“Defining Irish Identity: Expressions of Cultural Nationalism”



The American Conference for Irish Studies Mid-Atlantic chapter welcomes abstracts for its upcoming meeting, to be held October 10-11, 2014 at the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia. While papers on all aspects of Irish studies are welcomed, topics relevant to the conference theme are particularly encouraged: “Defining Irish Identity: Expressions of Cultural Nationalism.”


This conference seeks to explore the many facets (and iterations) of Irish identity over time. In his 2007 book titled Nation States: The Cultures of Irish Nationalism, Dr. Michael Mays describes nationalism as: “both the great enigma of modern political life and the solid ground of contemporary cultural identity.”1 A land of internationally celebrated writers, artists, and politicians, Ireland has a rich history of cultural expression that has sought to define the Irish as a people while simultaneously creating a sense of place for Ireland within a larger global context.

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