1.0 Overview
In 2015 a new yearly academic journal, peer-reviewed by scholars from institutes both in Ireland and abroad, was founded. This journal, COMHARTaighde, publishes scholarly work of the highest standard, primarily in the following fields of Modern Irish scholarship: literary and cultural criticism, the study of songs and oral tradition, and Irish sociolinguistics. In order to serve the Irish community worldwide, in Ireland and abroad, the journal is published on an open access basis on the internet. This journal is not believed to be in competition with any other recognised periodical and it provides a peer-review forum to researchers in fields of study that do not currently have many opportunities for publication available to them. This project builds on the long-standing tradition of the monthly magazine, Comhar, as a place for thinking and also on the original philosophy of the magazine regarding the dispersion of scholarly findings amongst the widest possible community.
2.0 Current status
Phase 1 (editions 1-2) and phase 2 (editions 3-5) have been completed. Phase 3, which will continue on with editions 7-9, is underway and editions 10 & 11 may be added if the editors wish to do so. Edition 6 will be a special once-off edition celebrating modern literatures in Irish and Scot’s Gaelic.
3.0 Criteria
COMHAR’s board of directors will undertake the process to find the selection of editors for the panel of new editors. This will begin in the final year of the current panel. The following criteria and circumstances will be considered:
- gender balance;
- balance with regard to age/experience (a senior scholar; a mid-career scholar; a junior scholar, if possible etc);
- balance with regard to institutes;
- balance with regard to fields of study (especially in the following fields: literary and cultural criticism, the study of songs and oral tradition, and Irish sociolinguistics);
- high standard of Irish;
- a wide understanding of the field (i.e. contemporary Irish and material from other periods as well);
- literary understanding and subtly;
- open-mindedness;
- an understanding of new communications media and the ability to make use of them;
- approachabilty i.e. being able to get to know people and to encourage them to submit material;
- editing and managerial skills;
- ability to deal with other co-editors on the team;
- knowledge of and connections with the community of readers.
the following will also be considered in the making of the decision:
- Advice from the international editorial advisory board;
- Sound reporting relationship back to the board of directors;
- Desirable continuation from one panel of editors to another panel;
- Desirable connection of each of the editors with a third-level institution;
- Not appointing editors for two consecutive terms.
4.0 External evaluation
The proposed panel will be submitted to a senior reviewer in Irish-language academia.
5.0 Nomination
Written correspondence will be sent to the senior scholar of the new panel first, and their participation will be confirmed; once that is done, this process will carry on down the line to the mid-career scholar etc. This role will involve three editions in the first instance, and this can be extended to a further two editions, if the editors themselves wish to do so and in consultation with the other editors.
The new editors will be asked to adhere to the current system: one edition per year to be published anytime between 1 October and 30 November of that year.
Seeing as COMHAR’s board of directors will be responsible for publishing COMHARTaighde, it is possible that an editorial advisor may be appointed as a liaison between the editorial group and the board of directors.
6.0 Renewal
A new panel of editors is intended to be appointed every five years.
