World-Renowned Irish Famine Expert Christine Kinealy appointed to Quinnipiac University faculty

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Aug 12, 2013, 09:00 ET

HAMDEN, Conn., Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Christine Kinealy, a world-renowned authority on Ireland's Great Hunger, has been appointed professor of history and Irish studies at Quinnipiac University.

In addition, Kinealy will serve as director of the newly created Ireland's Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac, which will serve as a scholarly resource for the study of the Great Hunger. Kinealy also will be responsible for developing an undergraduate Irish studies program at Quinnipiac.

"Having an internationally recognized Irish scholar like Christine Kinealy join the Quinnipiac faculty will further strengthen the already high quality academic experience provided to our students," said Quinnipiac University President John L. Lahey. "In addition, as director of the Ireland's Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac, Christine will perform scholarly research and organize academic conferences that, along with Ireland's Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac, will enhance Quinnipiac's growing reputation as the preeminent authority on the Great Hunger."

Kinealy is joining the full-time faculty after serving as a visiting scholar in residence at Quinnipiac during the 2012-2013 academic year.

"I am delighted to be joining President John Lahey and his wonderful team at Quinnipiac University," Kinealy said. "I am particularly excited about the creation of the Ireland's Great Hunger Institute. Ireland's Great Hunger was a famine of unprecedented longevity and severity. More than one million died, and an even higher number emigrated in a period of only six years. The Hunger changed not only Ireland, but the rest of the world as a result of mass emigration. Its legacy is still evident in Ireland today."

Kinealy is a noted author of more than 14 books on the Great Hunger, including "This Great Calamity: The Irish Famine 1845-52, which was named the "Irish Post" Book of Year in 1995.

Quinnipiac also is home to Ireland's Great Hunger Museum, which has the world's largest collection of visual art, artifacts and printed materials relating to the Irish Famine. The museum preserves, builds and presents its art collection in order to stimulate reflection, inspire imagination and advance awareness of Ireland's Great Hunger and its long aftermath on both sides of the Atlantic.

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 6,500 full-time undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students in 58 undergraduate and more than 20 graduate programs of study.

SOURCE Quinnipiac University