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Irish Studies Group Meets in NYC The 45th Annual Meeting
of the American Conference for Irish Studies brought scholars from around
the country and across the sea to the CUNY Graduate Center in New York
City. Featuring a theme of “Ireland and the Americas,” the
conference was hosted by the CUNY Institute for Irish Studies and ran
from April 18-21.
United by the Irish-American focus, many of the panelists discussed the
effect the Celtic Tiger has had on Irish literature and society. Perhaps
the most important aspect of the conference was the open dialogue between
Irish and American scholars in the discussions about Ireland’s sudden
prosperity and the ways it has changed not only Irish society but Ireland’s
relationship with America. Presenters spoke of Irish writers’ search
for meaning and identity in an increasingly modern Ireland. One of the
most significant questions raised was that of the future of modern Irish
poetry and literature. To what extent has Ireland lost its soul? Is the
past proliferation of Irish literature a product of Ireland’s poverty
and oppression, and if so will this aspect of the culture die out?
On Saturday, April 21, the closing day of the conference, “A Taste
of the Yeats Summer School” brought Yeats scholars Carmel Jordan,
Ken Monteith, Margaret Mills Harper and Wes Davis to the Proshansky Auditorium
where they presented papers on the poet’s life, work and influence.
The final plenary featured Mick Moloney’s discussion of “Edward
Harrigan and the Beginning of American Musical Theater.” Other conference
highlights included plenaries by Elizabeth Cullingford, Kevin Kenny, Maureen
Murphy and Kenneth Nilsen.
Conference attendees were treated to a performance of Irish-American music
organized by the Ph.D. Program in Ethnomusicology at the Graduate Center
and a tour of the Fighting Irishmen Exhibit at the South Street Seaport
Museum. The conference closed in grand style on Saturday evening with
a banquet at the Harbour Lights Restaurant on Pier 17, South Street Seaport,
where Frank McCourt was the dinner speaker.
– Bridget English
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