In this year of commemorations, from the centenary of the 1916 Rising to the quatercentenary of Shakespeare’s death, this one-day symposium at Maynooth University will explore historical and cultural connections between Shakespeare and Ireland. “Shakespeare 400 Ireland” will feature a keynote lecture by Professor Willy Maley (University of Glasgow) '"They are rising, they arerising": Shakespeare and 1916'. Other invited speakers include Professor Mark Burnett (Queen's University Belfast), Professor Jane Grogan (UCD), Professor Patrick Lonergan (NUI Galway) and Emer McHugh (NUI Galway) who will present papers on topics ranging from Shakespeare in Northern Irish film to the recent theatre productions by Druid Shakespeare and the Globe.
The symposium represents an opportunity to examine Shakespeare’s Irish reception contexts and to critically reflect on the interrelations between national literary traditions, history and memory. As part of the event, there will also be a visit to the 1685 Shakespeare Folio in Maynooth University Special Collections.
For further information contact Dr Stephen O'Neill stephen.oneill@mu.ie or on Twitter @mediaShakes Attendance is free.
Supported by Maynooth University’s Commemoration Committee.