The Belfast hub, held at Queen’s University on 12-13 September 2024, invites papers on any ‘event’ – at any scale – in the period spanning 1789-1914. Acknowledging the porous boundaries between the Romantic, Victorian and Modern, our call is open to researchers working in and across these fields. We aim for geographical as well as temporal breadth, inviting scholars with interests in nineteenth-century Ireland, Britain or any other (inter)national context. Submissions on any aspect of the literary, artistic, political, and scientific culture of the long nineteenth century – read as ‘events’ – are welcome. We invite proposals for individual 20 minute papers, panels of 3×20 minute papers, or roundtables of up to 6×10 minute position papers. Visit the EVENT website for our CFP and to submit a proposal.
Hub Leaders
Justin Livingstone, Senior Lecturer, Queen’s University, Belfast
Alex Murray, Senior Lecturer, Queen’s University, Belfast
Visiting Belfast
Queen’s is based in a city with a vibrant cultural scene. There are a host of restaurants around the Queen’s Quarter and in the city centre; those wishing to sample local produce can visit St George’s Market (Belfast’s last Victorian covered market) on Saturday morning. Belfast is home to the Lyric Theatre, winner of the UK Theatre of the Year 2023. It regularly stages plays by local and international dramatists, and is a just a short walk from the university. The Ulster Museum is based in Belfast’s nineteenth-century Botanic Gardens, right beside Queen’s, and has wide ranging collections in art, history and natural sciences. The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum – a short journey outside Belfast – bills itself as a ‘living museum’ that preserves the social and cultural heritage of Ulster. The recently developed Titanic Museum is a highly interactive exhibit, telling the story of Belfast’s most famous ship and the history of the city’s shipbuilding industry.
Belfast has a long history of division and conflict. For those wishing to learn about this complex past, there is a series of guided tours focussed on political history, peace and reconciliation. These include tours by foot or taxi that tell the story of Belfast by visiting its famous murals and ‘peace walls’.
Delegates wishing to combine their visit to Belfast with archival research may want to visit the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland; as the official archive for Northern Ireland it holds papers on the history of Ulster and Ireland, from the plantations to the textile trade.
Registration
Please register using the portal on the Event2024.org site before arriving at Queen’s.
Other than the central ‘Event’ fee, there is no registration cost for this hub event. Attendees will, however, need to arrange their own accommodation (see list below) and pay independently for the conference dinner.
Schedule & Dining
The conference will take place in two venues: the McMordie Hall (Music Building, University Square) and the Longley Room (21 University Square). With beautiful lead-light windows and housing a collection of pianos and an organ, the McMordie Hall was built in 1896 and was originally the debating chamber in the Student’s Union. The Longley Room is a new venue, opened in 2021 in honour of the poet Michael Longley and his wife, the critic Edna Longley.
The conference dinner will be held on Thursday 12th September at Bo Tree Kitchen.
Getting there
Queen’s University is situated in south Belfast. A campus map is available here. The university is a 15-minute walk from Belfast City Hall (in the city centre) or a 5-minute bus journey. The closest train station, on Botanic Avenue, is a 5-minute walk from Queen’s. If travelling to Belfast via train, you can connect to Botanic via Belfast’s central station (Lanyon Place).
The closest airport is George Best Belfast City Airport. A direct bus service connects to the city centre. Taxis are available outside the terminal or can be called at the following numbers: +44(0)2890 333333 (FonaCAB) or +44(0)2890 809080 (Value Cabs). The university is about 15 minutes away by taxi.
A direct bus service to the city centre is also available from Belfast International Airport. A taxi from Belfast International to Queen’s takes around 40-minutes.
Lodging
Hotels near Queen’s include:
Holiday Inn Express Queen’s Quarter
Contact
For inquiries, email organizers@event2024.org.
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