Concordia celebrates Irish culture July 6 to 9
All things Irish will be celebrated at Concordia University this week. Concordia’s School of Canadian Irish Studies and its Department of Design and Computation Arts are jointly hosting the Canadian Association for Irish Studies 2011 Annual Conference from July 6 to 9. Some 100 marquee names, from 10 countries, are taking part in readings, concerts, talks and exhibits.
“U2 might be performing at the Hippodrome de Montréal this week, but this conference is the bigger Irish event,” chuckles event co-organizer Michael Kenneally, principal of the Concordia School of Canadian Irish Studies. “With this conference, our goal is to broaden the academic dimensions of Irish studies and reach out to members of Montreal’s Irish community who are important stakeholders in our activities.”
The four-day conference will celebrate the multidisciplinarity of Concordia’s School of Canadian Irish Studies and the flourishing dynamic between Irish texts, images, sounds and tastes. Exhibitions, readings and films are free to the public. Highlights include a roundtable on the former Irish working-class neighbourhood of Griffintown, while featured guests include anthropologist and folklorist Henry Glassie, literary critic Paige Reynolds, and design theorists Elaine Sisson and Linda King.
Marquee events:
- Renowned authors Patrick McCabe, writer of The Butcher Boy and Breakfast on Pluto, and Peter Behrens, writer of The Law of Dreams and The O'Briens, will read from their works on Wednesday, July 6 at 6 p.m., at the J.A. DeSève Cinema (1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.). Free admission.
- Irlande-Québec concert of Irish and Québécois music featuring Pierre Schryer, Canadian grand master fiddler and Juno-nominated artist Martine Billette, renowned Québécois step dancer, composer and pianist Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin on Thursday, July 7 at 8 p.m. Admission: $20. Contact: 514-848-2424, ext. 871. Buy tickets online.
- Closing banquet followed by a concert featuring a dozen professional and amateur musicians at the Omni Hotel (1050 Sherbrooke St. W.). Saturday, July 9 at 6:30 p.m. Admission: $65. Contact: 514-848-2424, ext. 8711.
Beyond well-worn paths
“We’re taking Irish studies beyond the well-worn paths of literature and history toward such disciplines as design, geography, anthropology, film, music and popular culture,” says event co-organizer, Rhona Richman Kenneally, chair and professor in the Concordia Department of Design & Computation Arts.
- Conference locations: Most events will be held at Concordia’s Sir George Williams Campus in the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (1515 Ste. Catherine St. W.) and the DeSève Cinema of the J. W. McConnell Bldg. (1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.).
- Public contact: irishstu@alcor.concordia.ca or 514-848-2424, ext. 8711.
Related links:
• Canadian Association for Irish Studies 2011 Annual Conference
• Concordia School of Canadian Irish Studies
• Concordia Department of Design and Computation Arts
• Canadian Association for Irish Studies
Media contact:
Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins
Senior advisor, external communications
Concordia University
Phone: 514-848-2424, ext. 5068
Email: s-j.desjardins@concordia.ca
Twitter: http://twitter.com/concordianews