The Conference Organising Committee and some distinguished speakers with (far left) Josephine Finn, Head of Adult and Community Education, Prof Philip Nolan, President of NUI Maynooth, and The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Michael Jackson.
The First CSIP Annual Conference took place in the National University of Ireland Maynooth 15-16 June 2012. The theme was “Shaping identities: an historical and cultural exploration of Irish Protestantism”.
Tony Walsh and Prof Philip Nolan converse with delegates
Report on Inaugural Conference 15-16 June 2012
Launched on 15 June 2012 at NUI Maynooth, the Centre is located in the Department of Adult and Community Education, and linked to the Department of History, is dedicated to the interdisciplinary and participative exploration of the social, cultural, historical and spiritual dimensions of Irish Protestantism. Speaking at the launch, Professor Philip Nolan, President of NUI Maynooth, commented that ‘for a variety of historical and social reasons, religion has played a particularly significant role in Irish society and in the construction of individual and group identities in the country. The Centre will play a key role in developing a richer understanding of minorities in general, their relationship to the contexts in which they exist, and of the processes which contribute towards peaceful coexistence.’
Speakers at the last conference (15-16 June) that accompanied the launch included Professor Eugenio Biagini (Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge), Professor Irene Whelan (Manhattanville College, New York, and Professor Alan Ford, University of Nottingham.. Over seventy participants contributed to making this first event organised by the Centre a lively and stimulating occasion.
The breadth of experience of Irish Protestants has much to offer to the understanding of how minorities survive, change, adapt and integrate with the majorities among whom they live. With a view to promoting the study and theorisation of this experience, the Centre plans to host a range of seminars, conferences, and other activities: details will be announced.