The Irish In Britain: UCD John Hume Institute, 23 Nov. 2009
Saturday, July 25th, 2009The Irish Diaspora conferences that took place in New York in 2007 and Dublin in 2008 will be followed up in 2009 with a London event. The John Hume Institute for Irish Studies has announced the preliminary schedule for “The Irish in Britain: A Conversation with the Diaspora”, which will be held at the Royal Society in London on Monday, 23 November, 2009.
Organisers say:
In 2007 we started a conversation with the Irish Diaspora with an event in New York. 1000 people came along and participated in a lively, informative and entertaining debate. Last year we brought the discussion to Dublin and this year we would like to continue that spirit of lively interaction with the Irish in Britain. This special event takes as its premise that lasting transformations within Ireland and of Irish Society, whether political, cultural, social or economic have been shaped and informed by the Irish abroad. This event is about exploring that proposition by looking at three significant issues in our relatively recent past and drawing on the strands arising from that exploration to inform and frame an open floor discussion on the Irish in Britain today and tomorrow.
One curious thing about the programme as it has been initially released is that there seems to be a lack of involvement of the Irish in Britain as speakers, but perhaps that will be rectified by the time the final lineup is announced.
Outline Programme
08:30 a.m. Registration
09:00 a.m. Welcome: Hugh Brady, President of UCD
09:15 a.m.
Session One: Towards 2016
This session takes as its theme the notion of the Irish abroad as the significant engine of political change. Contributions will look at the influence of the “Irish” cities of Britain and America on the formation of key figures involved in 1916 and the years that followed, the role of the Irish abroad in the formation and sustaining of a republican movement, the relationships between the new state and the Irish abroad and the consequences of the legacies of historic events and their commemoration for the present and future generations.
Participants will include Mary Daly, Diarmaid Ferriter, Michael Kennedy and Bob Schmuhl
10:30 a.m. Coffee
11:00 a.m.
Session Two: Joyc(e)ity
The theme of this session will be the Diaspora as creative impulse. In particular contributions will explore aspects of the Aesthetic of Exile, Joyce and the contribution of the Irish to “Modernism” and the phenomenon of a diaspora of cultural artefacts.
Participants will include Luca Crispi, Anne Fogarty, Declan Kiberd, and Frank McGuinness
12:30 a.m. Lunch
2:00 p.m.
Session Three: Ties That Bind
The session will explore cultural branding, identity and social cohesion in Britain and Ireland. It will take as a starting point two iconic identifiers of “Irishness”, the GAA and Guinness, both of whom celebrate milestone anniversaries in 2009
Participants will include Cormac O’Grada and Paul Rouse
3:00 p.m. Coffee
3:30 p.m.
Session Four: What does the future hold for Ireland and its Diaspora?
An open floor discussion will be led by a special guest panel.
5.00 p.m. Closing remarks: Hugh Brady
7:30 for 8:00 The Forum will be followed by a dinner and the presentation of The John Hume Medal
Related webpages:
- The Irish in Britain on UCD John Hume Institute website
- Irish Diaspora Forum on Global Irish Institute website
- Ean: US-Ireland Forum focuses on relations
Scotland’s Homecoming reaches peak with Gathering, Diaspora Forum
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009Scotland will welcome 8,000 members of its diaspora later this month for “The Gathering”, the highlight of its Homecoming Scotland year. In Edinburgh on the weekend of July 23-25, there will be a gathering of 130 clans, a Highland Games festival, and a spectacular clan pageant called “Aisling’s Children”.
The Scotsman newspaper reports that cynics may scoff, but cites the rewards of Ireland’s cultivation of its diasporic links:
For political and business leaders who want to see the country thrive, the bond between Scotland and its diaspora is not just culturally significant. As Ireland has demonstrated, properly fostered, the emotional ties could reap dividends for all involved. Over the last decade or so, the Irish government has explored ways in which the country can tap into the economic, intellectual and social bounty of its ex-pat community. One particularly successful initiative is the Irish Technology Leadership Group, which is comprised of Irish and Irish-Americans in senior positions in Silicon Valley willing to invest in Irish companies.
There will also be a debate at the Scottish Diaspora Forum, open to the public, which will feature Scottish politicians, journalists, academics, and business people discussing the role of the diaspora in Scotland’s future. There will be a panel debate on whether the Scottish diaspora has a critical role to play in any potential new Scottish enlightenment. There will also be a “Dragon’s Glen” event, where several pitchers try to sell a panel ideas which would bring Scotland’s resident population of five million people together with its diaspora of 40 million people.
- Scotsman.com – Homeward Bound: Scotland’s diaspora heads to Edinburgh for the highpoint of the Homecoming celebrations this month
- Scottish Diaspora Forum
- Homecoming Scotland
- Irish Technology Leadership Group
- The Scottish Diaspora and Diaspora Strategy: Insights and Lessons from Ireland
Edited to add: