Douglas Hyde Conference 2011

On Friday 4th November the 2011 Douglas Hyde Conference will take place in the BMW Regional Assembly Conference Room, Ballaghaderreen for a one day event completing the third year of the Culture and the Economy cycle associated with this annual conference.

Roscommon County Council and the Western Development Commission again bring together a number of artists, academics, politicians, commentators and public bodies to discuss and debate this year’s theme of The Economy vs The People - Ireland’s Divided Mind

This subject explores the concept that a society is more than an economy and much more than a balance sheet. Beneath the obvious and challenging economic uncertainty there is a strong civil and cultural society at work which will ultimately define who we are, and who we want to be, as people. In particular the WDC has shown through its recent work on the Creative West how important this sector continues to be for our future societal and economic wellbeing.
 
The conference with its theme of our struggle for identity has a special significance in this presidential election year. The figure of Douglas Hyde, our first president, who strived in his own time to create an identity for the people through the Irish revival, offers many parallels for discussion.

Key note speakers include Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern Irish History at UCD, Finbarr Bradley, Former Professor of Finance at DCU and co author of Capitalising on Culture Catriona Crowe, Senior Archivist of the National Archives and Betty Purcell, Senior Producer RTE Television, Series Producer Arts Programmes.

The conference will be chaired by poet and broadcaster Theo Dorgan.

Booking is essential as limited places are available.  Further details are available by clicking here or call Richie Farrell on 090-66-37271, Caitlín Conneely on 090-66-37298 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it