Why Study the Past? History at Queen's Since 1845

History in various forms has been taught at Queen's since its foundation. Over the decades, the teaching, research, and dissemination of knowledge about the past has evolved in response to developments within the university, in society in general, and in the historical profession. This lecture provides an overview of these developments in order to address why the study of the past still matters in an age of fake news and AI manipulation.

Andrew Holmes is Professor of Modern History and Head of History at Queens. Professor Holmes is an expert on the history of religion in Ireland and has published extensively on Presbyterianism and evangelicalism, including two Oxford University Press monographs, The Shaping of Ulster Presbyterian Belief and Practice 1770-1840 (2006) and The Irish Presbyterian Mind: Conservative Theology, Evangelical Experience, and Modern Criticism, 1830-1930 (2018). With Gladys Ganiel, he recently co-edited The Oxford Handbook of Religion in Modern Ireland (2024).

Please register via Eventbrite

Friday 24th October 2025, Lecture 5pm - 6pm, followed by a drinks reception.

The Canada Room and Council Chamber, Lanyon Building, Queen's University Belfast.

This event is hosted by the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen's University Belfast.