IRISH FULBRIGHT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NUMBER 37  SPRING 2015 NEWSLETTER IFAA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH TAIWAN FULBRIGHT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION By Sarah Ingle

On a recent trip to Asia I was privileged to be hosted as guest of honour at a reception in the Fulbright Taiwan offices in Taipei on 3 April 2015. At the invitation of Dr Hans Tung, Secretary General of the Taiwan Fulbright Alumni Association (TFAA), I met with the Executive Director of Fulbright Taiwan, William Vocke, along with other TFAA Board members and Fulbright alumni. In his opening remarks, Will spoke very warmly of IFAA President Emeritus Paul Donnelly and the role he played during his time in Taipei on a Taiwan Fellowship in developing Sarah Ingle, IFAA President, with Hans Tung, Secretary General TFAA, and other the relationships between Taiwan and TFAA Board members including Will Vocke, Executive Director Fulbright Taiwan; Ireland. We were then shown a very Nicole Lee, Director General, Ministry of Education; Bert Lim, President World Economy Society; Yuyuan Tsai, Professor Donghua University, and Joe Eaton, interesting video of the life of Paul Fulbright alumnus and Associate Professor, Department of History, National Chiu. In the video, Chiu, the former Chengchi University Chairman of SinoPac Bank shared how his Fulbright experience in Ohio Hans, Will, and other members of the synergies. A later roundtable State University 1968–69 was a very Board, and how I hoped that the discussion continued this theme and solid foundation for his future career IFAA and the TFAA could continue several ideas were suggested, some of and a key success factor in his to build on the alliances and which I hope can be acted upon in the contribution to the development of relationships already forged. I also coming years. It was a wonderful Taiwan’s monetary and foreign outlined the recent and ongoing opportunity to meet with Hans and exchange markets. activities of the IFAA, in particular his colleagues in Taipei, which I really I then addressed the audience, the success of the annual Scholars’ enjoyed, and I hope it might be including in my talk how honoured I Dinner, and suggested a few ways in possible for IFAA to host a similar was to have been invited to meet with which IFAA and TFAA could develop event in Ireland in the future.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT By Sarah Ingle It is with mixed emotions that I write sorry to be leaving the post, having Vice-President and President this message to all IFAA members worked in four roles on the IFAA respectively. I joined the IFAA Board and the wider Fulbright community, Board since 2008 as Ordinary at the request of President Emeritus my last as IFAA President. I am very Member, Membership Secretary, Thérèse Fahy, having been suggested

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT By Sarah Ingle as a potential candidate by former since the Autumn, beginning with our MainStage event in Liberty Hall, IFAA Treasurer, Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, annual Thanksgiving Dinner that Dublin, supported by the sponsorship a then DCU colleague. took place in November in the of the IFAA, Fulbright Commission, I have really enjoyed my time as an beautiful Glucksman Gallery, on the and the US Embassy. The IFAA was IFAA officer and it has been a UCC Campus in Cork City. In privileged to be a part of this privilege to work on behalf of the February a wonderful visit was wonderful evening and many thanks membership with the other Board organised by Board member Gráinne are due to Anne for making it happen. members, in collaboration and Cuffe to the Chester Beatty Library, Our final event of the year will be the consultation with the Fulbright followed in March by the IFAA Annual General Meeting to be held on Commission, the US Embassy, and annual visit to the National Concert 8 May in DIT Aungier Street. I hope further afield. However, it is now an Hall. The latter had an important that many of you will be able to come appropriate time to pass on the mantle Fulbright perspective about which along to review the recent activities, to a new President, Jimmy O’Brien you can read more in this issue. look to the future and welcome Jimmy Moran, who I know will do an In April a very special IFAA event as IFAA’s new President. excellent job and will bring his own took place, brainchild of Treasurer Go raibh maith agaibh go léir as ideas, skills, and perspectives to the Anne Cleary. Anne is a huge fan of bhúr dtacaíocht le seacht mbliana role. Jimmy will also be ably the Moth movement which promotes anuas. Ba mhór an phribhléid agus an supported by a committed, willing and the genre of true storytelling in the onóir a bhí ann dom a bheith ag obair hardworking Board with individual US and Europe. Through her sterling thar ceann an IFAA. Guím gach rath strengths and contributions to offer. work and tenacity over many months, ar an gcumann agus ar an mballraíocht The IFAA has had a busy time the US Moth hosted a sell-out ar fad san am atá romhainn.

