Today's keynote at #IASIL2025 was provided by Prof Breandán Mac Suibhne, who produced a 'micro history', exploring the real-life people and Marconi radio (which, he notes, is almost a character in its own right) that inspired Brian Friel’s 'Dancing at Lughnasa'.

Lonergan conceptualises the Covid-19 pandemic as an allegory for future ecological crises, with Irish drama acting as a dress rehearsal for climate change. He points to how artistic responses accelerated their thematic preoccupations during this period, focusing on the non-human #IASIL2025

Little interrogates carceral memory, tracing efforts to screen coercive confinement in Ireland (1971–1999) & arguing that historical accounts must consider its remediation across technologies. He ends by noting the importance of accounting for this history to prevent modern Irish carceral abuses

Haughton spoke about performance as technology, with her paper exploring how 'Anu', the production company, told stories that were previously side-lined or overlooked during the Decade of Centenaries by 'unfolding the body' and peeling back layers of sedimented signification in the Irish context

Wallace presents on gender at the Abbey Theatre since Waking the Feminists, arguing that the movement made gender equality a public & policy issue - and despite some issues, has shifted programming with more adaptations/revivals by women writers & projects that highlight historical gender injustice

IASIL 2025, "Technology & Ireland" kicked off yesterday with a brilliant keynote from Prof Gerardine Meaney on “Migration & Narration: Data, Archives, Nations”.

📢Great news!📢 Our May 2024 special issue on Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is now an open-access special feature on EUP's website! Read all of our amazing articles about Ní Dhuibhne's contributions to Irish literature and culture at the following link: www.euppublishing.com/toc/iur/54/1