The 32nd Annual Meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies Western Regional

 “Her Exiled Children: Ireland and Irish America”

 Missoula, Montana

 October 20 – 22, 2016

 Submissions due August 26 at http://acisweb.org/regionals/western/submissions/

The proclamation of the Irish Republic from the steps of the General Post Office (GPO) in Dublin, on the afternoon of Monday, April 24, 1916, was the opening act of the Easter Rising. Delivered by Patrick Pearse on behalf of the rebels, the proclamation claimed that Ireland, “through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.” The document made specific reference to the support of Ireland’s “exiled children in America” and “gallant allies in Europe,” and in so doing highlighted the global dimensions of the Irish nation and Irish nationalism. It also highlighted the need to locate the study of Irish culture and identity from the post Famine period to the present day within a broader and more inclusive international paradigm.

Her Exiled Children: Ireland and Irish America is the theme of the 32nd annual meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies-Western Regional [ACIS-West] for 2016 in Missoula, Montana. The main objective of the conference is to examine different aspects of the multifaceted relationship that evolved between Ireland and the global Irish community with specific reference to the Irish of America. This is an interdisciplinary conference that welcomes papers from all disciplines, including literature, theatre, film, dance, history, economics, sociology, music, religion, politics, language, culture, diaspora, conflict and border studies, the material and visual arts, and comparative studies. Particularly welcome are papers that deal with:

1. The Role of Irish America in the Evolution of Irish Nationalism
2. Irish America and the Making of 1916
3. Contemporary Literary Assessments of the post-Independence Republic
4. Evolving Concepts of Ireland, the Irish and Irish identity in film and theatre
5. Irish America and Irish Music
6. Irish America and the Revival of the Irish Language
7. Americanism, Catholicism and the Irish clergy
8. American Capitalism and the Irish Economy

The annual meeting of ACIS-West will also feature the Donald E. Jordan, Jr. – Willard C. Potts, Jr. Award, which recognizes exceptional work by emerging scholars in Irish Studies. It is awarded annually to the ACIS-West member judged the most meritorious emerging scholar (current graduate students and scholars within three years of having received a PhD). The recipient is chosen by a committee of ACIS-West members appointed by the President, and the award will be presented at the conference’s closing banquet. The award is accompanied by a $500 honorarium. For more information about the award and the generous donors who have made it possible, see https://aciswest.wordpress.com/awards/.

Please submit your proposal by August 26 at http://acisweb.org/regionals/western/submissions/. Individual paper and panel submissions (3-4 participants) are welcome, as are proposals for live performances, dramatic readings, poster presentations, or exhibits. Individual proposals should be 250-500 words in length and include a brief biographical statement for the submitter (50 words). In the case of panel proposals, live performances, dramatic readings, posters, or exhibits, please submit a rationale (250-500 words), as well as biographical statements for each of the presenters. To recognize undergraduate research in Irish Studies, we will also organize a special undergraduate panel at the conference, and we encourage exceptional undergraduate students to submit individual paper proposals.

Montana is a mineral-rich state and it was one of those minerals in particular, copper, that lured the Irish west in their thousands. They came and built two great cities that became known as bastions of Irish culture and nationalism. The conference will take place in Missoula, but a tour of Butte and Anaconda has been arranged so our guests get to experience the history of the Irish in the state. Missoula has a host of other attractions one associates with a college, so the weekend should be an exciting mix of the old and the new. The Holiday Inn Parkside (406-721-8550) at 200 S. Pattee St, Missoula 59802 will host the conference and offers special rates for attendees.

Please contact conference host Traolach O’Riordain at Traolach.oriordain@mso.umt.edu with conference queries.

Our thanks to all our sponsors and donors, particularly to those who have made possible the Donald E. Jordan, Jr. – Willard C. Potts, Jr. Award.