IFAA NATIONAL CONCERT HALL OUTING 2015 By Sarah Ingle

A small group of members and friends Martin Johnson. In Frank’s own a “we calm the mighty forces, we wrap up attended the IFAA annual outing to words: all” last movement. the National Concert Hall on 13 As long as I can remember, I always wanted Frank’s work was suitably acclaimed March 2015. The National Symphony to compose a concerto for cello and orchestra, by the audience and he took his place Orchestra, under conductor Kenneth but I lacked the courage and the means till on the stage with the conductor, Montgomery, presented a wonderful I had written my violin concerto (premiered soloist, and orchestra, to rapturous programme which began with by Alan Smale with the N.S.O. under applause. All in all, it was a very Mendelssohn’s overture to A Christopher Warren-Green in 2012). As enjoyable evening, culminating in Midsummer Night’s Dream. This was soon as that work was born, I felt I was free. drinks and convivial chat afterwards followed by Beethoven’s exquisite And my soloist, Martin Johnson, then said with the IFAA party. orchestral love song to nature, the a mighty thing to me: “Frank, the cello must Pastoral Symphony, which for me was soar. Let it soar. Let it sing.” So I did. With a highlight on the night. The final item its four movements and over half an hour on the programme had particular duration the cello concerto is longer, bigger. significance for the Fulbright It hovers between Dvorak and Lutoslawski community, featuring the world – of course. It has to. As in both its mighty premiere of Irish Fulbright alumnus predecessors, the solo instrument here must Frank Corcoran’s Cello Concerto, a sing in its bass and chalumeau and tenor work that ‘sings and soars’ with and contralto and dizzyingly high soprano powerful emotions for both the register, right through the introductory first Sarah Ingle with IFAA member Claire orchestra and soloist. This concerto movement, the cantabilissimo slow Gubbins and husband Eamon Collins was composed for principal cellist movement, a wild screaming scherzo and at the National Concert Hall

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FULBRIGHT ALUMNA GETS SECOND CHANCE TO FULFILL DREAM By Anne Driscoll

