Mayo to host major conference on the literacy legacy and history of George Moore
Over 100 delegates from Europe, New Zealand and Japan are expected to attend the 13th international George Moore Conference hosted by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) at its Mayo campus in Castlebar) from Tuesday to Thursday, May 5 to 7.
Titled “George Moore: Landscape and Memory”, the three-day event will feature talks on the literary legacy and history of the man George Moore and the Moore family, with particular focus on the influence of landscape and memory in his literature, and especially on the persistent influence of his Mayo roots and origin.
Academics and historians from Ireland, Spain, France, UK, Czechia, Italy, New Zealand and Japan, graduates, staff and students of ATU and descendants of the Moore family are expected to attend the conference organised by history lecturer Dr Fiona White.
To register for the event please click here.
The conference will feature seven panel discussions, keynote talk, music and drama performances and poetry recitals, field trips to Moore Hall and Carnacon village, conference dinner in the TF Royal Theatre Hotel and the annual general meeting of the George Moore Association.
The conference will be opened by Joanne Grehane, Director of Services, Mayo County Council on Tuesday, May 5, at 2 p.m. followed by three panel discussions, the first “From Alicante to the Racecourse” by Lucy Moreau (University of Liverpool), Antony Brown (independent scholar) and Gerry Kenny (independent scholar).
The second panel discussion is on the topic “Landscape of Literary Writing” by Siobhan Chapman (University of Liverpool), Kathi Griffin (Independent scholar) and Sarah Alyn Stacey (Trinity College, Dublin).
The third panel discussion “Never predictable” is by Annachiara Cozzi (University of Pavia, Italy) and Sylvie Mikowski (Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, France).
The keynote address "4Upper Ely Place Dublin as Centre of the Irish Revival" will be delivered by Professor Adrian Frazier (Professor Emeritus, University Galway) from 7 p.m.
Musician Diarmuid Moynihan and poet Dr Séan Lysaght will host a music and poetry event at 8 p.m..
On Wednesday (May 6), the fourth panel discussion “Ranging from Mayo to the Cape” is by John Henning (University of Cambridge), Sarah Levy Valensi (University of Caen, France), Claudia Sterbini (University of Edinburgh), and Brendan Fleming (Trinity College, Dublin).
The fifth discussion “The Moores and Moore Hall” is by Michael O’Shea (independent scholar), Mary O’Reilly (independent scholar), and Sean Hallinan (independent scholar).
Local musicians The Carra Singers will perform during lunch from 12.30 to 2 p.m.
The lunch break will also include a performance of the ‘Ballad of Mayo’s John Moore’ (written by Michael Gerard) by Galway musician Johnny Finn followed by a bus trip to Moore Hall.
The conference dinner will take place at 7 p.m. in the TF Royal Theatre and Hotel, Castlebar.
On Thursday (May 7), the sixth panel discussion “History, Memory and Landscape Interwoven” is by Michel Brunet (independent scholar), Fiona White, (ATU lecturer and conference co-ordinator) and Elena Jaime (University of Almeria, Spain).
Afterwards, actor Sam Monaghan will perform a dramatic reading of Moore’s “So On He Fares”.
The seventh and final panel discussion “Roots, literary paths and modernist deviations” is by Akemi Yoshida (Kyoto Prefectural University, Japan), Graham Price (NUI, Maynooth), Felix Alyn Morgan (Independent scholar) and Andrea Zvoníčková (University of Prague, Czech Republic).
The closing event is the annual general meeting of the George Moore Association.
Conference organiser Dr. Fiona White said: “The writings of George Moore have continued to inspire scholars for over more than a century. His considerable literary output includes poetry and short story collections, novels, plays, art criticism and memoirs, and this wonderful literary legacy has attracted art lovers, historians and enthusiasts for independent, free-thinking.
"The series of international conferences has added considerably to interest in the study of Moore’s works both at home and in many corners of the globe, undoubtedly on account of his literary innovation and his often-controversial reputation.
"We are delighted and honoured to host this prestigious event. It is a fitting tribute to George Moore that this conference will be held at Mayo’s university, ATU.
"Moore was born in Mayo at Moore Hall and the Moore family were at the centre of local, national and international political events.
"The house and grounds are now a popular tourist attraction and Moore Hall and the wider Lough Carra complex is a very special landscape with impressive biodiversity. We are excited to welcome conference attendees from across the island and from abroad.”