What does it mean to feel Irish in 2025? Salford’s own Professor Caroline Magennis will seek to answer this question in her inaugural lecture this October.
Caroline, Professor of Contemporary Irish Literature, will deliver a wide-ranging lecture on Thursday 9 October in the iconic Peel Building on our Peel Park campus that will explore how Irish culture and literature is being embraced across a variety of mediums in the 21st century.
From Booker Prize-winning novels to Oscar-winning actors, acclaimed musicians to genre-defining TV comedies, Caroline will say that Irish culture is permeating into the cultural zeitgeist.
21st Century Irish writing is often unapologetically honest, speaking in the spirit of resistance and blends political themes with entertainment and comedy.
Caroline said: “In the lecture, I will look into Irish culture and the national identity to try and answer the question of what it means to feel Irish.
“I will talk about how Irish literature, whether the written word or on screen, is often comfortable with asking the hard questions as the Irish people are more amenable to bridging difficult topics within our culture, particularly when showcasing the voices of defiance and resilience.
“I will also advocate, as I do as a lecturer here at Salford, for using Irish contemporary literature within the classroom as the texts offer great ways for students and the teachers to have difficult conversations about a range of global issues.”
Caroline will draw on over a decade of research and teaching at Salford to explore Ireland’s modern day creative landscape for her lecture. Throughout her time at Salford, Caroline has sought to bring Irish texts into almost every module she teaches on.
Her book ‘Northern Irish Writing After the Troubles’ (Bloomsbury, 2021) was named the joint winner of the British Association for Contemporary Literary Studies’ Monograph Prize. The acclaimed book looked at contemporary Northern Irish writing and how the ‘post’ conflict period led to a renewed engagement from writers in intimacy and intimate life and how it presented new ways to understand Northern Irish identity, selfhood and community.
She has written for and been interviewed by the Irish, British and international press and her most recent book, ‘Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women’ (Icon, 2024) was highly acclaimed.
The lecture is open to the general public and you are encouraged to sign up early due to high expected demand.
Registration for the lecture will begin at 5.30pm and the talk will last from 6pm to 6.45pm before a Q&A with Caroline afterwards. A drinks reception will then follow at Salford Museum & Art Gallery from 7pm.
Register your place at the free event.
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Feeling Irish: Contemporary Writing and the Edges of the Nation