Many Fulbrighters consider their nephew of Harry Gleeson who was scholarship a once-in-a-lifetime opp- wrongfully convicted and hanged in ortunity but, through a fortuitous set 1941 at Mountjoy Prison and is to of circumstances, mine became a receive a presidential posthumous twice-in-a-lifetime chance. Actually, pardon, is a Hollywood director who that does not even closely reflect the has wanted to do a film about Harry lightning-strike quality of my second with his friend Liam Neeson for two time around in Dublin. decades. Now he wants to do a film I arrived on September 3, 2013 for about Harry Gleeson overlaid by the my Fulbright year to work with the story of the Irish Innocence Project’s Irish Innocence Project at Griffith work to expunge his conviction. The College Dublin, as a journalist hoping History Press is also interested in to teach the law students (working on having me write a book with a similar cases of claimed wrongful convictions) structure of the two overlapping how to investigate and interview, to stories. Liam Neeson is committed to better progress their cases. It was a the film project and both Neeson and fantastic year during which the Miller are expected to come to project grew from a dozen law conference and film festival on the 26- students from Griffith College, 27th June 2015. Anne Driscoll Trinity, and Dublin City University, An international delegation that to 21 caseworkers including three includes world-renowned human rights of conference speakers, films, Q&As journalism students – becoming only lawyers, LA directors, VIP delegates, with actors and directors and first- the second project of 68 innocence celebrity journalists, exonerees, and ever awards that shouldn’t be projects worldwide to have both law students, will be part of the first Irish missed,” said David Langwallner, a and journalism students working Innocence Project International former Fulbright candidate and collaboratively to overturn wrongful Conference and the Wrongful founding director of the Irish convictions. Griffith invited me to Conviction Film Festival on 26-27 Innocence Project at Griffith College, return in the fall of 2014 to continue June 2015 at Griffith College Dublin. whose home is, fittingly, a 200-year- the work I began as a Fulbright. My hope for the two-day event is to old former prison where at least But I could not have imagined that, raise public awareness about wrongful one man, Joseph Poole, is believed to since my return, the Irish Innocence convictions as a human rights issue, have been wrongfully convicted, Project would have had its first promote the synergistic role of law and hanged, and buried in an unmarked exoneration and first presidential journalism in pursuing innocence grave somewhere on the grounds. posthumous pardon in Irish history, a cases, and inspire young people to get Highlights of the two-day movie deal, book offer, and that it will involved in these cases. programme include a keynote address also host a first-of-its-kind inter- I now know firsthand that lightning by Gareth Peirce, who successfully national innocence conference and can strike twice. worked to overturn the convictions of wrongful conviction film festival – all the Guildford Four and Birmingham having unfolded since my post- Conference and Film Festival Six, a special screening of In the Name Fulbright return. The Irish Innocence Project is hosting of the Father with director Jim “Who do you think should play you the conference and film festival, and Sheridan, and the awarding of the in the movie?” is not a conversation I the public is invited. Both the first Gerry Conlon Memorial Law ever thought I would have in real life, conference and film festival will be and Journalism Justice Student at least not one that wasn’t a party held at Griffith College. Scholarship Award by Gerry game. But Chip Miller, the grand- “This will be a spectacular line up Conlon’s family.

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In addition, there will be film €75. For more information, go to Criminal Procedure Act 1993 and/or screenings, with Q&As following, of: Innocenceproject.ie. the posthumous pardon procedure. It is one of 68 projects recognized • Convicted with Tony Goldwyn, About the Irish Innocence Project globally by the Innocence Network who also created The Divide The Irish Innocence Project at and one of two such projects that has television series, and Betty Anne Griffith College was launched in both law and journalism students Waters, on whose story the film September 2009 by David working cooperatively on cases. is based Langwallner, Dean of Law at Griffith The Irish Innocence Project • The Central Park Five with David College, who serves as founding currently has 21 students from McMahon, who co-directed the director. The Irish Innocence Project Griffith College, Trinity College, and film along with Ken Burns and his wife Sarah Burns investigates and seeks to overturn Dublin City University working on • The Exonerated with director Bob cases (where people claim to be about 30 cases under the supervision Balaban, exoneree Sunny factually innocent of the crimes for of nine pro-bono lawyers. The Jacobs and actor Aidan Quinn which they have been convicted) by services of the project are provided finding new or newly discovered free and it was recently recognized as Early bird tickets for both days are evidence proving a miscarriage of a tax-exempt charity in Ireland by €100 until April 30th. Student rate is justice under the mandate of the Revenue.

A TIME TRAVELLER’S DAY AT THE CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY By Gráinne Cuffe

