From Gaeltacht areas on the west coast of Ireland, Butte’s Irish community in the early 1900s celebrated and showcased its language and culture in the multi-ethnic mining city. This talk traces the Butte Irish’s efforts to preserve and promote their ethnic culture and still be respected, patriotic citizens. It expands our notion of Butte as a rowdy mining frontier town, and instead sheds light on the cultural richness that still prevails among the city’s people and organizations.

Dr. Ciara Ryan is the Program Director at the Foundation for Montana History. Ciara was born in Limerick, Ireland and first came to the U.S. on a Fulbright scholarship to teach with the Irish Studies program at the University of Montana. Ciara received her PhD from University College Cork, Ireland. Her research focuses on language, culture and the history of Ireland and the American West.

Dr. Ryan’s presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 23rd. The lecture is free, but contributions to the Cultural Center are welcomed.