plain sight as it were, the international and relational aspect of national literatures are profound and unavoidable.

Food and ethnographies of folk life: applying a theory of food as intangible cultural heritage to Passing the Time in Ballymenone

ABSTRACT Henry Glassie’s Passing the Time in Ballymenone – Culture and History of an Ulster Community (1982) is a touchstone text in anthropological, folklore, material culture, and ethnographic scholarship in Irish Studies and beyond. In spite of its numerous references to agriculture, cooking, and eating, it remains underexplored with respect to its capture of aspects of twentieth century foodways on the island of Ireland. This essay argues that Glassie’s text (and ethnographies of folklife more broadly) provides rich material for understanding how vernacular food culture comprises intangible cultural heritage as defined by UNESCO (Mac Con Iomaire, 2018).

GHAZAL GENRE IN NIMA YUSHIJ’S POETICS

The article introduces the classical ghazals in the poetry of Nimá Yushíj (1897–1960) that were previously unexamined in Russian and Western Iranian Studies, and that provided an impetus for the development of this traditional genre in the contemporary Persian literature. Analysis of the canonic language signs of medieval lyrics by the “father of Iranian new poetry’s” sheds light upon the transformation of the author’s self-awareness in line with the original artistic manner. Conventional images and stable motifs of love lyrics, which have absorbed traditional mystical and allegorical connotations, are uniquely refracted in Nima Yushij’s ghazals. The semiotic and structural aspect of research along with the methods of historical poetics reveals the polysemanticism of classical motifs. The multi-stratified text structure turns out to be a tool for the poet to allegorically present his artistic view. In accordance with his intentions, Nima applies both the normative components of the formal plan (e. g., husn at-taxallus) and the execution methods that are not typical for the classical canon (frame text). To sum up, semantic and formal wholeness of Nima’s ghazals is observed.

A pan-tumor prospective translational, Irish study, investigating the association of gut microbiome (GM) diversity with pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant treatment in early stage breast, rectal, and esophageal cancers.

TPS3188 Background: The gut microbiome (GM) is thought to influence host immunity by modulating multiple immunologic pathways. Studies have suggested that dysbiosis of the GM confers a predisposition to certain malignancies and influences response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, little is known about how the GM diversity influences complete pathological response to neo-adjuvant therapy in gastrointestinal (GI) and breast tumors. We hypothesize that a more diverse GM constitution at baseline will lead to improved pathological response at the time of definitive surgery. Methods: This is a cross institutional multi-centre Irish translational study investigating the impact of the GM diversity on the efficacy of neo-adjuvant therapy in GI and breast cancers by assessing its association with pathological response. The study population includes pts with early-stage breast, rectal or esophageal cancers commencing neo-adjuvant therapy (including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and chemo-radiation) and planned for definitive surgery. Exclusion criteria include prior allogenic tissue/solid organ transplantation and prior receipt of anti-cancer therapy. The study assessments will include fecal sampling of the GM prior to neo-adjuvant therapy, upon completion and again six months post completion of therapy. Fecal samples will be analysed by 16S RNA sequencing. Pathological response will be examined at time of surgery and patients will be classified as responders (complete pathological response) or non-responders. The primary endpoint of the study is to examine the association between the GM diversity and pathological response. Exploratory analysis will include the assessment of the association between cf-DNA and the GM diversity as well as an assessment of the association between cf-DNA at baseline and pCR. 120 patients will be recruited over 18 months. Species richness (Alpha Diversity) will be analysed using the Shannon diversity index and Jaccard similarity index will be used to calculate beta diversity. Following planned study recruitment, classification and clustering analysis will be performed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Random Forest analysis. To assess the primary endpoint the association between GM and complete pathological response will be examined using logistic regression analysis adjusting for potential confounding factors in the final statistical analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals will be presented. This is expected to read out in early 2025. Recruitment is ongoing, with 14 pts recruited to date. We demonstrate that it is feasible to accrue to translational studies in Ireland and we have streamlined screening and recruitment pathways to improve our methodology and recruitment numbers.

Turmeric and curcumin as adjuncts in controlling Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases: a narrative review.

