Experts Available to Speak on St. Patrick's Life, Celtic Music and Genealogy

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.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) 742-2805ext.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 ext. 249 or christopher.smith@ttu.edu.