I am a PhD student from Erwin, Tennessee. My research explores the cultural history of early modern Ireland, with a particular focus on the ways language shaped ideas of identity and nationhood. I am especially interested in how language served as both a tool of resistance and a means of control within Ireland’s contested political and cultural landscape, with an emphasis on the lived experiences of individuals and communities. My broader interests include the politics of language reform, education’s influence on national identity, and the role of cultural expression in sustaining traditions and shaping identity.