This conference is a Celebration of the Irish Republic, the Irish Language, and the Irish Canadian Identity.

2016 marks the 100th year since the declaration of an Irish Republic in 1916. The Uprising, of which the Declaration was a part, had enormous implications in Ireland, Canada, and worldwide. In Canada, it made public an Irish Canadian identity which supported political independence for the ancestral homeland; the Self Determination for Ireland League of Canada boasted a membership of 300,000. It also represented the high-water mark for the Orange Order in Canada, which numbered 200,000 at the time.

With respect to local politics, the Uprising and the subsequent achievement of independence raised hopes for increased Canadian autonomy. Canadians were becoming bitterly aware, during the First World War, that Dominion Status in an Empire did not equate to international sovereignty.

The leadership of the 1916 Uprising was largely drawn from the Gaelic League, which saw the Irish (Gaelic) language as Ireland's greatest heritage, and the key to Irish emancipation. For this reason, the lectures will be given in Irish (Gaelic) for those who wish. The lectures will be followed by a commemorative service in Irish (Gaelic) and a singing workshop in the traditional style (Sean Nós) in Irish (Gaelic).

Language: In order to facilitate maximum accessibility, conference lectures will be run in parallel sessions. Each lecture will therefore be given twice: once in English, and once in Irish with simultaneous translation.

Formalities of the Reception on Friday night will be mainly in Irish, as will the Commemorative Service

See Irish Language version of this announcement and registration page at:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/preview?eid=20635959711

Further Information: http://www.gaeilge.ca/1916---b%C3%A9arla.php
Aralt, kenny-h@rmc.ca