Niall Páirc was born and raised in Belfast, Ireland, the second largest city in Ireland. Growing up, Niall attended an Irish primary and secondary school, learning how to become bilingual in both English and Irish. From a young age, Niall was fully
immersed into Irish culture and language, even learning how to play a couple instruments. He attended Queen's University in Belfast, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Irish Languages. He later went on to attain his Masters in Translation from the same school.
For a while, Niall always envisioned himself teaching at the university level. After learning about the Fulbright Program, he was beyond excited to have the opportunity to gain experience while also living out his dream. Before Notre Dame, he had been teaching the Irish language for nearly six years. The biggest difference he finds in his students is their connection to the language. For him, a lot of the Irish students had a strong sense of compulsion or negative baggage when learning, given the language’s complex history in Ireland. Yet here, he finds himself and students attached to the language on a journey of self discovery. It appears as a way for them to become connected with their own pasts. Niall finds this to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job; the attitude the students bring to his classroom inspire him to continue teaching, and help others become immersed in the Irish language and culture.
Coming to South Bend has truly impacted his view on the world. Fortunately, Niall’s experience at one of the few Irish Language Department’s in the United States has given a strong foundation and immense support as he tackles his own self discovery with Irish. For him, just like his students, he has been able to further connect with his heritage, joining a variety of clubs and programs Notre Dame offers. These include the Irish Ceili Band as well the the Gaelic Athletic Association, of which he recently competed in their National Tournament. Despite being far away from his home, and missing simple Irish meals and his mother’s homemade cooking, he too has able to garner a greater appreciation for the Irish Language and Culture.
For Niall, language learning has been influential in his life, and how he envisions his life in the future. He always encourages his students and others who hope to learn new languages not to be afraid. “Language learning shouldn’t be measured by what you don’t know. What’s important is using what you do know when you can,” he says. Reflecting on his time as a Fulbright, the one piece of advice he has for his previous self is to not be so afraid of becoming involved, and taking advantage of the opportunities presented. For him, being a part of a program like the Fulbright has enabled him to learn more about his own heritage, despite being immersed in a totally different environment.
About the CSLC
The Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures (CSLC) aims to support language learners at ND by facilitating meaningful experiences with linguistic acquisition and exchange - both in our campus community and abroad. We believe that access to the world's languages and cultures allows us to seek out new perspectives, to value the diversity of the world's cultures, and to embody global citizenship.