by Alan Jacques
PARTICIPANTS at a conference in Limerick’s Mary Immaculate College last week were challenged to reflect on the legacy of 1916 and its impact on the subsequent century.
Hosted by the Department of Learning, Society, and Religious Education, the ‘1916: Memory and Vision’ conference provided a critical lens through which the socio-economic, educational and cultural climate of 1916 was explored.
MIC President Prof Michael A Hayes emphasised the key role of the conference as part of a suite of 1916 commemorative events taking place in the college over the course of the year. He also highlighted the development of research networks and projects as potential outcomes of the conference.
“Concerns will be raised here today that will continue to be key issues and merit ongoing debate at local, national and international level. Debates which can be extended and developed at future events,” Prof Hayes explained.
“We welcome your participation and encourage you to share your own ideas and to network among yourselves with a view to planning further debate.”
Keynote speeches focused upon the educational vision and work of Patrick Pearse. While workshops also served to complement the keynote speeches with many links made with Limerick and Mary Immaculate College.
The social and cultural life of the college during the 1916 era was also explored through a reflection on the first graduates and a perspective on the evolution of the dress of the Mercy Order since 1916.
Limerick life then and now was presented to the audience in the context of diversity, inclusion, health and poverty.
Conference coordinator, Dr Carol O’Sullivan, acknowledged the success and vibrancy of the conference and the fact that it served to bring together many different disciplines and interests.
“We hope that today is just the beginning and that the questions posed here will be discussed again in many other fora,” she commented.
