About EFACIS

The European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies (EFACIS) seeks to promote interest in and support the expansion of Irish Studies throughout Europe. Our focus is the study and debate of all aspects of history, society and culture of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Irish diaspora within the humanities and social sciences. EFACIS encourages as wide a range of organisations as possible to raise the profile of the subject area, to enhance the participation levels in Irish Studies and to further contacts between those involved in Irish Studies in the region.

EFACIS, the European Federation of Centres and Associations of Irish Studies, was founded in Paris in 1996 to promote interest in and to support the expansion of Irish Studies throughout Europe. Over the past decades, EFACIS has grown into a strong and vibrant network of Irish Studies scholars working in universities in Europe and beyond.

EFACIS is an international non-profit association under Belgian law based in the historic Irish College, Leuven. The general leading and guiding organ of EFACIS is the General Assembly which is composed of all effective members of the Association. The Association is administered by a Board which is appointed by the General Assembly. The executive elected by the board among its members currently consists of Prof. Dr. Katharina Rennhak (president), Prof. Dr. Elke D’hoker (vice-president), Dr. Irene De Angelis (secretary) and Prof. Dr. Raphaël Ingelbien (treasurer).

EFACIS consists of three types of effective members: centres of Irish Studies, national and regional associations of Irish Studies, and individual members. A large part of our ca. 400 EFACIS members come through the three strong national and regional networks of Irish Studies SOFEIR (France), AEDEI (Spain), and NISN (Nordic countries). Others belong to one of the 21 Irish Studies centres and 26 affiliated universities based in different university towns in about 20 European countries. A third section consists of individual scholars, who are often pursuing Irish Studies in relative isolation in their university. For a small annual fee, Irish Studies centres are listed on the EFACIS website and members can benefit from all the projects and facilities EFACIS has on offer.

The strategic objectives of EFACIS are

to facilitate and promote research on all aspects of history, society and culture of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Irish diaspora, covering the different humanities and social sciences disciplines
to position Irish Studies as a key topic for interdisciplinary studies in universities across Europe
to encourage research on the various interactions between Ireland and the rest of Europe
to support existing Irish Studies centres across Europe and stimulate the development of new centres
to support and connect scholars working within the field of Irish Studies
to strengthen the presence of Irish Studies topics on curricula in European universities
to promote interest in Irish culture among students and the general public

Join the EFACIS mailing list to keep up to date with Irish Studies publications, conferences and seminars by sending an email to our EFACIS coordinator.

Please find here:

- the EFACIS Statutes (English version).

- the EFACIS Governance Rules.

- the EFACIS Statement on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity

- the EFACIS Privacy Policy

- the EFACIS Strategy (2019/2020).

- the EFACIS Report on Irish Studies in Continental Europe (2018).

- the RISE Statutes.

Summary of the Regional EFACIS Reports 2022-2023 by EFACIS LEUVEN

Please find the full regional reports below: