INT 204: Ireland: Research Topic Ideas for Ireland

Here are some research topic ideas. 

Many of these require narrowing or expanding to create an eight-page paper and a presentation, but are a start to get you thinking. 

Think about answering the "reporter's questions" for your topic: who, what, when, where, how, why and how much. 

For help with your paper and presentation, contact the SUNY Adirondack Center for Reading and Writing, run by the English Division faculty. They can advise you on your drafts and offer input about your presentation. Visit them in person, set up an appointment or use the online tutoring service. 

We've tried to provide topics below that might interest business, psychology, anthropology, culinary arts, creative writing and other majors. In some cases, we added links to give you a bit more information about the topic.

If prompted, log in to a library database with your college username and password. 
 

• History of Irish beers - why is Ireland famous for its beer? What's different about it? What kinds are most popular? How and why did Guinness stout become famous? What is the role of beer in the Irish economy? 
  • Start Your Research Here box: Beer AND Ireland
  • Statista: Beer AND Ireland
  • Wikipedia: Beer in Ireland  - use sources in footnotes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_in_Ireland. 
     
• Effect of Brexit on Northern Ireland/Ireland trade (Northern Ireland Brexit deal: At-a-glance (bbc.com); about Northern Ireland goods going into Ireland, which is in the EU). What problems does it cause? What are the currency differences between the two countries? 
  • Start Your Research Here box: Brexit AND "Northern Ireland" AND Ireland (limited to 2021-2024)
  • Statista   Brexit AND "Northern Ireland" AND Ireland
     
• Irish/Gaelic language: 
  • Irish language - what are the origins of the language? How many people still speak it? Maybe teach us a few words!
    • Start Your Research Here box: "Irish language" OR "Gaelic language"
    • Statista: "Irish language" 
    • Pronunciation Guide: https://cursai.bitesize.irish/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/3.Pronunciation-Cheat-Sheets.pdf.
       
• Irish cultural identity/Irish psyche - What is the Irish cultural identity now and in the past? How did it develop and has it changed and why? What is the role of storytelling ability and humor in the Irish identity? How does it compare to that of Northern Ireland? (The New York Times article posted for Week Two has information on this.) 
  • Start Your Research Here box:   Cultural identity AND Ireland OR Irish
     
• Ireland vs. Scotland
  • CIA World Factbook:  Ireland - The World Factbook (cia.gov) and https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-kingdom/
     
• Irish folklore beliefs such as leprechauns, fairies, banshees and Selkies - where did these originate, what role do they play in Irish culture, and how many Irish people still believe in them? 
  • Start Your Research Here box:  Ireland AND Folklore
  • Website: Irish folklore and site:edu: https://hraf.yale.edu/luck-of-the-irish-folklore-and-fairies-in-rural-ireland/.
  • Gale eBooks (encyclopedias): leprechauns OR fairies OR selkies OR banshees AND ireland
     
• Health services in Ireland (vs. Northern Ireland)
  • Start Your Research Here box: 
  • Statista: national health service AND "Northern Ireland"
    • "health care" AND Ireland 
       
• Genealogy and immigration and Ireland
  • Websites: Irish National Archives: Genealogy website
  • Website: Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/irish/adaptation-and-assimilation/
  • Website: Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/irish/irish-catholic-immigration-to-america/ 
  • Website: Ellis Island: https://www.statueofliberty.org/ellis-island/overview-history/.
  • Start Your Research Here box:  Ireland and migration
  • Statista: Ireland AND migration
     
• Geology and Ireland
  • Website: UNESCO: Giant's Causeway: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/369/. 
  • Website - National Trust: Giant's Causeway
  • Start Your Research Here box:  Ireland AND geolog*
  • Website: Ireland Geological Survey map: https://www.gsi.ie/en-ie/geoscience-topics/geology/Pages/Geology-of-Ireland.aspx. 
  • Website; Ireland Geological Survey: Volcanoes in Ireland.
     
• Celtic oral tradition in Ireland - What is the role of storytelling and oral folklore in Ireland? Why would Celtic people save their history and legends this way, through stories, songs and poems?
  • Start Your Research Here box: Oral tradition AND Ireland 
    • "Oral tradition" AND storytelling AND ireland
       
• What are the differences and similarities between the government structures of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom?
  • Ireland - The World Factbook (cia.gov)). and https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-kingdom/)
  • BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics. 
     
