Irish Writing

Course Overview

The M.Phil. in Irish Writing explores Irish writing in English from the late seventeenth century to the present. Amid a diverse and dynamic community of students and scholars, this course will allow you to engage with a wide range of Irish writing in English, from canonical figures such as Maria Edgeworth and W.B. Yeats to contemporary critical debates around gender, sexuality, class and race.



Trinity boasts an extraordinary literary heritage, ranging from Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde to Eavan Boland and Anne Enright. It is situated in the heart of Dublin, a UNESCO City of Literature full of writers past and present, and containing a wealth of theatres, literary events and festivals, and cutting-edge magazines and publishers. Trinity has also long led the way in the teaching of Irish writing. Its current faculty includes many of the foremost scholars in the field, as well as several distinguished contemporary Irish writers. Trinity’s historic library also offers a peerless collection of books and archival materials relating to Irish writing for you to explore.



Is This Course For Me?

This course is aimed at students interested in how Irish writing connects with Ireland's culture and history while exploring the Irish people's identity and appreciating the complexity and diversity of the Irish experience. It is also a way to gain insight into Ireland's many voices and understand its people's struggles, joys, and triumphs.



Course Structure

Teaching for the course is primarily delivered through small-group seminar teaching. Much of this takes place in the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing, which offers a lively working and social environment for the School of English M.Phil. students and creative writers. Students taking the course part-time complete the three core modules in their first year of study. In their second year, they complete two option modules and their dissertation.

The centre-piece of the course is the core perspectives in Irish Writing module. Running across two semesters, it introduces students to the multiple contexts in which Irish writing in English has developed from the late seventeenth century through to the present. Further exploration of the field of Irish writing is offered through the core Conditions of Irish Writing module. This focuses on the publishers, periodicals and institutions through which Irish writing has been produced and mediated, covering a wide range of historical periods, genres and writers. Further foundational grounding in issues of importance to studying and researching literature at postgraduate level is provided through the Research Skills for Postgraduate English module.



Students also take two specialist option modules, reflecting our commitment to cutting-edge research-led teaching. Within the Irish Writing programme, these modules focus on examining the work of significant Irish writers in detail. In recent years, these included Maria Edgeworth, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, and Eavan Boland. A wealth of option modules from our other M.Phil programmes, including the chance to take a creative writing option, are also available.



In the final phase of the course, students complete a dissertation of 15,000-18,000 words. This allows them to pursue in-depth research on a subject of their choice under expert supervision and drawing on our fantastic library and archival holdings.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have an honours Bachelor's degree (at least of upper-second class standard or GPA of 3.3) or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject (such as English, History, Art History, Irish Studies, or Modern Languages).



All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Closing Date: 31st May 2025

Assessment is by a combination of course papers and exercises and dissertation.

1 Year Full Time

2 years Part Time

Next Intake: September 2025

Career Opportunities

Graduates have gone into careers in education, the arts and culture sector, librarianship, publishing, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, social work, the civil service and management consultancy. Many alumni have also gone on to become successful writers.



This course also provides an excellent platform for moving on to doctoral research as well as offering transferable skills and careers in a variety of industries.