MONTREAL/March 17, 2008—
From left to right: Brian O'Neill Gallery, Chair of the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation; Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Dr. Michael Kenneally, Director of the Centre for Canadian Irish Studies.
Concordia University is pleased to announce the creation of the Johnson Chair in Canadian Irish Studies. This was made possible by a $3 million endowment, with $2 million coming from the Quebec government through the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation, chaired by Brian Gallery, and $1 million from the Concordia University Foundation, through its president Kathy Assayag.
“We are extremely honored that both these foundations chose to make such a substantial donation to reinforce and expand our Irish Studies program, which has already developed into a premier program in this field,” said Concordia President, Michael Di Grappa. “It is fitting too that this gift be offered today, on St. Patrick’s Day."
The announcement was made this afternoon at the annual St. Patrick’s Society Luncheon at the Hotel Bonaventure, in the presence of Declan Kelly, Ireland’s Ambassador to Canada, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and former Premier Daniel Johnson. The chair has been named the Johnson Chair in Canadian Irish Studies, in recognition of one of the most illustrious Irish-Quebec families. The Johnson family is well-known to Quebecers through their years of public service. Daniel Johnson Sr. and his two sons Daniel and Pierre Marc were all Premiers of Quebec.
Concordia’s Irish Studies program was launched in 2000, and now offers an average of 18 courses a year in Irish and Irish-Canadian subjects. Its prestigious Irish public lecture series has attracted more than 120 distinguished scholars and public figures, including the Nobel Poet Laureate, Seamus Heaney. The Canadian Irish Studies Foundation annually awards 20 fully-funded scholarships to worthy students.
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Source :
Tanya Churchmuch
Senior Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University
