Modern Languages in Irish Life - 1776–2026 and beyond
A conference to mark the 250th anniversary of the establishment of Modern Languages at Trinity College Dublin in 1776.
Please register here.
Conference Programme
All papers are 20 minutes, with 10 minutes for Q&A.
9.00–9.30 am: Opening
Organisers Michael Cronin, Jürgen Barkhoff, Faculty Dean AHSS Carmel O’Sullivan, Head of School SSLCS Murat Şiviloğlu
9.30–11.00 am, Section I: Policies
Paul Gillespie (UCD/Irish Times) Languages and Politics in Ireland. Lost Decades, Missed Opportunities – Fresh Start?
Phyllis Gaffney (UCD) Appointments and disappointments. Five professorial scandals
Gillian Martin (TCD) Languages for Business: The First 50 Years
11.00–11.30am: Break
Refreshments
11.30-13.00 | Section II: Society
Mervyn O’Driscoll (UCC): Neglected and Underappreciated: Europe’s Contributions to Ireland’s Economic Transformation
Imelda Maher and Stephanie FitzPatrick (UCD): Modern Languages and the Irish Courts
Anne O’Connor (UG): Modern Languages and Catholicism in Ireland (ca. 1600–ca. 1900)
13.00–14.00: Lunch
14.00–16.00 | Section III: Art and Literature
Catherine Marshall (formerly IMMA) Irish Artists and Continental Europe, 1970–2020
Máirín Nic Eoin (DCU) From “Polyglot Paper” to “Multilingual Mermaid”.
Multilingualism and modern Irish-Language Literature
John McCourt (UNiversity of Macerata) The Continental Weave. Europe in Irish English-Language Literature
Michael Cronin (TCD) The Open Island. Ireland in Translation
16.00–16.30 | Break
Refreshments
16.30-18.30 | Section IV: Music, Food, Medicine and Science
Axel Klein (Frankfurt) Music as a 'universal language'. The case for Ireland
Regina Sexton (UCC) Edible Connections. Some case study illustrations of the historical Ireland-Europe food relationship
Luke Drury (DIAS) European Influences on the Development of Science in Ireland
Desmond O’Neill (TCD) Synergies Between Irish and European Medicine
Followed by reception.
If you want to find out more about this event or the Languages 250 celebration please click here.
This event is run in accordance with Trinity’s Dignity and Respect policy, and its commitment to nurturing a respectful and inclusive research culture.
Please indicate if you have any access requirements, such as ISL/English interpreting, so that we can facilitate you in attending this event.