One of the best places in Dublin to be sculptures, often of animals, which, as China by the Jesuits in the on a cold February day is the Chester James explained, were originally seventeenth century, the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle. made to serve a practical function: Beatty Library owns a selection of A gathering of 17 IFAA members they were fasteners for pouches used snuff bottles: beautiful 3” high bottles, and their families enjoyed a Time to hold personal belongings, the all shapes and sizes, made from glass, Travelling day on February 7th last. traditional Japanese robe having no ivory, porcelain, lacquer, and a Celine Ward, Reference Librarian, pockets. Netsukes evolved from particularly elegant jade one. Next welcomed our group in the Reference being purely functional to being was a painted scroll, perhaps a Library. This room has a stunning expressions of great artistic merit, wedding gift, something to be ceiling, thought to be an early displaying the finest craftsmanship. displayed in a place of honour in the twentieth century replica of a ceiling Moving on then to a nineteenth- home, unfurled at a favourite section. In the Summer Palace in Beijing. It century Dragon Robe from China, Painting was one of the three highest was installed in the Reference Library this was a ceremonial robe richly expressions in Chinese culture, in four sections in the late 1990s. embroidered with silk threads, poetry and calligraphy being the James Meehan, Volunteer Guide, adorned with the image of a five- other two. The first rule in Chinese talked and walked us around clawed dragon centred on the back, painting was to grasp the living spirit treasures which have become so with clouds around the shoulders and of a subject. Therefore, plants were much more mysterious by the passage huge waves rising from the hem painted with botanical accuracy. of time. While viewing a case of the upwards to knee level, depicting the The flora and fauna depicted were to Library’s Japanese Netsuke all-encompassing powers (including symbolise wishes for a Long Life and collection (Edo period, 1600 – 1867) control of the skies and oceans) of the Marital Harmony, a rose symbolised he pointed out a Netsuke of an old wearer. Colours differed according to Eternal Youth, a plum blossom woman who, according to current the wearer’s rank in the hierarchy. represented Spring Renewal, lore, is reputed to change into a fox at This was Sarah Ingle’s favourite. The chrysanthemums – Autumn and night. Netsukes are miniature snuff habit having been introduced to Longevity, and bindweed – Love and

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Marriage. A folding book from again that, in bringing the message of Thailand (dated 1816) depicts Christ to different people in many elephants and their importance in war cultures, there has been much in that culture: dressed in battle violence and destruction as costumes, racing down a hillside with ideological and political systems their riders screaming battle cries, the clash; but at other times peacefulness ground shaking under the pounding and enlightenment has resulted in a feet of these huge animals, evocative synthesis of ideas and culture that has of a faraway time in a faraway land. enriched humanity. IFAA members with tour guide On then to the next glass case: an The Silk Café had reserved tables James Meehan Ukiyo-e woodblock print from the for our group and so, following James Edo period, the Maple Viewing Meehan’s wonderful guided tour, we Party; a beautiful image of privileged enjoyed each others’ company over a elegant young women serenely relaxed lunch. For many of us, the viewing maples and writing poetry. visit made us cognisant of where we This treasure dates from the 1780s, are in time, and left us wondering evoking a balmy afternoon in a what – in this country and era – is beautiful garden, an image exuding going to leave its mark, and be a peace and tranquility. Egyptian love lasting treasure. We all escaped for a poems, dated c. 1160 BC and written few hours from the usual routines of a on papyrus, are displayed in a cold Saturday afternoon in February humidity-controlled case – like most 2015 into one of the world’s most Colouring time at the Chester Beatty for of the cases in the Library. These special museums, to take a cerebral Rossa and Mella Ruadh and Diarmuid were found in amongst discarded walk back through the centuries, and and David Murnane artefacts of a workman’s house near across the lands of the Islamic, Arabic, to the Valley of the Kings. Chester and Western worlds, thanks to the Beatty’s efforts saved the find from vision and philanthropy of Chester being broken up and sold piecemeal. Beatty, a truly amazing man. He kept these love scrolls for his Sir Alfred Chester Beatty was born library and donated other important in New York in 1875. He graduated scrolls to the British Museum. Lastly, from Columbia University in 1898 as James Meehan brought us on a a mining engineer and headed for zigzag journey through ten centuries Denver, Colorado, where he began and several lands and religions. From working in the mining industry, at the North Africa or maybe Spain there bottom – moving rubble with a spade. was a text from the Qur’an written on In 1912 he moved to London, having IFAA members, friends and family at the a tenth-century piece of blue vellum – built a highly successful mining Chester Beatty with James Meehan, the work of a leading calligrapher consultancy in New York. London tour guide from the Islamic world. Another was at the center of both the worlds of Arabic text on vellum dated from the mining and collecting. Suffering from ninth century, while Armenian and common miners’ respiratory ill-health, Western manuscripts dated from he bought a house in Cairo where he Medieval, Renaissance, and modern wintered, and where he and his second times. Lastly, we viewed some of the wife started to purchase a considerable earliest known copies of the Four number of manuscripts, including but Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, not only Qur’ans. He travelled widely, as well as the Letters of St. Paul: having mining interests in Russia, Biblical Papyri dating from the Rhodesia, and West Africa, and second to the fourth century, prized collected in Asia and the Middle East, IFAA Board members Anne Cleary and possessions of the Library. In viewing focusing on quality and rarity. He had Gráinne Cuffe examining exhibits this last section, one is reminded once started to collect at the age of ten, during the tour

