International Conference on Diaspora and Development. World Bank, Washington DC: July 13-14 2009
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009From the World Bank:
The Migration and Remittances team of the Development Economics Prospects Group and the Migration Working Group of the World Bank are organizing an International Conference on Diaspora and Development on July 13-14, 2009.
The diaspora of developing countries can be a potent force for development for their countries of origin, through remittances, but more importantly, through the promotion of trade, investments, knowledge and technology transfers. The conference aims to consolidate research and evidence on these issues with a view to formulating policies in both sending and receiving countries.
The Keynote session will focus on the “Impact of the Crisis on Migration and Remittances”, while there will be other sessions on
- Diaspora as a strategy for the global mobility of skills
- Contributions of unskilled diaspora to development
- Mobilising diaspora investments
- Deepening diaspora ties
- Mobilising highly-skilled diaspora
- Working with diaspora and diaspora associations
- Diaspora actions
- Collective remittances: country experiences
- Circular migration and returns
The agenda notes there will be an (unnamed) representative from Ireland speaking as part of the panel discussion on diaspora ties.
Australasian Irish Studies Conference: Massey University, NZ; 9-12 July 2009
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009Ireland and the Irish Antipodes: One World or Worlds Apart?
The Irish Studies Associaton of Australian and New Zealand will host its conference from the 9th to 12th of July at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
Organisers say:
Australia and New Zealand were essentially secondary destinations for the post-1800 waves of Irish leaving to make new lives overseas, accounting for no more than 10 per cent in most decades. Yet the two countries have regularly been identified by scholars as appropriate ‘laboratories’ for studying the nature and impacts of Irish migration over time. This conference seeks to review research undertaken both at the points of origin and destination and to pose new questions. Were the Irish communities that took root in the Antipodes essentially transplanted fragments of the homeland? How did they evolve, and to what extent was their evolution influenced by developments at home? Were there noticeable differences between the Australian and New Zealand Irish experiences, and if so how may these best be explained? What is the relationship today between Ireland and its most far-flung diasporic communities?
With seven keynote speakers providing contextual signposts, the topics to be addressed over three days will be diverse. Historical themes range from aspects of early convict transportation to Australia, through Irish-Maori relations in New Zealand, to late twentieth century economic interactions. Cultural life will also be a focus, Irish literature, theatre and music – both traditional and contemporary – being scheduled for discussion. A particular consideration will be how the Antipodean Irish are being depicted in historical reconstructions and displays. Necessarily, many of the contributions will reflect collective experiences, but provision has also been made for papers on those of individuals and families. The utility of oral history for recording the experiences of more recent arrivals will also be assessed.
Irish in Britain Seminar: London, May-June 2009
Monday, May 11th, 2009The Irish Studies Centre at London Metropolitan University is hosting their annual “Irish in Britain Seminar Series”.The series is is an informal opportunity for any interested in engaging with current issues and research about the Irish in Britain.
- Tuesday 26 May, Prof Bronwen Walter, Anglia Ruskin University
Fictional Irish Presences in English Diaspora Space: a Social Science Exploration - Tuesday 2 June, Dr Ann Rossiter
- “Hidden Histories: The Irish ‘Abortion Trail’ and the Undercover Support Network within the London-Irish Community
- Wednesday 10 June, Dr Nicole McLennan, London Metropolitan University
Irish Connections: London’s County Associations - Tuesday 16 June, Dr Reg Hall
Researching the Irish in Britain: Methodological Approaches
For more information:
Irish in Britain Seminar Series 2009
Global Irish Economic Forum to focus on growth, relationship
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009The government is inviting leading Irish and Irish-connected individuals from around the world to attend the inaugural Global Irish Economic Forum on September 18-20. The planned conference, which will be held at Farmleigh in Dublin, is the latest in a series of events aimed at harnessing the economic power of the global Irish community.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said,
“The primary purpose of the Forum will be to examine how the Irish, at home and abroad, can work together to generate ideas which will contribute to our overall efforts at economic recovery. It will also play a critical role in shaping the future direction of the relationship between Ireland and its Diaspora, particularly in the economic area”.
Minister Martin noted that the conference is part of its strategy to engage more deeply with the diaspora:
“Successive Irish Governments have built a multi-layered relationship with the global Irish community, one that has marked us out as a role model for many other countries.
“The Forum will provide us with the opportunity to take Ireland’s relationship with the global Irish community in a new direction, to examine innovative ways of working together and to generate ideas for Ireland’s economic recovery. Now is the time to shape a more strategic relationship which will bring benefits both to Ireland and to our global community and which has a more developed economic focus.”
“Our global Irish community constitutes one of the most powerful and far-reaching resources at our disposal and, using our worldwide network of Embassies and Consulates, we have identified some of the most successful individuals from that global community. They will bring with them an invaluable global perspective. To help facilitate discussion, a relatively small and tightly focused group of individuals is being invited.”
The effort is complementing the Ireland-United States Strategic Review launched last month and the strategy for economic renewal outlined in “Building Ireland’s Smart Economy” in December.
Related web pages:
- DFA press release: Minister for Foreign Affairs Announces Global Irish Economic Forum to be held at Farmleigh in September
- Department of the Taoiseach: Building Ireland’s Smart Economy
- Department of Foreign Affairs: Strategic Review of Ireland-US Relations
GAA conference: Croke Park, Dublin – 25 April
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009The GAA in the Diaspora is one of the topics that will be discussed in an upcoming conference at Croke Park. The conference is part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the organisation, and is being co-hosted by the GAA Museum, Sports History Ireland and the Boston College-Dublin’s GAA Oral History Project.
The conference will feature historians of society and sport from Ireland and overseas. In addition to the diaspora, they will discuss such topics as hurling’s ancient roots, the socio-economic background of players, the GAA in film and photography, the GAA and the Irish language, and the GAA and politics.
The conference will be held at the GAA Museum in Croke Park. Tickets, which cost 15 euro (10 for students and seniors) are essential.
For more information:
- www.gaa.ie/museum (site was down at time of writing)
- Boston College: GAA – Oral History Project
Working Abroad Expo: Dublin, 21-22 March; Cork, 26-27 March
Friday, March 20th, 2009An event aimed at those considering relocating to work abroad in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and the UK will be held on 21-22 March in the RDS in Dublin and 26-27 March in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel.
Organisers say the Working Abroad Expo will include immigration officials from Australia, New Zealand and Canada giving visa advice, relocation services, employers and recruitment consultants, and financial advisers. Information on volunteering abroad will also be available.
For more information, see the Working Abroad Expo website.
Related article:
IrishExaminer.com: Destination anywhere
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