Conference poster.
In seeking to highlight links between the two countries in this important centenary year, the conference addressed some of the important literary and historic links between France and Ireland. The opening lecture entitled, 'Paris, Terre promise des Irlandais', was given by the preeminent French scholar of Irish studies, Pierre Joannon. The lecture was a tour de force, covering many different aspects of the shared history between Ireland and France. For instance, we were reminded that the French writer, Honoré de Balzac, said that Irishman, Daniel O'Connell, and Napoleon were the two great men of the 19th century.
Seamus Deane spoke about the roots of Irish republicanism in France in the 19th century and specifically about the connections built up between Irishmen like Daniel O'Connell and Frenchmen, such as Lamennais, Lacordaire and Montalembert. In his lecture, Barry McCrea spoke about the similarities between the life and work of the Irish writer, James Joyce and the French writer, Marcel Proust.
The historical panel looked at several other areas that link the two countries. Topics included French newspaper reporting of the 1916 Rising, the life and work of the French academic who worked in Ireland for many years, Roger Chauviré, and the history of the Irish College in Paris (now the Centre Culturel Irlandais). The conference was very well organised and provided plenty of food for thought. I really enjoyed it.
For more information on the conference and to view the programme see: http://www.ambafrance-ie.org/Conference-Paris-Capital-of-Irish-Culture
