While welcoming papers on any aspect of Ireland, Irish Australia or Irish New Zealand, or the Irish diaspora generally, this conference will also have a specific focus around the idea of diversity. Recognition will be given to 2015 as the centenary of significant events and developments both in Ireland and in Australia and New Zealand and papers will be welcomed that relate to those events and issues. Specific sessions are proposed on the First World War and Irish, Australian and New Zealand involvement; on the Irish country house and its occupants, historically, culturally and in contemporary Irish society; on religious diversity, both historically and in the present; on Irish and diaspora literature; and on memory and myth in Irish literature and history. More generally offers of papers or roundtable sessions will be welcome on topics that illuminate ‘others’, those groups or individuals who fall outside what has been seen as the mainstreams of Irish history and life.
It is expected that keynote contributors will include Toby Barnard, Emeritus Fellow, Hertford College, Oxford; Margaret Kelleher, Professor of Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama, University College, Dublin; and Guy Beiner, Senior Lecturer, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. The main conference sessions will be on 19 and 20 June, and on the 18th there will be a number of associated events in Dublin.
The conference is convened under the auspices of the Irish Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand and with the support of the Departments of History and English, the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates and An Foras Feasa, National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
The Conference Convenors are:
Philip Bull (Department of History, La Trobe University, Melbourne and CSHIHE, Maynooth) P.J.Bull@latrobe.edu.au
Oona Frawley (Department of English, National University of Ireland, Maynooth) Oona.Frawley@nuim.ie
Pauric Travers (Department of History, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra) Pauric.Travers@spd.dcu.ie
Offers of 20-minute papers, including prospective title and an abstract of 100 words, or roundtable sessions on specific themes and comprising 10-minute contributions, are invited. To be submitted by 16 January 2015 to: P.J.Bull@latrobe.edu.au
Further enquiries to any one of the convenors.