In celebration of its twentieth anniversary, the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies organised the conference ‘Beyond the Border: Irish and Scottish Studies, 1999-2019-2039’ on 15-17 November 2019. With keynote lectures by Alice Taylor (King’s College London) and Graham Walker (Queen’s University Belfast), the conference addressed questions concerning the historical development, current state and future development of the comparative study of Ireland and Scotland. Speakers from across the islands, and across the globe, came together to think about and across the borders of academic debate and political division. In particular, conference participants considered how Irish and Scottish Studies extends beyond the traditional shared narratives of sectarian animosity, economic crisis and forced migration, germinating new narratives of sociability, devolved politics and cultural connectivity. RIISS looks forward to leading global collaborations and future research initiatives in Irish and Scottish Studies.
Conference held to Celebrate RIISS@20