The Irish/Irish-American Studies and History and Culture programs of the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies invites paper proposals for its upcoming Irish history conference entitled “Revising the Rising,” to be hosted by Drew University from March 20th to 22nd.
As the hundred year anniversary of the Easter Rising approaches, it is evident that the legacy of the rebellion remains hotly contested. Former Taoiseach John Bruton and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams have recently engaged in a public war of words over whether the Rising was a necessary or justifiable action. In the spirit of this debate, the “Revising the Rising” conference seeks to reexamine all aspects of the tumultuous events of 1916 and its aftermath in order to bring about a greater understanding of this pivotal moment in Irish history.
Keynote speakers will include Irish writer Theo Dorgan, who, with Mairin Ni Dhonnchadha edited a collection of papers whose title, Revising the Rising we have borrowed for our conference. Containing views on the Rising and its interpretations from a variety of traditions in Ireland, political and historiographical, Dorgan describes the book as “a quiet and considered attempt to tease out certain historical readings of the Rising.”
Paper topics can relate to any aspect of the Revolutionary period of Irish history, from 1915 to 1923. Proposals should be no more than 250 words in length, and should also include a short biography.
Please send your paper proposal via email to Caoimhín De Barra, cdebarra@drew.edu.
The closing date for submissions is February 1, 2015.