News Release

With the annual celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the folklore and history of Ireland are of interest. Through "The Story of Ireland," a 10-week course being offered this spring by The Johns Hopkins University's non-credit Odyssey program, participants will uncover the rich and complex history of a culture that dates back thousands of years.

By way of slide lectures and diverse source materials, students will take a journey to the Emerald Isle, led by instructor Carmel McCaffrey, author of the book In Search of Ancient Ireland and chief historical consultant and script adviser of the PBS television series of the same name. Topics will include Ireland's earliest settlers, the evolution of a new Anglo-Irish culture in the 18th century, the Great Famine of the 1840s and subsequent waves of emigration, and the rise of modern Ireland and its division into two states.

The evening course begins Monday, March 1, at a cost of $210 for the 10-week session. For information, call 410- 516-4842 or visit http://www.odyssey.jhu.edu for a full listing of Odyssey classes and registration information.

Odyssey is the non-credit liberal arts program of the Division of Undergraduate Studies of the Johns Hopkins School of Professional Studies in Business and Education. Now in its 19th year, Odyssey offers courses for adults in a wide range of subjects, including art, science, literature, politics and popular culture, as well as certificates in aging and environmental science. The program is located on the Homewood campus in Baltimore and includes some 200 courses and lecture series annually.