Experts Available to Speak on St. Patrick's Life, Leprechaun Lore, Celtic Music and
Genealogy
February 27, 2008
By: John Davis
St. Patty's experts can cover bases for March stories.
Believe it or not, there’s more to St. Patrick’s Day than green beer and bar specials.
From discussing Celtic music and legendary Irish creatures to searching Irish genealogy
and biographical information on St. Patrick, Texas Tech University experts can answer
your questions about the Emerald Isle. For more information, visit experts.ttu.edu.
John Howe, professor in the Department of History, knows that the lore and legends
surrounding one of Christianity’s most recognizable saints can make discovering the
real St. Patrick difficult. He can separate the biographical fact from embellished
fiction. He can be reached at (806) 742-1004 ext. 233, john.howe@ttu.edu, or visit
www2.tltc.ttu.edu/howe.
Brian McFadden, associate professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences,
can speak about leprechauns. He can relate numerous legends of the mischievous creatures,
as well as the origins of their name. McFadden can describe why society creates stories
of such creatures, what roles they play in teaching morality, and what they represent
for Irish culture. He can be reached at (806) 742-2501 ext. 241 or brian.mcfadden@ttu.edu.
John McGlone, professor of animal and food sciences in the College of Agricultural
Sciences, can speak about genealogy and his personal genealogical search for his Irish
ancestors. He can offer advice on conducting a search for ancestors in other countries.
Also, he can discuss Irish holidays and their histories, what it means to be Irish
in America, and some of the common stereotypes Irish people have to face. He is available
until March 13 and can be reached at (806) 742-2805 ext. 246 or john.mcglone@ttu.edu.
Christopher Smith, associate professor of musicology and director of the Texas Tech
Celtic ensemble in the School of Music, can discuss how Celtic music, a rich piece
of Irish culture, is passed down through many different generations as a form of oral
history. He can be reached at (806) 742-2270 or christopher.smith@ttu.edu.