• Famous Irish authors: perhaps choose from James Joyce, Yeats, Edna O'Brien, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker (Dracula), C.S. Lewis, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift. What made these Irish writers famous? 
  • Start Your Research Here box:  Irish literature
  • Gale Literature Resource Center: Irish literature, Modern (or, search for a specific author in this database)
     
• Irish immigration to the United States -  What caused the Great Famine (also called the Great Hunger)? What caused the potato famine? How did that affect Ireland, its people and the rest of the world? Did Irish people move to other countries other than the U.S.? How did the famine end? Do they still grow potatoes in Ireland?
  • Start Your Research Here box:  Irish immigration AND "United States"
    • Irish immigration
    • Ireland AND "potato famine" 
       
• The Troubles -  What and when were The Troubles? How (or were) they resolved?  
  • Start Your Research Here box: Ireland and Troubles
  • Ballard Brief from BYU: https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/troubles-in-northern-ireland. 
  • What is the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement? (Good Friday Agreement: What is it? (bbc.com)) 

OTHER TOPICS: 

• History and significance of whiskey in Ireland - what is the role of whiskey in Irish history? Why is it famous?  What kinds of Irish whiskey are there? How are they made? Which brands are considered to be the highest quality? 
   
• Book of Kells - what is it and where did it come from? Where is it located and why? What's the significance of the Book of Kells? When was it created? What is it made of, and why? 
   
• Celts - who were they, where did they come from, and what did they contribute to Irish history? 
   
• Traditional Irish step dancing - how did it develop and what is its cultural significance? Why don't they move their arms when dancing? Maybe teach us a few steps! 
   
• Irish travelers - According to the CIA's World Factbook, Irish Travelers are 0.7% of the Irish population. Who are they? How did they originate? What do they do? Are they related to the Roma (Romany) people?
   
• Effect of Brexit on Northern Ireland/Ireland trade (Northern Ireland Brexit deal: At-a-glance (bbc.com); about Northern Ireland goods going into Ireland, which is in the EU). What problems does it cause? What are the currency differences between the two countries? 
   
• Irish cuisine - history of specific famous Irish foods we might be trying, like soda bread, corned beef, etc. 
   
• St. Patrick - what do we know of the actual person, and what was his significance in Irish history? Where was he from? Was he ever officially made a saint in the Catholic Church? Did he actually drive the snakes out of Ireland? 
   
• Irish tourism - who visits and why? What is the role of tourism in the Irish economy? What are the main reasons people visit Ireland, and why? How is tourism promoted in and outside of Ireland? How is Ireland perceived by the rest of the world? 
   
• Major exports of Ireland - What does Ireland make and sell to other countries? What do they import from other countries? How do Ireland's natural resources and location affect what is imported and exported? ( (Ireland - The World Factbook (cia.gov)).)
   
• Comparison of Irish income/GINI coefficient and U.S. income, standard of living. What accounts for the differences and similarities between Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States?  (Ireland - The World Factbook (cia.gov)).
   
• Alcohol and tobacco consumption in Ireland - what is the role of these in Irish society? Is alcoholism a problem in Ireland, and if so, why? Do lots of people smoke in Ireland? Are there campaigns to lessen smoking in Ireland? What about other drug addiction rates in Ireland? 
   
• History of specific Irish musical instruments - how did they develop? What do they look and sound like? (https://scalar.usc.edu/works/music-in-global-america/traditional-music-and-folk-music-of-ireland.)
   
• Celtic music - how did it develop and what does it sound like? (Music of Ireland - Celtic Music Recordings and Collections at the Archives of Traditional Music - Library Research Guides at Indiana University)
   
• Role of religion in the Irish economy, past and present - how many people are practicing Catholics and Protestants? What role does religion historically play in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and what caused these conflicts? 
   
• History of Irish lace (or a specific type/style)
   
• History of Aran Sweaters (fishermen's sweaters or "jumpers") - How did they originate? Did men do the knitting too? What type of wool is used? What types of stitches are typical for Aran sweaters, and why? (In British English, sweaters are called "jumpers.")
• Irish adolescents - do teens in Ireland have similar rates of anxiety and depression as the United States? How do they differ or are they similar, and why? 
   
• Red hair - Why do some Irish people have red hair? Where did those genes originate? What are the pros and cons of having naturally red hair? In the library databases, you could try searching for "hair color" AND Ireland OR Celts or "red hair" AND genetic*. 
   
• Wildlife of Ireland and why there are no snakes (https://a-z-animals.com/animals/location/europe/ireland/, List of reptiles of Ireland - Wikipedia and Why Doesn’t Ireland Have Snakes? | Popular Science (popsci.com)).