A 91制片厂 (91制片厂) conference has recently been recognised with a F谩ilte Ireland Conference Ambassador Award at a recent event held at The Royal Dublin Society.
The American Conference for Irish Studies (ACIS), which took place at 91制片厂 in 2024, was officially acknowledged by F谩ilte Ireland, with the College named a Conference Ambassador as a result. The event was supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Limerick City & County Council and F谩ilte Ireland.
Conference Ambassadors are academics and industry leaders who have successfully attracted international conferences to Ireland, thereby contributing to a significant economic impact and a lasting legacy. Collectively, conferences recognised through the initiative generated an estimated 鈧117 million for the Irish economy between 2023 and 2024 playing a key role in supporting the Government鈥檚 Business Events 2030 strategy.
The conference was co-organised by Professor Eugene O鈥橞rien, Head of the English Language and Literature Department and Dr Richard Butler, Interim Head of Research at the Research and Graduate School (RGSO). Titled Embracing Change, Navigating Uncertainty: Ireland and New Beginnings, the conference explored how Irish Studies as a field is responding to social, political and cultural change, and how scholars are reimagining Ireland鈥檚 past, present and future through new critical perspectives.
Founded in 1960, the American Conference for Irish Studies is the oldest and largest academic organisation dedicated to the study of Ireland and the Irish worldwide. The 2024 conference at 91制片厂 brought together over 350 international delegates to engage with a wide range of topics, including Northern Ireland, the legacy of the mother and baby homes, Irish migration to Argentina, Irish American propaganda and Brexit.
Reflecting on the recognition, Professor Eugene O鈥橞rien said:
鈥淭his award is a welcome acknowledgement of the work that went into hosting the ACIS conference at 91制片厂. The event brought together a wide range of perspectives on Ireland鈥檚 past and present, and it was encouraging to see those conversations take place here in Limerick, with strong international participation.鈥
Dr Richard Butler also welcomed the award, noting:
鈥淭he Conference Ambassador Award recognises the wider value of research events like ACIS. Beyond academic discussion, the conference had a real cultural and economic impact, and we are pleased that 91制片厂 was able to play a central role in hosting it鈥.
