Irish Studies Conference

The Center for Celtic Studies at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee hosted this year’s regional meeting of the American Conference of Irish Studies (ACIS). A plethora of poets, performers and presenters gathered on the UWM campus in mid-October for three lively days of panels, roundtables, screenings and performances.

Approximately 50 papers were presented during the course of the conference on such topics as “Representing the Immigrant to Ireland on Stage and Screen,” “The Poetic Expression of the Public’s Feelings about the Irish Language,” and “Who’s Irish? Perspectives on the Irish Citizenship Referendum.”

Abbey Theatre playwright and novelist, Tom Kilroy, presented “A National Theatre” as part of the conference’s recognition of the Abbey’s centenary. The public were also invited to a roundtable discussion on “Theatre, Community and Nation” with panelists Kilroy, Joe Dowling (former artistic director of the Abbey and currently the artistic director of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis), Wayne Frank (former Milwaukee alderman and award-winning playwright) and Joe Hanreddy (artistic director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre). The roundtable was mediated by John Gleeson (co-director of the UWM Centre for Celtic Studies). ♦