2009 News
- News Archive
New Director of Irish Studies Appointed
Dr Ivan Gibbons has recently been appointed as Director of Irish Studies at St Mary's University College, Twickenham. Dr Gibbons, whose professional career up until now has been in adult education, was one of the pioneers who introduced Irish Studies into the education curriculum with the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) over 20 years ago.
Dr Gibbons was educated at London Oratory School and at Queen's University, Belfast. His PhD topic at Birkbeck College, London was entitled 'The British Labour Party and the Establishment of the Irish Free State,' a subject on which he has written extensively.
He
is also a member of the Board of Directors of Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre, West London where he has recently organised a lecture series 'Ireland and Britain after 2010' in which invited British and Irish politicians examine the future of the Irish peace process following the next British general election.
He was awarded the Irish Post Community Award for services to the Irish in London in Education.
Dr Gibbons said "I am really looking forward to utilising my experience and contacts in Irish Studies to promote St Mary's Irish Studies programme to a wider audience in the community. The time has never been more propitious, given the current positive relationship between Britain and Ireland, for students to study in depth the history and culture of Britain's nearest neighbour".
