‘Treasure trove’ of rare materials on Irish literature, art, culture and music unveiled as Gottschalk Collection launches at UL

Early editions of works by James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, and a 500-year-old book believed to be the work of a Limerick Franciscan priest are among the gems to be found in a “treasure trove” of a collection launched at University of Limerick today.

The Jürgen Gottschalk Collection, chiefly housed within the Special Collections and Archives Department at UL’s Glucksman Library, contains several thousand printed materials related to Ireland and its literature, art, culture and music, past and present, and is the largest of its kind.

The collection was donated to UL’s Centre for Irish-German Studies in 2019 by the late Celtic scholar, Jürgen Gottschalk, who passed away in October of the same year. A champion of the unique relationship between Ireland and Germany, Jürgen founded the Würzburg Irish-German Society in 1986, and devoted much of his life to promoting Irish-German friendship and scholarship.

Forming “the heart” of the Centre for Irish-German Studies’ book collection, the Gottschalk Collection boasts German translations of the best of Irish literature, German- and English-language travel books on Ireland, Irish myths and folktales, and books on important Irish figures.

Among the most prominent items in the collection are early and rare editions of works by celebrated authors such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Jonathan Swift, with more contemporary writers including Roddy Doyle, Maeve Binchy and Joseph O’Connor also featuring.

An extremely rare theology book, Hibernici, ordinis minorum doctoris, published in Paris in 1518, is a standout piece of the Gottschalk Collection. The book’s author, Malachy, is believed to have been a Franciscan priest from Limerick. 

The launch of the Gottschalk Collection was attended by Jürgen’s widow, Traute, and their two sons, Martin and Christof, and was a highlight of the 21^st international Centre for Irish-German Studies and Annual German Studies Association of Ireland conference.

The three-day conference, titled German Studies in Ireland Today and Tomorrow – Perspectives, Challenges and Opportunities, is hosted by UL and features a panel of prominent academics from across Ireland and Europe.

Dr Sandra Joyce, Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at UL, said:

“We feel so privileged at University of Limerick to welcome Traute, Martin and Christof Gottschalk to join us at the launch of the Gottschalk Collection of books. We especially remember Jürgen Gottschalk and his generosity in making this important donation, which will enhance teaching, learning and research at UL in innumerable ways. Thanks to Matthias Fleckenstein, Chair of the Würzburg German-Irish Society for joining us for this special occasion. A special thanks to my colleagues in the Glucksman Library and the Centre for Irish-German Studies, particularly Professor Gisela Holfter, for their sustained and impactful contributions to this University.”

Professor Gisela Holfter, Director of the Centre for Irish-German Studies at UL, added: 

“We are deeply honoured and delighted that Jürgen Gottschalk chose the Centre for Irish-German Studies for his unique and wonderful collection, the result of a lifelong passion for collecting books on Ireland. He was a great friend of the Centre, and we will honour his legacy, which will allow wonderful research projects for many years to come and cement the Irish-German book collection in UL as the go-to place for national and international researchers.”