The planning committee for the joint regional conferences of ACIS Midwest and South warmly invites submissions of paper or panel abstracts for the upcoming meeting, to be hosted by the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies and held on the University of Notre Dame campus on September 24-27, 2026. The theme of the meeting will be “Irish Studies On The Ground: Place, Presence and Community.” The theme acts on a literal and figurative level, wherein we invite papers that focus on physical space and geography, as well as on actions and perspective shifts engendered by active involvement within communities.

With a hard-won reputation for inner-city revitalization amid the economic challenges of the so-called ‘rust belt,’ the now-vibrant downtown community of South Bend, IN, will contribute to the theme of the conference, and connections to local museums and businesses will be made available to participants.

Participants are invited to explore the themes of “Place, Presence and Community” broadly. Papers may consider topics related to the role of physical or imagined geographies in politics, art, history and more. Additionally, we hope to examine the ways in which insider/outsider status and being embedded within communities relate to the efficacy of community-engaged work, diplomacy, and scholarship. Papers might consider such topics as…

• • How geography and physical space influence art, history and identity
  • How being “on the ground” in the sense of directly involved changes perspectives of historical and current events
  • What it means to be an ‘insider’ or ‘outsider’
  • Global influence on the Northern Irish peace process and perspectives from within Northern Irish communities
  • Education in Irish language and culture in Irish and Irish American communities
  • ‘On the ground’ as ‘on the pitch’– sport, culture, and community

While preference may be given to proposals related to the conference theme, we encourage proposals on any aspect of Irish Studies.

We welcome both individual and panel submissions of three to four participants, as well as proposals for roundtable discussions, performances, and dramatic readings. Interdisciplinary topics are encouraged. Abstracts for individual presentations should be 250-300 words in length and should include a brief (100-word) bio of the presenter. Panel proposals should not exceed 500 words and include a rationale for the panel, plus a brief description of each paper and of the participants.

Fáiltímid roimh pháipéir as Gaeilge.

Deadline for submissions: June 20, 2026

Please note: Presenters must be members of the American Conference for Irish Studies. Should you have questions, please contact the conference organizer, Jennifer Knight, at [email protected].