The Princess Grace Irish Library (PGIL), in collaboration and the Villanova University Center for Irish Studies in Philadelphia, USA hosted a symposium, 'Sustainability in Irish Culture - communication of sustainability through literature and culture', which took place in Monaco. Invited were scholars, writers, and artists from Ireland and the diaspora to present and discuss priorities and strategies to address sustainability and climate change.
Several excursions were part of the experience for the symposium participants, including a welcome reception at the Prince's Palace, hosted by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco; a visit to the Musée Océanographique (the acquarium museum built and inaugurated by Prince Albert I on 29th March 1910) to understand the research and efforts by the Principality for care of the world's oceans. Each year, the Oceanographic Institute, Albert I, Prince of Monaco Foundation honours the great names of the marine world who, through their commitment and their work, contribute to making the oceans known and protected.
Symposium co-directors were Dr Lennon - PhD, Emily C. Riley Director, Center for Irish Studies, Villanova University and Susan Kelly vonMedicus, faculty Studio Art under Theater Department and Center for Irish Studies. Dr Joseph Lennon gave a lecture to Friends of the PGIL following the symposium and provided us with insight on the research undertaken and the conclusions from the participants.
Symposium director Dr Lennon - PhD, Emily C. Riley Director, Center for Irish Studies, Villanova University speaks to symposium participants at the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco
Symposium participants are welcomed by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco at the palace for a welcome reception before the weekend symposium hosted by the Princess Grace Irish Library, under the aegis of the Fondation Princesse Grace. Also invited to the palace was a delegation from Trinity College Dublin and VIP guests.
Symposium participants:
Nicholas Allen, Nessa Cronin, Anna Davies, Cathy Fitgerald, Annie Fletcher, John Gibbons, Lisa Godson, Jennifer Joyce, Joseph Lennon, Malcolm Sen, Susan vonMedicus and Nathalie Weadick.
copyright Michael Alesi Palais princier
Symposium with Villanova University
October 7-8, 2023 in Monaco
Theme: Sustainability in Irish Culture
Scholars, writers, and artists from Ireland and the diaspora to present and discuss priorities and strategies to address sustainability and climate change.
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will also provide framing goals for our discussions. The symposium will both share strategies and offer critiques of existing policies, ideas, and practices across academic, media, and cultural organizations. The meeting will also involve a discussion of a new national policy framework being planned by the Irish Government’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on “culture, creativity and climate action.” The overall goal of the symposium is to discuss how to encourage a sustainable future through Irish culture.
Symposium participants will submit work in early 2025 for a publication of the symposium’s findings.
Schedule and Session Themes at a Glance
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Friday October 6
17:00 Princess Grace Irish Library & Trinity College presentations
18:15 Arrival at palace
18:30-19:30 Reception - cocktail/light fare at the Prince's Palace (business attire)
20:00 Dinner on our own (Suggestions in ‘Practical information’ on Teams)
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Saturday October 7
09:00-12:30 Insular Ireland
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:45 Changing Ireland
17:00-18:00 Drinks
19:00- Symposium Dinner
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Sunday October 8
10:00-12:30 Visit to Oceanographic Museum
12:30-13:30 Lunch
13:30-17:30 "Futuring Ireland"
19:00- Dinner
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DETAILED PROGRAM
Saturday October 7
Morning Theme "Insular Ireland"
9:00 Welcome, Introductions and Overview
Paula Farquharson, Susan Kelly vonMedicus, Joseph Lennon
9:30-10:30 Session 1 [Chair Lisa Godson]
Presenter Malcolm Sen
Respondent Nessa Cronin
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:30 Panel 1 Insular Ireland [Moderator Joseph Lennon]
Anna Davies, Lisa Godson, Dave Robbins, Malcolm Sen, Nathalie Weadick
This panel will consider how Irish culture and media influence sustainability initiatives. It will also ask about larger questions of Ireland’s place as an island nation and consider Irish insularity. Panelists will be asked to respond specifically to recent policy initiatives to drive climate action in the cultural sector by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media.
12:30-13:30 Lunchbreak (boxed lunches) - fresh air break in the gardens or plenty of benches elsewhere.
