Keynote Speaker, The Irish diaspora and revolution, Maynooth

I have been asked by Gerard Moran and his colleagues to be a keynote speaker at a conference, on the Irish diaspora and revolution, at Maynooth, at the end of October 2012.


Maynooth is worth visiting - a little Irish market town has been swallowed by a university.  And the significance of the college and university in the history of Irish Catholicism is ostentatiously visible.


The theme of the conference is interesting - especially since we put so much work into separating out the study of the Irish Diaspora from the study of conflict and politics within Ireland.  So, perhaps time for a reintegration.  Looking at my notes, I find myself thinking about the missing Irish working class.

I am going to this conference to listen and learn.

The Call for Papers is pasted in below.

Patrick O'Sullivan


CFP: The Irish diaspora and revolution, 1845-1945

The Department of History at National University of Ireland, Maynooth, invites submissions for a major international academic conference entitled ‘The Irish diaspora and revolution, 1845 – 1945’ to be held at NUI Maynooth, 30 October-1 November 2012.

‘Diaspora’ and ‘revolution’ have been central transformative features of Irish society between 1845 and 1945, penetrating every facet of life on this island over the course of that century. Revolution as experienced by the Irish diaspora during this period, however, transcended Irish geopolitical isolation, situating Irish issues within evolving global contexts and amorphous supranational networks. It is this rich and diverse engagement of the Irish diaspora with revolution which this conference seeks to explore.

Distinguished keynote speakers confirmed for the conference are Professor R.V. Comerford and Patrick O’Sullivan.

We invite submission of abstracts which address the conference title from any relevant historical period, geographical perspective or disciplinary approach. Papers are to be no longer than twenty minutes in duration. Panel proposals are welcome in addition to individual papers. Postgraduates are also encouraged to register an interest in participating. Proposals for papers and panels should include a title, an abstract of no more than 250 words and a brief biographical summary (including institutional affiliation and contact details).

Applications with these particulars attached are to be submitted to any of the conference convenors Dr. Darragh Gannon, Dr. Gerard Moran and Dr. Ciaran Reilly by 15 August at the email addresses below.

Applicants will be notified by email before 1 September. Conference attendance costs will be posted at a later date (there will be no registration cost for conference speakers).

Contact details Dr. Darragh Gannon: Darragh.J.Gannon@nuim.ie Dr. Gerard Moran: Gerard.Moran@nuim.ie Dr. Ciaran Reilly: Ciaran.J.Reilly@nuim.ie