Re-examing Irish Nationalism in Ulster

Description

Irish nationalism was strong in Ulster, however the complexity and diversity of the history of northern nationalism has been reduced due to the more recent perspectives on 'the Troubles'. But this diversity needs to be re-examined and articulated, especially in the context of contemporary Northern Ireland and the North/South relationship. This one-day conference will explore Ulster Nationalism at the turn of the twentieth century – the Irish Parliamentary Party tradition, Sinn Féin/Irish Republican Brotherhood and cultural traditions. The conference will use historical figures and their narratives to explore the role of Constitutional Nationalism (Joe Devlin); Cultural Nationalism (Alice Milligan) and the complexity of Nationalist experiences (Eoin MacNeill). The roles of the literary cultural experience, class and gender are also central to this debate. Similarly why Nationalism is traditionally associated with, and confined to, Catholicism will be examined. While the primary focus of the conference is on Northern Nationalism – a diverse tradition which included Protestants and Catholics – the conference will conclude with a session that explores Ulster Unionists’ response to Ulster Nationalism. By recognising that Ulster Nationalism is not owned or confined to any one particular identity or grouping, we can engage in a more complicated, but ultimately enriched understanding of Nationalism North and South, and we can reflect on what it means for contemporary Northern Ireland and the island as a whole. The conference is organised by the Irish Humanities Alliance, Royal Irish Academy and Queen's University Belfast, with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade’s Reconciliation Fund and Ireland 2016.

Period	15 Jun 2016
Event type	Conference
Location	Belfast, United Kingdom