CFP: Proclaiming the Revolution
Conference on the Proclamation of the the Irish Republic
National University of Ireland, Galway
22-23 January 2016
This conference focuses on the iconic document of the Irish revolution. Frequently quoted and often misinterpreted, the proclamation served a touchstone for republicans during the struggle for independence. What did it promise? How revolutionary was it at the time? How was it received? The conference will explore issues such as the ideological underpinnings of the proclamation, the issues it sought to address, the production and dissemination of the document, and the significance attached to it in the debates of 1916-23.
Topics will include the following:
Republicanism: Proclamation of Poblacht na hÉireann
What did republicanism mean to the generation of 1916?
Citizenship and equality: The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all of its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally.
To whom was this addressed?
How were issues and causes of inequality perceived at the time?
Women’s rights: The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. … the establishment of a permanent National Government, representative of the whole people of Ireland and elected by the suffrages of all her men and women.
What did this mean for the women of Ireland at the time?
How did the Rising affect the image and status of women?
Perspectives on division and unity: … oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.
How were divisions between nationalists and unionists interpreted at the time?
What expectations were there of better relations in the future?
How did the Rising affect relationships between the two communities?
Production and Dissemination of the Proclamation
What were the circumstances surrounding its production? How was it received?
If you would like to propose a paper, please submit an abstract (not more than 250 words) and include your name, the name of your group, organisation or institution and a biographical note of approximately 100 words, to proclamationconference@gmail.com by Wednesday 30th September 2015.