A $5000 donation from the Dunedin University of the Third Age Trust has been spent on about 60 volumes designed to be used primarily by students in the university's Department of Irish Studies, established last year.
Among the books are many of the titles in the well-known Irish Literary Series, including one written by the inaugural head of the Otago Department of Irish Studies, Prof Peter Kuch, and several books, play transcripts and analytical works published by English publisher Colin Smythe.
The Dunedin University of the Third Age offers educational courses for the over-50s in conjunction with the University of Otago.
Trust board chairman Donald Feist said participants paid a small fee to attend courses and the trust donated money to the university from time to time as funds allowed. It directed the latest donation be spent on resources for the Irish studies department because the department was only established last year.
Prof Kuch said his students were ‘‘surprised and pleased'' when they learnt of the donation.
‘‘It was a real morale boost for them to realise what they are doing is valued.''