The Academy is home to a wealth of expertise in ethnographic theory and method as applied to dance and music practice. It is central to the research of faculty and postgraduate research students in ethnochoreology and ethnomusicology as well as key in arts practice research, ritual studies, and Irish music and dance. The collec- tive energy of this cluster has enabled the Academy to host a number of significant international conferences: The International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) Study Group on Ethnochoreology; a Joint Forum of the Society for Ethnomusicology and the ICTM; and, largest of these, the upcoming biennial World Conference of the ICTM.

Immigration & Integration Research Cluster: This research cluster is an interdisciplinary space for research around issues concerning immigration and integration. There is research being carried out by researchers in this area in every faculty in the University of Limerick. The cluster is currently developing a directory of such projects for use by NGOs and other research bodies.