Non-antibiotic adjuncts may improve Helicobacter pylori infection control. Our aim was to emphasize curcumin benefits in controlling H. pylori infection. We discussed publications in English mostly published since 2020 using keyword search. Curcumin is the main bioactive substance in turmeric. Curcumin inhibited H. pylori growth, urease activity, three cag genes, and biofilms through dose- and strain-dependent activities. Curcumin also displayed numerous anticancer activities such as apoptosis induction, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects, caspase-3 upregulation, Bax protein enhancement, p53 gene activation, and chemosensitization. Supplementing triple regimens, the agent increased H. pylori eradication success in three Iranian studies. Bioavailability was improved by liposomal preparations, lipid conjugates, electrospray-encapsulation, and nano-complexation with proteins. The agent was safe at doses of 0.5->4g daily, the most common (in 16% of the users) adverse effect being gastrointestinal upset. Notably, curcumin favorably influences the intestinal microbiota and inhibits Clostridioides difficile. Previous reports showed the inhibitory effect of curcumin on H pylori growth. Curcumin may become an additive in the therapy of H. pylori infection, an adjunct for gastric cancer control, and an agent beneficial to the intestinal microbiota. Further examination is necessary to determine its optimal dosage, synergy with antibiotics, supplementation to various eradication regimens, and prophylactic potential.

Vladimir Alekseevich Ivanov — a World-Class Expert on Iranian Studies. Part 1

The article is devoted to the outstanding 20th-century researcher of Iran — V.A. Ivanov (or Wladimir Ivanow, as he often styled himself), whose scholarly studies combined two spheres: Persian/Iranian dialectology and Ismailism, while he himself stood at the origins of research in both these spheres. The author tried to consider Ivanov’s studies in both these areas altogether for a full-scale assessment of his great personality as a scholar, as well as of his contribution to world Oriental studies. The article, published in two parts, includes V.A. Ivanov’s biography, sections concerning his works on linguistics/ethnography and Ismailism, as well as data on the significant replenishment by Ivanov of the IOM, RAS, collection of manuscripts and lithographs. Among the sources used for the article are V.A. Ivanov’s own memoirs and IOM, RAS, archival materials.

From statistics to stories: understanding the complex landscape of missed medical appointments. A mixed-methods pilot study.

Research suggests that in both France and the UK, between 5% and 10% of appointments with GPs are unattended. A comprehensive Irish study linked missed appointments with an increased short-term risk of mortality, prompting further investigation into the reasons behind absenteeism. To delve into the underlying causes of missed appointments, within the context of an urban health centre. Using a mixed-method approach, this study combines qualitative telephone interviews with quantitative analysis of medical records. The study focuses on patients who failed to attend appointments at an urban health centre in France over a 15-day period. The interview guide collected data on circumstances leading to missed appointments and explored patients' social determinants of health. Additionally, quantitative data, including patients' socioeconomic backgrounds, were extracted from medical records. Among 53 missed appointments (4.9% of all scheduled), 22 patients were interviewed. State health coverage (SHC) beneficiaries (68.2% of the sample) cited socioeconomic instability, including precarious work hours, social isolation, and multiple commitments, as reasons for non-attendance. For non-SHC beneficiaries, forgetting the appointment or failing to cancel it after self-resolution of the health issue was one of the main causes. Remarkably, 36.4% disclosed that they had experienced domestic violence. During the qualitative interview, patients were offered the opportunity to reschedule appointments, and a retrospective analysis by physicians found that over a quarter of the missed appointments were classified as 'capital appointments', meaning their absence could have significantly harmed the patient's health. The findings indicate that missed appointments can highlight social inequality, emphasising the need to align health care with patients' temporal realities. The identification of patients who have experienced violence and the use of missed appointments as triggers for follow-up calls seem to be promising strategies to enhance care and mitigate health inequalities.

Preface

The present issue of the biennial journal, Focus: Papers in English Literary and Cultural Studies contains papers from the sixth conference of the Irish Society for Theatre Research. Hosted by the Department of English Literatures and Cultures of the Institute of English Studies and the Irish Studies Research Centre at the University of Pécs, the event took place on 29-30 April 2011.

Opening Materials

Review of Irish Studies (RISE) 7.1 Remapping Irish Literary and Cultural Landscapes in the Mid-Twentieth Century

Irish Studies: Language, Linguistics, and Literature, Medieval Period

Irish Studies: Language, Linguistics, and Literature, Medieval Period

Irish Studies: Language, Linguistics, and Literature, Modern Period

Irish Studies: Language, Linguistics, and Literature, Modern Period