An integral part of the Center for Irish Partnerships is to plan a wide range of activities to shed light on the major issues in Ireland. The Center will work to advance knowledge of the relationship between economic development and research efforts. The Center will host guest speaker series, seminars, joint conferences and cultural events as well as dissemination of relevant research reports, media resources and special lectures.

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Past Events

US/Ireland Emerging Technologies Conferences
The US/Ireland Emerging Technology Conference series was established as a partnership between UMass Lowell, Dublin City University (Dublin, Ireland), Queen's University (Belfast, Northern Ireland), to highlight the innovative research being conducted in nanotechnology, biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, polymer science, medical device development and diagnostics. Researchers from the US and Ireland come together to present on cutting-edge research that may help shape the future of how we use nanotechnology and biological sciences in manufacturing and medical diagnostics. Speakers include university researchers and scientists and industry presenters.

  • The Inaugural U.S. / Ireland Emerging Technologies Conference – October 2009, University of Massachusetts Lowell (Lowell, Massachusetts)
  • The 2nd U.S. / Ireland Emerging Technologies Conference 2011 – “The University and Economic Recovery: The Role of Technology, Enterprise and Learning Approaches” – October 2011, Dublin City University (Dublin, Ireland)
  • The 3rd U S/Ireland Emerging Technologies Conference: “The conference on Advanced Polymers and Teaching and Learning: - September 2012, Queen’s University Belfast (Belfast, Northern Ireland)

Irish in Massachusetts Conference
The Irish in Massachusetts: Historical Significance, Lasting Legacy Conference was held on Sept. 24-26, 2014.

This conference, presented in partnership by UMass Lowell and Queen’s University Belfast, offered an interdisciplinary look at the understudied nature of the Irish Diaspora in New England, with specific focus on the Irish and their contributions to Massachusetts. It was attended by over 125 people and featured faculty and researchers across the United States as well as from Northern Ireland.  Topics presented included:

  • Ireland and the Atlantic World 1550 - 1650
  • Long Threatening Comes at Last: Ireland's Great Famine in Irish-American
  • The Union, Slavery, and Irish Americans in the Civil War
  • The Irish in Lowell
  • Irish-American Politics in Massachusetts
  • The Irish in Sport 

The Center for Irish Partnerships Presents "Belfast: A Post-Conflict Conundrum" Keynote address  by Peter Shirlow, Queen’s University Belfast Thursday March 7, 2013. Peter Shirlow is a Senior Research Fellow of the Institute for Conflict Transformation and Social Justice. He is the Independent Chair of the OFM/DFM Employers' Guidance on Recruiting People with Conflict-Related Convictions Working Group and a board member of the mental health charity threshold.

The Irish-American Heritage Archaeological Program Fundraiser
dig-handsOn Wednesday, July 18, 2012 the Center for Irish Partnerships at UMass Lowell held a fundraiser to benefit the Irish-American Heritage Archaeological Program at the home of Co-Director Ann Marie Hurley in Lowell. The event helped to raise almost $10,000.  

Program sponsors included:

  • The Lowell Memorial Auditorium
  • The Old Court
  • The UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center
  • The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center
  • The UMass Lowell Office of Community and Cultural Affairs

In addition, this program is supported in part by a grant from the Lowell Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
 
For more information and up to date news on the Irish-American Heritage Archaeological Program, check out a blog written by St. Patrick’s Parish archivist and historian, Dave McKean.

On April 11, 2012, the Center for Irish Partnerships and the Middle East Center co-sponsored a forum on Peace and Education tentatively entitled “Facing Conflict, Voices from the Field.”
Panelists included Queen’s University Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. Tony Gallagher and Linda Bishai, Senior Program Officer, Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding at the United States Institute of Peace

On March 8, 2012 Dublin City University Professor and Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Gary Murphy presented a lecture: "From Celtic Tiger to EU/IMF Bailout: Ireland and the Euro Crisis."

UMass Lowell was visited by His Excellency Michael Collins, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States.
On Nov. 19, 2010, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States of American, His Excellency Michael Collins visited UMass Lowell with Irish Consul General to Boston, Michael Lonergan, to hear about the various partnership activities UMass Lowell is engaged in with Irish Universities.

The delegation from Co. Donegal, Ireland visited UMass Lowell.
On Nov. 5, 2010, a delegation from Co. Donegal, including Mayor Cora Harvey, visited UMass Lowell. The delegation discussed areas of possible partnership and collaboration between the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Northwest of Ireland in relation to higher education. Donegal County Development Board and the new Cross-Border Partnership Board identified priority areas for development in the Northwest including enterprise and skills, higher education and research, information technology, the green economy, tourism and natural resources, and culture as a resource.

Center for Irish Partnerships receives award at the 2010 Irish Echo Golden Bridges Awards.
The Irish Echo is Irish America’s oldest - and biggest-selling newspaper with readers across 50 States. In 2010, the Center for Irish Partnerships was honored at the annual Irish Echo Golden Bridges Awards in 2010. Chancellor Marty Meehan had been the keynote speaker and honoree in 2008.

UMass Lowell leadership attended the inauguration of President Brian MacCraith and signed the Collaboration Agreement with Dublin City University
On July 13, 2010, Chancellor Marty Meehan and the directors of the Center for Irish Partnerships traveled to Dublin to participate in the Inauguration of Brian MacCraith as President of Dublin City University. President’s MacCraith’s first act as President was to sign a formal collaboration agreement with UMass Lowell.