Centre for Neo-Latin Studies

The Centre is an interdisciplinary group, currently based in the School of History, University College Cork, which has as its goal the study of Renaissance Latin literature and scholarship from c.1400 to c.1750, with particular reference to Irish writing in Latin during this period.

The Centre was established in the Classics Department in July 1999 by Professor Keith Sidwell, who remained Director until August 2008.

Scholars at the Centre have established a series of nationally-funded research projects which have led the way in the field of Irish Neo-Latin studies. For information about these projects click here.

The Centre supports the MA in Renaissance Latin Culture (see promotional video on our YouTube Channel) and a cohort of graduate researchers; applications from students wishing to pursue studies in UCC should be made via email to Dr Jason Harris at the address below.

During the course of the academic year, scholars at the Centre meet for a weekly seminar, which offers a forum for collaborative research and for translation of Irish Latin texts, as well as linguistic training for students and early-career researchers.

The Centre also maintains a Spoken Latin circle which combines linguistic training with research into the history of oral Latinity in the early-modern period. This initiative has led to the creation of the Schola Latina, a summer school in Spoken Latin, which involves a week of immersion in which Latin is the sole means of communication. Further information on the Schola Latina can be found on this website 

On this website you can access information about the publications of scholars at the Centre.

We also offer here a range of resources to support researchers. These include a beginners' guide to studying Neo-Latin texts and a palaeographical tool to learn how to read Latin handwriting from the early-modern period.

For information on the authors and texts we study see our Finding List and a selection of sources that we have put online.