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Society and politics in Irish towns c.1750-1914

Queen’s University Belfast

Friday 18th April 2008

This conference will take place in Seminar Room 1, at the Institute of Irish Studies, 53-67 University Road, Belfast.  The Keynote speaker will be Professor David Dickson (Trinty College Dublin).  Closing remarks will be made by Professor Robert J. Morris (University of Edinburgh).  Information on travel, accommodation and a booking form are available below. 

Completed booking forms should be returned to the conference organisers Claire Allen and Lisa Meaney by Friday 28th March 2008. Email: callen10@qub.ac.uk; lmeaney01@qub.ac.uk

Postal address: School of History and Anthropology, 15 University Square, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast.  BT7 1NN.

Conference Programme [word-doc] also listed below

Conference Booking Form [download-word doc]

Travel and Acccommodation Information [download-word doc]

Conference Flyer [download-word doc]

Background to the Conference

Between 1750 and 1914 Irish society was transformed.  Whereas during the early eighteenth century, Ireland was a predominantly rural society, by 1914 the majority of the population lived in towns.  Agriculture retained a place of importance in the Irish economy, but increasing numbers of people became involved in industry.  These changes had profound consequences on all aspects of society and politics in Irish towns.  This conference, to be held at Queen’s University Belfast on Friday, 18 April 2008, aims to bring together postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers working in the area of urban history.  The keynote speaker will be Professor David Dickson of Trinity College, Dublin.

Conference Programme

9:00-9:30 Registration

9:30-9:45 Welcome Professor David Hayton (QUB)

9:45-10:30 Professor David Dickson (Trinity College, Dublin): Getting the measure of Victorian Dublin

10:30-10:45 Coffee

10:45-12:30 Panel 1  Chair: Professor R. J. Morris (University of Edinburgh)

Michael Deegan (MIC): Societal developments and merchants in urban Limerick
Elizabeth Heggs (NUIM): Reforming tendencies within Waterford Corporation in the era before municipal reform
Dr Frank Cullen (NUIM): The role of social and political networks in the development of Dublin’s communication infrastructure, 1820-1900
Dr Matthew Potter (UL): The Civic Revolution in Ireland 1828-99

12:30-1:30 Lunch

1:30-3:15 Panel 2  Chair: Professor David Dickson

Jonathan Wright (QUB): The growth pains of urbanization-prosperity, poverty and philanthropy in nineteenth-century Belfast
Dr Olwen Purdue (QUB): Poverty, paupers and poor-law guardians: the role of the workhouse in a north Antrim town 1851-1921
Alice McVicker (QUB): The drive for improvement: 1840s Belfast
Patrick Joseph Hester (TCD): Municipal governance and urban change in mid-nineteenth century Ireland: the effect of the establishment of town commissioners on the market towns of Leinster, 1835-60

3:15-3:30 Coffee

3:30-4:30 Panel 3  Chair: Professor Sean Connolly

Ursula Callaghan (MIC): The development and impact of Limerick’s eighteenth century newspapers
Lisa Marie Griffith (TCD): Election campaigns in Dublin 1761-1791

4:30-5:30 Professor Robert J. Morris: Closing remarks and round table discussion

8:00 Conference dinner