We are excited to host two special guests who will deliver plenary lectures at the conference.
Caitríona McLaughlin is the Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, in Dublin, Ireland. She was born in Donegal and studied science at the University of Ulster before moving into theatre. Prior to directing, Caitríona worked as a drama facilitator in Northern Ireland, working with young people and in conflict resolution. In London, she directed numerous productions, focusing primarily on new writing, and collaborated with the Royal Court in sourcing and developing a new theatre space. She was awarded a Clore Fellowship in 2007 and spent six summers with LAByrinth Theatre Company in New York developing new plays for Artistic Directors John Ortiz and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. During this time Caitríona also directed at Atlantic Theatre, Rattlestick, and Bard Summerscape.
Myles Dungan is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster who currently presents the weekly RTÉ Radio 1 programme The History Show. He is an Adjunct Lecturer in the UCD School of History and is the recipient of two Fulbright Awards. He has taught Irish history in UCD, Trinity College and the University of California, Berkeley. He holds a PhD from Trinity College, Dublin and is the author of more than a dozen books on Irish and American history (including Four Killings, Conspiracy: Irish Political Trials, Irish Voices from the Great War, How the Irish Won the West and Mr. Parnell’s Rottweiler). has had a long career in broadcasting.