By studying Irish traditional music and dance on an Irish university campus, students benefit not only from an ‘on the ground experience’ but also from the international network of university connections and accreditation systems. The University of Limerick has a highly developed library of prints, manuscripts and audio visual holdings in Irish music and dance. This includes a specialists library of 18th and 19th century out of print collections of Irish music, as well as extensive holdings in ethnomusicology and ethnochoreology.

Blas is run by the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, which began life as a postgraduate centre in the University of Limerick, dedicated to performance and reflection in the performing arts of music and dance.

Initially concerning itself with research and innovation in Irish and Irish-related music worldwide, the centre now offers a suite of nine one-year, full-time taught masters’ degrees, a Grad. Dip in Education (Music), and a four-year undergraduate degree with multiple stream options, the BA in Performing Arts. It houses a community of faculty, performers, scholars, visiting musicians, dancers and academics who form the basis for Blas’ unique academic credentials. Many Blas students have taken their time with us as in introduction to what the Irish World Academy has to offer and have later returned as full time BA, Grad.Dip or MA students. Study at Blas and you might come back for more!