W. B Yeats Chair of Irish Studies

USP, through the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Human Science (FFLCH), signed, on September 29th, an agreement with the Embassy of Ireland for the creation of the Chair of Irish Studies, which was named William Butler Yeats, in honor of the Irish poet. The signing ceremony was held at the Salão de Atos, in the Rectory building.

The W. B. Yeats Chair has the goal to organize events related to the investigation, promotion, and dissemination of irish studies in graduation and postgraduation courses, such as conferences, seminars, congresses and round-tables, besides also promoting the exchange between visiting scholars from Ireland and Brazil in the area of Irish literature and culture.

For FFLCH's director, Sandra Margarida Nitrini, the Chair's creation "is the highlight of the 29-year trajectory of the Irish Studies Program, which started at the University in 1980".

The Ambassador of Ireland, Michael Hoey, highlighted that São Paulo, especially USP, has been the cente of irish studies in the country and that the name given to the new University's Chair could not be more appropriated. "He is one of the great, if not the greatest, poet of Ireland", he said.

Vice-rector Franco Maria Lajolo, in turn, emphasized that internationalization is one of the University's main challenge and agreements, such as the one signed with the Embassy of Ireland "comes to strengthen the collaboration between the countries and the exchange".

William Butler Yeats Chair of Irish Studies

On 29th September 2009, the UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO (USP), Brazil, represented by its Vice-President, Franco Maria Lajolo and by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities (FFLCH), Sandra Margarida Nitrini, and the EMBASSY OF IRELAND, in Brazil, represented by the Ambassador Michael Hoey, signed the Agreement for the establishment of the Chair of Irish Studies William B. Yeats to promote further cooperation between the Embassy of Ireland and the University of São Paulo.

Coordinator: Professor Laura P. Z. Izarra
Guest Director: Professor Munira H. Mutran, Professor Honoris Causa by the National University of Ireland/Maynooth 

Ambassador Michael Hoey, USP Vice-President Franco Maria Lajolo and FFLCH Dean Sandra Margarida Nitrini.
Ambassador Michael Hoey presenting the Library of FFLCH with the Book of Durrow (fac-simile).		Front: Laura Izarra and Munira H. Mutran. Back: Lenita Maria Rimoli Esteves and Walkyria Monte Mór (coordinators of the Postgraduate Programme and Graduate Course of Linguistic and Literary Studies in English)

(Photographs by Ernani Coimbra)