SLU History Professor Receives Fulbright Specialist Award to Create Digital Tool Focusing on Gaelic Ireland
12/19/2024
ST. LOUIS — Thomas Finan, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Saint Louis University, has received a Fulbright Specialist Award.
Finan, who specializes in medieval history and archaeological research, will work with colleagues at the University of Galway to create a joint database of archaeological and historical research focusing on Gaelic Ireland. Work begins this summer in Galway with a fully implemented database expected by November 2025.
The Fulbright Specialist Program is a short-term complement to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, sending experienced U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants and engage in education and/or training activities for a period of two to six weeks. Finan is one of more than 400 U.S. citizens who will share their expertise with host institutions abroad in 2025.
Recipients of Fulbright Specialist awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
Finan said his project aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research collaborations, provide new digital tools for scholars, and advance understanding of Ireland’s rich medieval past.
“By creating a shared resource for archaeological and historical data, we not only build stronger connections between institutions but also provide scholars with innovative tools to explore Ireland’s history in new ways,” Finan said.
He brings extensive expertise in digital humanities and database management to the project. Finan’s work in developing digital repositories of historical and archaeological data bridges the disciplines by linking disparate forms of data. He is also a leader in using geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze medieval landscapes and records.
Finan said he anticipates the work will be used mostly by other scholars but noted that it will include photos and images that will interest even casual history buffs.
Past Beneath Our Feet
Finan works on medieval Ireland, particularly the intersection of history, archaeology and landscape analysis. He has directed numerous archaeological surveys and excavations in Ireland, including research at the Rock of Lough Key, which has provided significant insights into the region’s medieval history.
Finan’s work at the University of Galway builds on his ongoing commitment to fostering collaborative research between U.S. and Irish institutions. His research has been supported by grants from organizations like the Royal Irish Academy, and his findings have been published in leading journals of medieval studies. He is a member of the Comite Permanante of Chateau Gaillard, Europe’s oldest castle studies group, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
The past two decades of Finan’s work in Ireland are currently on display at the Saint Louis University Museum of Art (SLUMA). As the director of the North Roscommon Archaeological Projects, Finan leads extensive surveys and excavations within the medieval lordship of Moylurg. The SLUMA exhibit invites visitors to discover these artifacts for themselves and offers a peak behind the scenes at the tools of the trade.
The “Past Beneath Our Feet” is on display until June 1.
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. It is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations worldwide also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.
The Fulbright Specialist Program specialists are hosted by a range of overseas institutions, including institutions of higher education, government institutions, cultural institutions, non-governmental organizations, and medical institutions. Note that eligibility for the Fulbright Specialist program may differ from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar guidelines.