Violence: Legacies of Conflict in Ireland

Comhfhios Boston College

February 7th, 2026

Connolly House, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA

The Irish Studies Graduate Students of Boston College, in conjunction with the Irish Studies Program, are pleased to host the 9th annual Comhfhios Boston College conference. Comhfhios (pronounced “co-is”) meaning “knowledge together,” or “open to all knowledge,” invites emerging scholars in all Irish Studies fields to gather in Boston. 

This year’s theme is “Violence: Legacies of Conflict in Ireland,” and the keynote speaker will be Jay Roszman, lecturer in History at University College Cork. Violence and its representations are a key arena of inquiry in Irish Studies and we welcome papers addressing this topic in a variety of ways. While physical force looms large in popular imaginations of Ireland, violence encompasses more than the physical. As such, we welcome papers that explore violence in any of its forms, both visible and invisible.

Papers need not be limited by era nor location, and can pertain to Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the global Irish diaspora from the medieval period to the present. Papers that expand the chronological, geographical, and disciplinary boundaries of Irish Studies beyond its current traditional core strengths in literature and history will be gladly received.

Presentations within the theme of violence can include, but are by no means limited to topics such as:

• Physical conflict and war
• Domestic and sexual violence
• Violence of the archive and the text
• Discursive violence
• Conflict resolution
• Environmental violence
• Institutional violence
• Colonial violence
• Memories and legacies of violence

All proposals should be between 200 and 300 words, and paper presentations will be 15-20 minutes long. Roundtable proposals are also welcome. Please submit all proposals via the Abstract Submission Form by December 15th, 2025. Contact ComhfhiosBC@gmail.com with any questions you may have. We look forward to reading your proposals.

We are offering limited financial assistance in the form of reimbursement to those whose travel costs would prevent them from attending Comhfhios. Priority will be given to those whose distance from Boston would involve higher travel costs. If you are interested in applying for assistance, please email ComhfhiosBC@gmail.com with a paragraph outlining the travel costs you expect to incur, any added difficulty they present, and the benefits you hope to gain from the conference.