Conference Explores Irish Cultural Intersections

On Saturday 23rd February, the Centre for Irish Studies at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham is co-hosting a conference that explores cultural connections between Ireland and London. The conference, called ‘Cultural Intersections: Ireland/London, Writing and the Arts’, has been organised by St Mary’s in conjunction with Leeds Metropolitan University and will be held at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith. The aim of the day is to explore the myriad connections between Ireland and Britain in London, and how the capital’s writing and arts culture has been shaped by its intersection with generations of Irish creative migrants. There are panels on writing, theatre, film and visual arts, covering topics that range from Shaw to the Pogues. The opening keynote for the conference is Prof Declan Kiberd (University of Notre Dame) speaking on ‘Writing London, Reading Ireland’, and the after lunch keynote is Dr Ellen McWilliams (University of Exeter) on ‘Reading the Irish Diaspora: London to New York’. The registration fee includes lunch, refreshments and entrance to an evening reception. For more information and to book a place, please contact Wendy Bushnell at St Mary’s on wendy.bushnell@stmarys.ac.uk or call 020 8240 4249.