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when he bid at a New York auction for Chester Beatty Library is now in a Many thanks are due to Celine a piece of pink calcite which he bought purpose built home in Dublin Castle. Ward, Reference Librarian, who for 10 cents. He came to live in Ireland In 1957 he became Ireland’s first welcomed us and showed us the in 1950, bringing his collection with honorary Citizen. He was given a Reference Library, and to James him. He brought with him his State funeral when he died in 1968. Meehan, Chester Beatty Volunteer Librarian J.V.S. Wilkinson, and built On his death, the collection was Guide, for our wonderful tour, and a library and gallery in Shrewsbury bequeathed to a trust for the benefit of also to Justyna Chmielewska for co- Road to house his collection. At first the public. Chester Beatty, ordinating our visit. Thank you to the this was open to scholars only, but was philanthropist, was a man of huge Silk Road Café for a gorgeous lunch. later opened to the public. The vision, wisdom, and generosity.

IFAA THANKSGIVING DINNER IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK By Jimmy O’Brien Moran

The annual IFAA Thanksgiving President, attendees were invited to for whom travelling to Dublin might Dinner of 2014 took place on the perform a party piece in either music, be difficult for various reasons. campus of University College Cork at song, or verse. The latter form proved Our thanks to those who travelled far the restaurant of the Glucksman the most entertaining as Nicholas for the event. It is our intention to Gallery and there was great support O’Halloran regaled his listeners with rotate the location of IFAA events to shown by both US and Irish perfectly chosen verses, delivered with include and facilitate members around Fulbrighters for this very important impeccable style and wit. the country. Our thanks also to Board event in the American Cultural Holding IFAA events such as this member Nóirín Ní Laighin who Calendar. Many travelled from one outside of Dublin has been organised and co-ordinated a most Dublin, including outgoing Irish warmly welcomed by IFAA members successful IFAA Thanksgiving event. Fulbright Director Colleen Dube as well as many of the Board of the IFAA. Before the dinner there was a private viewing of the exhibition which featured some of the work of Fulbright alumnus Alan Phelan and which was co-curated by Orla Murphy, one of the Fulbright awardees of 2014. Following the tour Some brave Thanksgiving dancers learn of the exhibition, we adjourned to a UCC President Michael Murphy with Anne Cleary and Sarah Ingle the Seige of Ennis gallery space overhead the restaurant where we enjoyed a Prosecco reception and where we were wel- comed by the President of UCC Dr. Michael Murphy. IFAA President Dr Sarah Ingle followed with a Thanksgiving address. The dinner was served in the Fresco Restaurant and the continuous anim- ated conversation confirmed that Gabriela Mayer, Nicholas O’Halloran, Fulbrighters and friend at IFAA everyone was enjoying themselves. US Fulbrighter Erin O’Sullivan, Jimmy Thanksgiving in the Glucksman Gallery, After the closing address by the Vice O’Brien Moran, Ann Marie Burke, UCC: Nicole Mueller (US), Sharon Ruth Stanley Ansboro (IFAA) and Gary McCoy

