The 12th Annual National Conference on Irish Dimensions in British Education, hosted by the Irish Studies Workshop at Soar Valley Community College, Leicester, took place on 8 April 1995 and lived up to its aim of making quality academic material available to the widest possible audience in a relaxed but organised format. The Irish diaspora has always figured prominently in the programme and this year was no exception. Steven Fielding investigated Irish Catholics in England1880-1939; Joe Bradley explored the Irish in Scotland; Steve Mills examined Ireland through the eyes of the World Fairs, especially Chicago (1893) and New York (1939); and Josephine Feeney looked at modern second generation Irish fiction in Britain.
The educational needs of 11-16 year olds were addressed by Shelagh Lewis (Celtic Ireland and Roman Britain) and Kevin Anderson(Anglo-Irish relations and the London and Warrington mapping project).Contemporary concerns were also taken up. In an audio-visual presentation Belinda Loftus explored the iconography of Orange and Green; Kevin Bean discussed the Anglo-Irish peace process and recent developments in the strategy and ideology of Republicanism; and Liz Curtis talked about ‘women, workers and peasants in the cause of Irish independence’. Other workshops included studies of Irish women suffragists (Louise Ryan), recent writing in Irish (Gabriel Rosenstock)and the painted carts and wagons of Irish travellers (David Smith).John Kelly, the Belfast-based poet, read from his recent collection Grace Notes and Bad Thoughts. Music and dancing workshops were provided by Carmel Commins, Theresa Coleman, Marie O’Reilley and Maureen Danaher.
Enquiries: Nessan Danaher, tel: (0116) 2669625.