Patricia Lysaght facts for kids
Patricia Lysaght, born in 1948, is an Irish expert in folklore. She used to be a professor of European Ethnology at University College Dublin in Ireland.
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Learning and Early Career
Patricia Lysaght was born in County Clare, Ireland. She first studied Law at university. After that, she learned about Irish Language and Literature. She then focused on Irish and European Folklore and Ethnology. In 1982, she earned her PhD degree from the National University of Ireland.
What She Does
Patricia Lysaght is well-known for her research into Irish folklore. She has written and edited many books and articles.
Her Famous Book
In 1985, she published a book called The banshee: a study in beliefs and legends about the Irish supernatural death-messenger. This book was based on her PhD studies. People who reviewed it said it was a great achievement in the study of Irish and international folklore.
Her Research Topics
Lysaght's work mainly looks at two areas:
- Supernatural folklore in Ireland, like stories about ghosts or magical creatures.
- Food and how people use and think about food (called foodways).
She is currently in charge of a special group that studies food for the International Society for Ethnology and Folklore.
Editing Journals
Patricia Lysaght has also been an editor for important journals. She edited Folklore, which is a journal from London, and Béaloideas, a journal from Dublin.
Awards and Honors
Patricia Lysaght has received many awards and special invitations from universities around the world. These include places like Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Germany and the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow.
Important Memberships
In 2006, she became a member of the Royal Irish Academy. This is a very important group in Ireland for experts in science and learning. She is also a member of the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy for Swedish Folk Culture.
Special Prizes
In 2013, the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy gave her the Torsten Janckes minnesfond prize. They gave her this award for her "outstanding contribution to folkloristic and ethnological scholarship." This means she made a huge difference in the study of folklore and ethnology.
Also in 2013, she received the Coote Lake Medal from the Folklore Society. This award was for her "outstanding research and scholarship."
Leading the Folklore Society
From 2017 to 2020, Lysaght was the President of The Folklore Society. During her time as president, she gave talks about how Irish folklore was collected. She spoke about people like Robin Flower and the work of the Irish Folklore Commission.