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MARGARET Ó HÓGARTAIGH SPONSORS OF THE By J.J. Lee IRISH FULBRIGHT ALUMNI 2010 publication, Business archival ASSOCIATION sources for the local historian. IFAA gratefully acknowledges the Margaret’s intense interest in generous sponsorship/assistance of: personality was reflected in her engagement with subjects as varied as  Athlone Institute of Technology Archbishop McQuaid of Dublin, a selection of whose letters she edited  Department of Foreign with Clara Cullen in 2013 under the Affairs and Trade evocative title His Grace is displeased, and Kathleen Lynn, whose memory  Dublin City University she virtually resurrected in her 2006 book, Kathleen Lynn: Irishwoman, patriot,  Dublin Institute of Technology doctor. Indeed the history of medicine, and particularly of women in  Galway-Mayo Institute of medicine, would be one of the major Technology under-researched areas in which she both conducted and inspired Margaret Ó hÓgartaigh  pioneering research, further reflected Institute of Technology Sligo The Fulbright community was in the 2012 volume edited with extremely saddened to hear that IFAA Margaret Preston, Gender and Medicine  Irish Fulbright Commission member Margaret Ó hÓgartaigh died in Ireland 1700-1950. And constantly, prematurely on 17 December 2014, at although she extended the range of her  Limerick Institute of the age of 47, after a six month battle research topics, she did not forget Technology with cancer. Her illness, however, was earlier ones. It was in 2010 that she endured with an inspirational courage, published Edward Hay: historian of 1798,  Maynooth University good humour, and concern for others, the subject of her NUI Galway MA that indelibly reflected her strength of thesis nearly twenty years before.  National University of character and generosity of spirit. Her Though long domiciled in Dublin, Ireland Galway death has not only robbed Ireland of a Margaret’s range of research interests wonderful person, but deprived Irish reflected a breath of experience that  Royal College of Surgeons historiography of a dedicated scholar transcended her Dublin base, but also in Ireland with a remarkable range of research fortified by it by means of her interests and an insatiable thirst for friendships with Dublin-based  St Patrick’s College, historical understanding. Margaret scholars like Margaret MacCurtain, Drumcondra had an uncanny ability to detect Finola Kennedy, and Rosemary potential in numerous under- Cullen Owens. Born and reared in  Trinity College Dublin researched subjects, above all in the Killaloe in Clare – A First Class history of women, but stretching Honours MA graduate of NUI  U.S. Embassy Dublin across a range of topics from the Galway, a secondary teacher at St historiography of 1798, to the Fergal’s, Rathdowney and St. Louis,  identification of business records Carrickmacross, teaching at third level University of Limerick throughout the country. The latter in Limerick and Maynooth as well as work was undertaken in collaboration Dublin – her 1999 doctoral thesis,  University College Cork with her husband Ciarán, ultimately to ‘“Far from few”: Professional Women be reflected in numerous articles in in Ireland 1880-1930’ was from UCD.  University College Dublin several local journals, and in their joint Indeed her familiarity with all four

