An invitation to the 10th Annual Irish Studies Conference

Staff and students at Sunderland University are invited to the Tenth NEICN Conference on November 9th-11th 2012, entitled 'Ireland and Scotland: Conflicts and Cross Currents'. Keynote speakers include Professor Cairns Craig ('Modernism, Nationalism and the Literary Canon: the Strange Case of Scotland and Ireland') and Professor John Strachan ('The Third Home Rule Bill and the Selling of the Ulster Volunteer Force 1911-1914'). In addition, over thirty papers will be given by scholars from all over the world (including the USA, Japan, Australia and Ireland).

The conference takes place at the City Campus and attendance is free for staff and students at the university. To register, please contact Colin Younger (colin.younger@sunderland.ac.uk).

Lauren Clark in Oman

Rustaq Fort by Keirn O'Connor

Dr Lauren Clark, who recently received her PhD from the Department of Culture, has taken up a post at Rustaq College of Applied Sciences in Oman.  She will teach English Language and Literature to undergraduates at the university.

Byron in the North East

Detail from a portrait of Lord Byron 

by Robert Westall (1813) NPG

Dr David Fallon has received a grant from the Culture and Regional Studies Beacon to develop a bid for external research funding. His proposed project will coincide with the 200th anniversary of Byron's marriage to Anne Isabella Milbanke, which took place at Seaham Hall in 1815, and will re-assess the marriage's impact on Byron's writing and reputation, and how it contributed to the Byron legend in the nineteenth century.

Alison O'Malley-Younger's Celtic Connections

Dr Alison O'Malley-Younger has co-edited, with Professor Willy Maley from the University of Glasgow, a collection of essays entitled Celtic Connections: Irish-Scottish Relations and the Politics of Culture (Peter Lang, 2013). The volume offers a sustained and up-to-date analysis of the cultural connections between these two neighbour nations, too often overwhelmed by their larger neighbour, England. As well as co-editing the volume, Alison has contributed an essay: 'Doctors and devils: diagnosing racial degeneracy in Stevenson's Gothic fiction'. The collection also contains a chapter by Lauren Clark entitled 'Second cities of Empire: Celtic consumerism exhibited.' Lauren was recently awarded her PhD from the Department of Culture.

Alasdair Raffe in the History Lab

Dr Alasdair Raffe (Northumbria University) will be appearing in the History Lab on Thursday 4th October 2012 (Priestman 013). His talk is entitled 'Charles II, James VII and the problems of the Scottish Church.' All History Lab seminars start at 5pm, last for 30-40 minutes and are followed by an optional trip to the pub and a meal. Staff and students from all faculties are invited.