06.11.2015
Silenced Stories – The Protestant Experience of 1916
The Protestant experience of 1916 is not often considered in the marking of that significant milestone in Irish history. However, it is the theme of ‘Silenced Stories – The Protestant Experience of 1916’, a major conference to be held in Maynooth University on 14 November 2015 in the Renehan Hall. The event is being organised by The Centre for Studies in Irish Protestantism (Maynooth University).
Although Irish Protestantism has many historic links with various aspects of Irish Nationalism, by 1916 the nationalist movement had become overwhelmingly, although not exclusively, a Catholic phenomenon. In the years that followed, Catholicism and the Irish identity became ever more inextricably intertwined. As we look towards marking the centenary of 1916 and the journey towards Irish independence the one–day conference will explore stories from a group that is sometimes overlooked in the story of that time.
Prof Tony Walsh (The Centre for Studies in Irish Protestantism, Maynooth University) is one of the organizers of the event. He commented, “As the stories of our history are told, largely inadvertently, alternative or other experiences of Irishness and identity have often been overlooked. We want to create a conversation that explores the experience of the Irish Protestant minorities of 1916 and the years that followed, particularly elements within Protestantism that are rarely mentioned in popular stories about the Rising and its aftermath”.
The conference is about reflecting on the past with a view to building a better, stronger future and to think about the experience of minorities of all kinds in a world that often doesn’t seem to see them.
The event is open to all. It will have participants and input from noted speakers from all parts of Ireland and the UK. Details, including on how to register as well as a full programme, can be found on www.journeyinselfbelief.org/silencedstories
The Centre for Studies in Irish Protestantism is part of Maynooth University Department of Adult and Community Education. The conference is being organised by Prof Tony Walsh, Dr Deirdre Nuttall and Rev Earl Storey. It is funded by the Department for Foreign Affairs.