Patricia Lysaght facts for kids

Patricia Lysaght (born in 1948) is an Irish expert in folklore. She is a retired professor of European Ethnology at University College Dublin in Ireland. Folklore is the study of traditional stories, customs, and beliefs of a community.

Her Early Life and Studies

Patricia Lysaght was born in County Clare, Ireland. She first studied Law at university. Later, she focused on the Irish Language and Literature. She also studied Irish and European Folklore and Ethnology. She earned her PhD degree in 1982.

What is a Folklorist?

A folklorist studies folklore. This includes old stories, myths, legends, songs, and traditions. Patricia Lysaght is famous for her work on Irish folklore.

Her Research on the Banshee

In 1985, Patricia Lysaght published a book. It was called The banshee: a study in beliefs and legends about the Irish supernatural death-messenger. This book was based on her PhD work. Many people praised it as a great achievement. The banshee is a spirit in Irish folklore. It is said to warn families of a coming death.

Other Research and Roles

Over her career, Patricia Lysaght has written and edited many books. She has also written over one hundred research articles. Her research often looks at supernatural folklore in Ireland. She also studies food and foodways. Foodways are the traditions and customs around food.

She is the current Chair of a special group. This group is called the International Society for Ethnology and Folklore's Working Group on Food Research. Patricia Lysaght has also been an editor for two important journals. These are Folklore and Béaloideas.

Awards and Recognition

Patricia Lysaght has received many awards. She has also been a guest professor at universities around the world. These include places like Germany and Russia.

In 2006, she was chosen to be a member of the Royal Irish Academy. This is a very important group in Ireland. It brings together leading experts in science and humanities. She is also a member of the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy. This is a Swedish group for folk culture.

In 2013, this Swedish Academy gave her the Torsten Janckes minnesfond prize. They gave it to her for her "outstanding contribution to folkloristic and ethnological scholarship." This means she made a huge difference in the study of folklore. Also in 2013, she won the Coote Lake Medal. This award is for great research and scholarship in folklore.

Patricia Lysaght was the President of The Folklore Society from 2017 to 2020. This society helps people study folklore. Her talks as President were about collecting Irish folklore. She spoke about people like Robin Flower and Simon Colman. She also talked about important groups like the Irish Folklore Commission.