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provinces of Ireland may have been a often as circumstances would permit expanded her range of research topics, factor in the geographical range of her and, indeed, went on to teach medical and although she had an acute instinct contributions to several local historical history at Harvard University. for the research potential of neglected journals, including Seanchas Ard Undoubtedly she would have long subjects, her excitement in sensing new Mhacha, Ríocht na Midhe, Tipperary graced American shores if only fate themes and sources was matched by Historical Journal, and Journal of the had not so cruelly intervened. Her her generosity in drawing the attention Wexford Historical Society. The international experience was further of others towards research possibilities, substantive breadth of her interests is broadened by teaching and research in and in scattering the seed through in turn reflected in the range of Victoria University in Wellington, sharing her insights. It is easy to specialist subject journals in which she New Zealand, and was about to be overlook, in the light of such scholarly published, including Eighteenth Century further expanded by an invitation contributions, that so boundless was Ireland, Irish Economic and Social History, from Melbourne when she became ill. her energy, and so accomplished her Irish Educational Studies Journal, New She had already become one of the talents, that she was also an Hibernia Review, and Saothar: Journal of most internationally known of Irish international athlete, winning medals the Irish Labour History Society, to historians, her standing recognised by at home and abroad in both field- mention only a selection. repeated return invitations. A events and in athletics, an all-rounder A formative influence in broadening highlight of my own tenure at in sport as in historical scholarship. Margaret’s gaze and enriching her Glucksman Ireland House, the Center Margaret has left behind a huge, perspective was her Fulbright Scholar for Irish Studies at New York bountiful legacy and fruitful harvests Award to Boston College (BC) in University, was hearing her will long be reaped from her 2000 – while Ciarán held one marvellous meditation on the volume munificence. Both in person and on simultaneously at Northeastern she co-edited with Margaret Preston paper, she has left an indelible mark on University. She so relished the on gender and medicine in Ireland. the memory of the many, at home and experience that she returned to BC as Although Margaret constantly abroad, privileged to have known her.

Hi Sinéad, Having a wonderful time in Boston – snow is finally almost melted and I can smell Spring coming! Paddy’s day was great fun with the parade and I made my American roommate and her friends some soda and potato bread which went down a treat. Really enjoyed the Enrichment Seminar in Kentucky as well, along with Niamh Fox, another Fulbrighter, and enjoyed competing in athletics with a local track club too. Managing to get some research done in between enjoying life in the States – don’t Sinéad want it all to end! Thanks and see you soon, Irish Fulbright Alumni Laura Frey Association Dublin

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EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND CENTRES OF IRISH STUDIES By Mary McPartlan

Pictured with the Irish Ambassador to Austria Mary Whelan, Aidan Brennan, Mary McPartlan, and Padraic Keane

Last November I participated in the European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies (EFACIS) programme. The Itinerary is a series of coordinated events Aidan Brennan, Sabina Higgins, Mary McPartlan, President of Ireland Michael D. celebrating Irish culture, art and Higgins, Padraic Keane literature, and hosted by many vibrant centres of Irish Studies across twelve European countries. I was invited to take part in three special events at the end of November 2014. I was joined by guitar player Aidan Brennan from Dublin and uilleann piper Padraic Keane from Oranmore, Galway. The first concert took place at the Irish Embassy in Vienna, where we performed for Her Excellency Mary Whelan, Irish Ambassador to Austria, and fifty of her invited guests. The next evening we gave a concert at the University of Vienna to a large gathering of students and staff at a performing Arts Space on the campus. The following day we travelled to Prague and had an excellent concert at Performing at Áras an Uachtaráin, Padraic Keane (uilleann pipes), Mary McPartlan the Charles University, followed by an (vocals), and Aidan Brennan (guitar) amazing session which included at least twenty young people from the lecture at the English Department on sent me a photograph of the event area around Prague playing Irish Irish Traditional Women Singers and Song. there. Traditional Music. On the final day I I have attached a quote here from the “I received very warm feedback was invited to give the Friday guest Irish Ambassador Mary Whelan who from my guests that evening,

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all of whom were important NUI Galway Medical Orchestra partners and collaborators for Board member Mary McPartlan is the the Embassy. They were very producer of the NUI Galway Medical moved by the selection of music Orchestra, an amateur ensemble and song, both traditional comprising medical students at and contemporary, that you Galway, which recently performed at performed and I know a number the largest university in Italy, La of them were eager to hear more Sapienza University in Rome, over the at your concert the following St Patrick’s Day weekend. The evening at the University!” concert had three performances from Mary Whelan, Irish Ambassador the Medical School Galway, the to Austria Doctors’ Ensemble from Padua University Hospital, and the La “On behalf of the European Sapienza University Orchestra of Federation of Associations