Drew University, New Jersey, in association with the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland, is pleased to announce a conference titled TRANSATLANTIC CONNECTIONS, which will take place in Bundoran, Co. Donegal , Wednesday, January 15th To Saturday, January 18th 2014.
This conference explores relationships between Ireland and the USA, and includes panels in the following areas:
· Transatlantic connections in history, in particular, transatlantic cooperation in the Abolition of slavery, American and Irish independence, Civil Rights in both countries and the Irish Peace Process
· Transatlantic themes in Literature: Critical & Creative work from scholars and writers including Surf Literature, Poetry, Fiction and Drama,
John O’Connell of the Atlantic Apartotel welcomes guests to the conference launch at Bundoran Community Library
· Food Culture: Comparisons of the cuisines of Ireland and the United States, the history, heritage, and conviviality of Irish food culture and the future of food and drink in Ireland.
· Film Studies: Irish Cinema in the world, Surf Cinema & influences on modern culture
· Surf Culture: Surfing & tourism in Ireland, visual culture, arts, music & surf culture, gender studies & surfing, Surfing & education.
Keynote speakers include Professor Christine Kinealy, director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute at Quinnipiac University, Dr. Easkey Britton, Irish Surf Champion & lecturer in sustainable surfing, and Diane Negra, Professor of Film Studies at UCD. Submissions to any of the panels are welcome and Irish and US scholars, researchers, students and interested persons are welcome to attend.
Bundoran’s Niamh Hamill of Drew University explains what the conference will bring to the town.
The conference also features exhibitions, entertainment and open events on the theme of transatlantic connections. Entertainment includes performances by Moya Brennan of “Clannad”, The Henry Girls, Bundoran’s own Johnny Gallagher and Theatre Director Maura Logue. Events will include a local history hedge school on Donegal, a local food-tasting lunch of artisan foods and beers, exhibitions by the “Local Hands” artists of Ballyshannon, and surf artists Gavin McCrea and Tara McGuinness. There will be contributions by Oideas Gael, The Yeats Society, UlsterUniversity, UCD and many other guests.
Further information is available at http://www.depts.drew.edu/grad/transatlantic or by email to drewtransatlantic@gmail.com
First woman to pioneer surfing in Iran a guest speaker at “Transatlantic Connections” conference in Bundoran
A five-time Irish surf champion, and the first woman to pioneer surfing in Iran will be among the guest speakers at a major conference entitled “Transatlantic Connections” which will be held in Bundoran from Wednesday, January 15th – Friday, January 17th in Bundoran.
Easkey Britton, an inspirational speaker from Rossnowlagh, who is a doctoral fellow at Memorial University, Newfoundland. Easkey has a PhD in marine science and is a writer, artist and a lecturer in marine conservation, gender studies, and surfing and surf culture will be the guest speaker on Thursday. Her theme will be “Just Add Surf: The Power of Sharing Your Passion.”
Run by Drew University (New Jersey) in the United States, in association with the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland, the conference will explore the relationships between Ireland and the United States.
Over 50 speakers have been lined up.
The keynote speaker at the launch on Wednesday will be Christine Kinealy, a world-renowned authority on Ireland’s Great Hunger, who is professor of Irish history at Drew University.
Diane Negra, a professor of film studies and screen culture at University College Dublin will address the conference on Friday about “Gendering the Recession.”
The quality entertainment line up includes The Henry Girls, Johnny Gallagher, and Mairead Ni Mahomaigh, while there are also art exhibitions and other related events.
Commenting on the conference, William B. Rogers, Associate Dean, Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, Drew University, said: “We are especially pleased that we will have an opportunity for dialogue between American, Irish-American and Irish enthusiasts of the ties that bind us together and, more importantly, perhaps, to address the ways in which we can enhance our relationships to the betterment of both communities.
“It is of great significance that this conference is to be held in Donegal. Over the years, Drew University has established firm and fond connections with the northwest of Ireland, and we recognise it as an area of immensely significant cultural heritage. From Yeats Country to Derry, and from the Glens of Leitrim to the Hills of Donegal, we know there are thousands upon thousands of stories connecting us to the suburbs of New York and New Jersey, Appalachia, Chicago, California and all around the United States of America. Sharing our experiences allows all of us to respect and appreciate where we came from, where we went to and where we are today.”
For more details, and the full programme, see http://www.isaireland.com/drewconference/TransatlanticConference.pdf
(Source – Donegal Now – 13/01/2013)