Inaugural fellowship could lead to Irish Studies Centre

A Centre for Irish Studies could be established at Massey following the launch of a new fellowship with the University of Ulster.

Brad Patterson has been confirmed as the inaugural William Ferguson Massey Fellow for the one-year fellowship agreed between the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Institute of Ulster Scottish Studies at the University of Ulster.

The university is based in Limavady Derry, birthplace of Mr Massey, the New Zealand Prime Minister from 1912-25 after whom Massey University is named.

Dr Kerry Taylor, head of Massey's School of History, says the purpose of the fellowship is to advance interest in the subject and to generate external funding to support the centre's establishment.

Dr Patterson, who from 2003-09, was director of the Irish-Scottish Studies programme at Victoria University, says interest in the subject remains strong from both descendants of emigrants and the Irish people themselves. He says it is now Irish Government policy for officials to “reach out” to the “wide and varied diaspora” of emigrants throughout the world.

Dr Patterson is currently researching New Zealand settlements with Ulster connections from the 19th century at Katikati, Kawakawa and Pukekohe. This month his research takes him to the University of Ulster.