Afternoon Theme Changing Ireland
13:30-14:30 Session 2 [Chair Nathalie Weadick]
Presenter Anna Davies
Respondent Dave Robbins
14:30-14:45 Break
14:45-15:45 Session 3 [Chair Susan Kelly vonMedicus]
Presenter Cathy Fitzgerald
Respondent Jennifer Joyce
18:00 Drinks: La Distillerie de Monaco - tour by Irish owner/founder - sustainable liquer process made from Monaco oranges
19:00- Symposium Dinner: Huit et Demi, Rue Princesse Caroline
Sunday October 8
Theme "Futuring Ireland"
10:00-12:30 Oceanographic Museum Tour
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch: rooftop restaurant of Musée Océanographique de Monaco
13:30-15:00 Panel 2 Futuring Ireland [Moderator Annie Fletcher]
Nessa Cronin, Cathy Fitzgerald, Joseph Lennon, Jonathan O'Neill, Susan Kelly vonMedicus
This panel will consider new directions in Irish art, culture, and media, specifically connected with climate change. It will ask questions about emerging meanings and strategies in representing and critically materialising sustainability and climate action. Panelists will frame their discussion with Irish literature and the work of Tim Robison but focus on recent art by Deirdre O’Mahony, Siobhan McDonald, Navine Khan-Dossos, and Katie Holten—and others on display at the Irish Museum of Modern Art’s recent Earth Rising festival.
15:00-15:15 Break
15:15-16:15 Session 4 [Chair Jonathan O’Neill]
Presenter Lisa Godson
Respondent Nathalie Weadick
16:15-16:30 Break
16:30-17:30 Session 5 [Chair Susan Kelly vonMedicus]
Presenter Annie Fletcher
Respondent Joseph Lennon
19:00- Closing Dinner
Symposium participants worked all weekend, presenting their presentations and paper findings and discussing in groups the elements of the theme. An excusion to the Musée Océanographique (the acquarium museum) gave an understanding of the Principality's research and efforts to protect the world's oceans.
Photo gallery below
Symposium Co-Directors
Dr Joseph Lennon
Villanova University
Emily C. Riley Director, Center for Irish Studies
Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Professor of English at Villanova University
Speciality: Literature/History
Email: joseph.lennon@villanova.edu
Ms Susan Kelly vonMedicus
Villanova University
Professor of Studio Art
Speciality: Studio Art Practitioner, Irish Manuscripts of the Golden Age
Email: susan.vonmedicus@villanova.edu
PANELISTS (alphabetical order)
Prof Nessa Cronin
Moore Institute for the Humanities and Social Studies
UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY
Assistant Professor in Irish Studies and Associate Director of the Moore Institute for the Humanities and Social Studies at University of Galway, Ireland
Environmental Governance Research Group
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
Professor of Geography, Environment and Society at Trinity College Dublin where she leads the Environmental Governance Research Group
Prof Cathy Fitzerald
Haumea Ecoversity
Ecological Artist-Educator. Her work informs creative-led forest and wetland community restoration (Hollywoodforest.com; DrumminBog.com), and ecological art practice research.
Ms Annie Fletcher
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Director and Curator
Prof Lisa Godson
National College of Art and Design, Dublin
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
Programme leader of MA in Design History and Material Culture at the NCAD
Visiting Research Fellow in the School of Histories and Humanities, TCD
Prof Jennifer Joyce
Centre for Irish Studies
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
Associate Director of the Center for Irish Studies at Villanova University where she also is Full Teaching Professor in the Augustine & Culture Seminar Program & EnglishDept
PROF JONATHAN O’NEIL
Centre for Irish Studies
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
Assistant Professor of Irish Language & Culture. He is particularly interested in the sustainability of the language and other minority language communities.
Dr Dave Robbins
Centre for Climate and Society
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
Director of the Centre for Climate and Society at Dublin City University, where he is also an associate professor of journalism in the School of Communications
Prof Malcolm Sen
Department of English
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
Associate Professor in the Department of English at UMass Amherst. He leads the Environmental Humanities Initiative at the institution and is the co-chair of the interdisciplinary, campus-wide Sustainability Strategy Working Group
MS Nathalie Weadick
Irish Council For Civil Liberties
Curator of architecture, art and spatial practice based in Dublin. She teaches at UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy. She is currently researching a PhD at RMIT Melbourne and Queen’s University Belfast, Schools of Architecture.
Observer
Dr Margarita Cappock
The Ireland Funds Monaco Bursary Academic-in-Residence
Assistant City Arts Officer - DUBLIN CITY ARTS OFFICE - Public Art Collections Specialist
