Is it a ‘crime’ to watch True Crime? Why is the Irish President important? Do we need another flag? Can Arts and Humanities fight the climate crisis? And, what are the ‘hidden’ wonders of Trinity’s Library? We’ve got our questions ready for a week-long festival celebration of arts and humanities research.
Launching the festival programme Professor Patrick Geoghegan, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub, said: “As we welcome people back to the Hub for the third annual Arts and Humanities Festival, I am struck by the creativity and innovation in research being presented by colleagues across all our partner Schools and by the Library.”
“Each year the Festival finds new ways of tackling some of our greatest challenges, bringing new perspectives from experts across the Arts and Humanities. From how the humanities can offer new ways of cooling a warming planet, to the ethics of the True Crime industry, we will be offering new perspectives and new ways of thinking. We look forward to sharing our research with friends old and new, and we look forward to hearing your questions and contributions.”
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Events that require booking:
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Behind the Headlines: The Irish Presidency: On Monday 22nd September at 16.00, the Hub's popular ‘Behind the Headlines’ series will present a public discussion on the Irish Presidency. The panel is chaired by David Kenny (Law) and features Etain Tannam (Peace Studies), John Walsh (Education), Gail McElroy (Political Science) and Declan Leddin (History). Book now
‘The Evidence of Things Not Seen’: Ethics and the True Crime Industry: Another panel event on Monday 22nd, with an evening discussion on the True Crime Industry at 18.30. Why are we so drawn to true crime? And what are the ethical stakes behind the stories? Join popular literature experts Clare Clarke and Bernice Murphy, novelist and short-story writer Una Mannion (School of English), and Ailise Bulfin (UCD). Bring your own thoughts, the audience is part of the conversation chaired by Eve Patten (School of English). Book now
The Arts and Humanities on a Warming Planet: On Tuesday 23rd September at 18.30, we’ll be asking can the humanities help us understand climate change and achieve a liveable planet? Jacob Erickson (Religion) chairs this multidisciplinary discussion with Karen Wiltshire (Climate Science), Jonathan Hodgers (Music), Katja Bruisch (History), and Timothy Stott (History of Art & Architecture). Book now
Festival Concert: Irish Composers in Focus (Senior common room): This lunchtime festival edition of the Trinity Centre for Music Composition Series, taking place on Wednesday 24th September, showcases an exciting programme of contemporary Irish music performed by Darragh Morgan (violin) and Mary Dullea (piano), hosted by Evangelia Rigaki (Music). Featuring works by Gerald Barry, Deirdre McKay, Gráinne Mulvey, and Raymond Deane. Limited availability. Book now
Exploring Contemporary Choral Music: On Wednesday 24th September at 18.30, audience members will experience an open rehearsal with the award-winning Mornington Singers and conductor Orla Flanagan (Music) as they delve into the sounds and textures of contemporary choral music. Book now
The Flag That Doesn't Exist Yet?: Re-Imagining Symbols in Northern Ireland and Ireland: Should Northern Ireland, or Ireland, have a new flag? On Thursday 25th at 18.30, David Michell and Etain Tannam (Peace Studies) will explore this long-debated idea in what will be a timely conversation on identity, representation, and national symbols. Book now
Fail Worse: On Friday 26th September at 16.00 a Long Table discussion, hosted by Krzysztof Rowinski (Polish Studies) and Nick Johnson (Drama Studies), invites audience participation to reflect on the cultural and narrative impulse to redeem failure. Rather than treating it as a step on the road to success, we’ll explore failure as a phenomenon in-its-own-right, one that resists resolution and opens space for alternative modes of thinking, being, and acting. Book now
Science, Public Policy, and the Humanities: For our Friday 26th evening finale (as part of European Researchers’ Night) Government Science Advisor, Aoife McLysaght, will join Hub Director Patrick Geoghegan for a lively conversation on bridging research and public policy. Drawing on her career as a geneticist and public communicator and adviser, she will reflect on how Science and the Humanities can work together to shape understanding and create impact. Book now
Full Festival Programme 2025
Getting the festival underway on Monday 22nd at 11.00, we’ll hear from Provost Linda Doyle, alongside Hub Director Patrick Geoghegan (History) and Deputy Director Etain Tannam (Peace Studies). As the week continues, so will the coffee and conversation, as we gather everyday for 11am coffee morning, where we’ll hear from more of our research community. Conversations will centre around Trinity’s uncomfortable history, Kneecap breaking ground for minority languages in courtrooms, the work of theatre critics, and a brief exploration of the Idea of an End of the World.
Another festival stable, our rapid-fire research presentations (Thesis in 5) will take place from Tuesday 23rd to Friday 26th September at 10am. Listen to PhD and Postdoctoral students as they have just five minutes to share their research.
Each day, we’ll be hearing from researchers across our Arts and Humanities Schools; from Law (What does dignity mean when you are deprived of your Liberty?) to Literature (discussions on forgotten Horror stories and, censorship, copyright, and Ulysses); and Classics (Ancient Greek and neo-Latin poetry) to Philosophy (Is it wrong for someone to stop you from making a major life choice?).
The festival will also be looking at fascinating inter-disciplinary research themes, including the medical humanities and the digital humanities (How are plants and animals featuring across Trinity's digital humanities research?). We’ll also be looking at what artificial intelligence means for research in the Humanities? This panel brings together research fellows David Brown (the IRC funded Empire project), Bronagh McShane and Daniel Patterson (the ERC funded Voices project), and Nathan Hill (Linguistics) to explore how AI is reshaping research, archives, and the way we think about the future.
On Thursday 25th, our attention turns to the university and its role in truth telling and in international solidarity. Reflecting on her new publication Theology and the University, Fáinche Ryan (Theology) explores whether the university is or could be 'a refuge of truth-telling' (Hannah Arendt) while Franciszek Krawczyk (Education) explores the role of the university in advancing international solidarity, comparing Trinity and the University of Warsaw and their geopolitical positions and legacies.
The Trinity Library Quick Picks will once again see Library staff share their favourite finds from current projects, in this popular festival segment. From autumnal windmills and apples to cartoons, maps and Michael Davitt’s favourite colour, come along for a celebration of the unexpected wonders in the archives.
New partnerships this year include Dublin Theatre Festival and a featured conversation with Gina Moxley and the creative team behind its punk-feminist production I Fall Down: A Restoration Comedy taking place in Trinity with the participation of the Trinity Long Room Hub.
This is just a snapshot of the range of talks, panel discussions, and performances taking place across the Festival week. For a full listing of all events, see our programme here.
Pull up a chair, and share your thoughts!
The Trinity Arts and Humanities Research Festival is taking place in association with Trinity’s START (Start Talking About Research Today) European Researcher’s Night which takes place on Friday 26 September.