Keough-Naughton Library Research Award in Irish Studies
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.
New in 2025: 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.
How to apply
The deadline for receipt of applications for the 2025-26 award cycle is Monday, November 3, 2025.
Applicants should contact Dr. Matthew Knight (mknight2@nd.edu), Irish Studies Librarian, to discuss their proposed research prior to submitting an application.
More Information for Applicants
What kind of research project is considered?
The award is for scholars carrying out research in an area of Irish studies, or whose project will benefit from research in the Irish collections. All disciplines will be considered, but there should be a demonstrated benefit of visiting and using the Hesburgh Library’s Irish studies collections.
A complete list of past recipients of the award is available on the Notre Dame Global website.
The Hesburgh Library Collections
Irish Studies collections in the Hesburgh Libraries are broad and multi-disciplinary. The main area of interest for visiting scholars is likely to be the Hesburgh Special Collections. To understand the nature of these collections, please see the Hesburgh Special Collections page on the library guide, Irish Studies Resources for Graduate Research.
In addition to the Special Collections, the Hesburgh Library holds considerable collections of microfilm and of films on DVD. See the Irish News Sources libguide to learn more.
Using the Library
The Hesburgh Library is the main library on campus, and is open seven days a week. The Rare Books and Special Collections department is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Readers may contact the RBSC in advance to ensure that materials are available, and may register and receive a reader’s card on arrival.
Visiting South Bend and ND Campus
Information on traveling to the Notre Dame campus is regularly updated on the Notre Dame website: https://www.nd.edu/visitors/directions/
The South Bend area has a range of hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation, which can be identified through regular hotel or B&B websites or through the Visit South Bend/ Mishawaka website. https://visitsouthbend.com/places-to-stay/Hotels/.
The Hesburgh Library is in the north-eastern part of the campus and is served by a public bus as well as by a campus shuttle. For more information on the bus service, see the SBTranspo website and the Route 7 map and schedule. http://sbtranspo.com/routes-and-fares/
Other details
Recipients of this award will receive notification with information on the amount of the award and on any conditions regarding the timing of the visit. The award will be taxed at source and will be sent to the awardee after the conclusion of the visit. Awardees are also responsible for obtaining visas, if necessary, and for arranging their travel and accommodation.