Symposium: Understanding Gendered Violence in Irish Language Studies

Symposium

Cur síos ar an téama agus ar an ócáid

Tá an siompóisiam seo á reáchtáil againn ar Lá Idirnáisiúnta um Dhíothú an Fhoréigin in aghaidh na mBan, is é sin an 25 Samhain 2025. Féachann an lá feachtais seo le haird a tharraingt ar an fhoréigean in aghaidh na mban agus beidh imeachtaí éagsúla ag titim amach ar fud an domhain in ómós na mban ar fad a d’fhulaing an lámh láidir.

Is léir go bhfuil scéal dorcha ar leith le haithint againn in Éirinn. Le cúig bliana anuas, maraíodh 62 bean go foréigeanach in Éirinn, 37 bean ó dheas den teorainn agus 25 bean ó thuaidh. Tá oidhreacht an fhoréigin inscne go smior inár stair, agus is téama suntasach é i nualitríocht na Gaeilge.

Féachann an siompóisiam lae seo le deis a thabhairt don phobal, do scoláirí, agus do scríbhneoirí teacht le chéile i spás tacúil chun cíoradh a dhéanamh ar an fhoréigean inscne (foréigean ar mhná, ar fhir, agus ar inscní eile) i saol agus léann na Gaeilge. Mar gheall ar an bhorradh atá faoin téama seo sa nualitríocht, sa chritic, agus sa dioscúrsa poiblí, is í bunaidhm an tsiompóisiam seo ná ceisteanna a ardú, agus snáitheanna a aithint, maidir le gnéithe éagsúla den fhoréigean inscne agus an léiriú a dhéantar air i bhfoinsí cultúrtha (ceisteanna eiticiúla, aeistéitiúla, polaitiúla, idirghlúine, digiteacha, dlíthiúla, agus leighis san áireamh). Féachfar freisin le comhrá a thosú ar an nasc, más ann dó, idir an éagóir teanga agus an foréigean inscne, agus ar an tábhacht atá leis an litríocht i dteangacha mionlaithe chun an cheist seo a spíonadh amach.

Event information

The United Nations General Assembly has designated 25 November 2025 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This campaign aims to raise awareness about all forms of violence against women and various events will be held around the world in honour of the victims of such violence.

It is clear that the Irish context has a specific dark story to tell. In the last five years alone, 62 women have lost their lives to violence, 37 in the Republic and 25 in Northern Ireland. The legacies of gendered violence are deeply rooted in our history and emerge as a central, if underexplored, theme in literature in Irish.

The aim of this one-day Symposium on Gender Violence in Irish-Language Studies is to provide scholars and writers with an opportunity to explore gender violence (violence against women, men, and other genders) in a safe and supportive space.

Given the increase in discussion of this theme in literature, the primary aim of this Symposium is to unpack the multifaceted dimensions of this sensitive theme (including ethical, aesthetical, political, intergenerational, digital, legal and medical aspects) and how literature in minoritised languages – with Irish as a key case study – reveals interconnections between linguistic oppression and gendered violence.

Dréacht den Clár / Draft Programme

9.00am - 9.30am Clárú / Registration

9.30am – 9.40am Fáilte / Welcome from conference organisers: Dr Síobhra Aiken (Queen’s University Belfast) and Dr Seán Mac Risteaird (Dublin City University)

9.40am – 11.00am Painéal 1

Cathaoirleach/chair: Orlaith Hickey (DCU)

Speakers:

· An tOllamh Máire Ní Annracháin (Emeritus Professor, University College Dublin) - Oscailt

· An Dr Caitríona Ní Chléirchín (Dublin City University) 'Maslaí, buillí agus focail bhrúidiúla, an foréigean inscne i bhFilíocht Chomhaimseartha na mBan

· An Dr Peter Weakliam (Trinity College Dublin), An foréigean sa bhficsean: impleachtaí eiticiúla

· An Dr Sorcha de Brún & an Dr Helene Haak (University of Limerick), ‘Tá Bean in Éirinn:’ Foréigean i gcoinne Bhanchainteoirí Dúchais na Gaeilge agus na Cúirteanna i mblianta luatha an tSaorstáit

11.00am - 11.30am Tae

11.30am - 12.15pm Fuath Ban Project

Discussion with Áine Ní Bhreisleáin, Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh, Deaglán Ó Mocháin (Dearcán Media)

(Fuath Ban Project is an online resource collecting personal experience of sexism and misogyny)

12.15pm - 1.30pm Painéal 2

Cathaoirleach/chair: Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, (Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge/Fís an Phobail)

Speakers:

· An tOllamh Rióna Ní Fhrighil (Professor of Irish, University of Galway), Foréigean in Aghaidh na mBan: Fianaise na Filíochta

· An Dr Caitlín Nic Íomhair (Maynooth University): Dán na mban san úrscéal comhaimseartha cogaidh

· An Dr Aingeal Ní Chualáin (University of Galway): Spléachadh ar an léiriú a dhéantar ar an bhforéigean inscneach i saothar Phádhraic Óig Uí Chonaire agus Mháirtín Uí Chadhain

1.30pm - 2.30pm Lón / Lunch

2.30pm - 3.15pm Seoladh leabhair / Book Launch

Seoladh leabhair/ Launch of Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha's much anticipated second poetry collection, Mainistir na Feola (Barzaz), including discussion with translator Ellen Corbett.

3.15pm - 3.30pm Clabhsúr / Closure

This event is co-ordinated by Dr Síobhra Aiken, Mitchell Institute Sabbatical Fellow 2024-25 and Senior Lecturer, School of Arts, English and Languages, Queen’s University Belfast and is hosted in partnership with Cultúrlann Mc Adam Ó Fiaich and Fhoras na Gaeilge.

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Host or Publisher The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice