The D’Arcy McGee International Forum in Carlingford, County Louth, this August will explore a number of perspectives, including the shared imagination, reconciliation, #MeToo, Borders, identity and conflict.

The D’Arcy McGee International Forum will take place in Carlingford, Co. Louth, Ireland over three days August 15-17, 2018.  Under the directorship of James Kelly of the Ireland Canada University Foundation, the Forum is organized in partnership with volunteers from the local communities of Carlingford, Newry and surrounds.

This year at the Forum, General John de Chastelain will be presented with the Thomas D'Arcy McGee Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Life. General de Chastelain was involved in the Northern Ireland peace process where he was charged with overseeing the disarmament of paramilitary groups.

Other speakers include:

  • Canadian Ambassador, Kevin Vickers
  • Canadian novelist and poet Jane Urquhart
  • President of Dublin City University, Prof. Brian MacCraith
  • First Nations Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Joseph Norton
  • Anita Sands, global technology and business leader, board director of Symantec

The theme of the forum is "Canada and Ireland - exploring new beginnings in uncertain times"

This will be explored from a number of perspectives, including the shared imagination, reconciliation, #MeToo, Borders, identity and conflict.

A number of cultural events and performances will take place across both days.

The forum will appeal to people who are interested in the strong connections between Ireland and Canada and also to those who have an interest in re-imagining how Ireland can engage with the wider world over the coming years.

Carlingford is a hidden gem – one of the best preserved medieval towns in Ireland, it is situated in an area of outstanding beauty, on Carlingford Lough, nestled between the Cooley and Mourne mountains.

Thomas D’arcy McGee, poet, journalist, historian and a founding father of Canadian Confederation was born in Carlingford, Ireland in 1825.  He was a member of the Young Ireland movement, an Irish revolutionary movement in favour of Irish freedom and emancipation.  He escaped to America in 1848, and in 1857 he emigrated to Montreal where he established a publication called New Era.  He became an outspoken supporter of Canadian Confederation and also a critic of the Fenian movement in the U.S.  He was assassinated outside of his Ottawa home, April 7, 1868, the year following Canadian confederation.  He was 43.

Early bird tickets are currently available, for a limited period from https://www.eventbrite.ie/myevent?eid=44702658856

A list of the speakers to date can be found here.

More detailed information on the Forum can be found here or you can contact the Director, James Kelly at [email protected] 

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