Laura D. Kelley, an immigrant and ethnic historian at Tulane University and academic director of Tulane’s Summer in Dublin Program, will present “Faith, Hope and Charity: Irish Communities in New Orleans” for Gonzaga University’s Arnold Lecture at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 16 in the Jepson Center’s Wolff Auditorium.
In the lecture, which is free and open to the public, Kelley will discuss Irish immigration and the impact of the Irish diaspora on Louisiana. According to a press release, Kelley will examine when, why, and under what circumstances the Irish came to New Orleans and the communities that they developed there. In addition, she will explore the cooperative relationship between the Catholic Church and Irish families and the important role that female religious played in the lives of Irish families.
“Strong familial ties denoted these neighborhoods as did the churches they built to serve their needs. Life was not easy in New Orleans as epidemics were rife, however, the Irish – with the help of priests and female religious – managed successfully to carve out a life for themselves, one that added yet another colorful dimension to the complex multifaceted spirit of New Orleans,” a press release about the lecture reads.
Kelley’s popular courses on Louisiana culture and history as well as Irish New Orleans are offered regularly and take students out of the classroom to explore these dimensions of New Orleans’ cuisine, pubs, music and architecture.
Her book, “The Irish in New Orleans,” was released in October 2014 and won the bronze medal in the regional nonfiction category of the Independent Publisher Awards (the “IPPY”). She is currently completing her second book, “The Greening of New Orleans.”
