A Day of Austrian, German and Irish Music, Literature and Culture at the University of Limerick
On 1 December, The Centre for Irish-German Studies hosted a day of Austrian, German and Irish Music, Literature and Culture at the University Limerick campus.
The event was opened by Professor Kerstin Mey, President University of Limerick. She welcomed the Austrian Ambassador, Dr. Thomas Nader, and other guests to the event. The event was then kicked off by Prof. Gisela Holfter, Director CIGS, who organised the event together with the help of her colleagues and students.
We heard poems from Irish Poet Mícheál Ó hAodha, a violin duo by Mozart with Dr Diane Daly from the ICO, and Anna Mitchell, student of MA in Classical String Performance as well as Irish singing by Dr Sorcha de Brún.
Following a tour of Tour of Plassey House, we heard reflections on study abroad then and now with Prof. Eda Sagarra (TCD), Dr Hermann Rasche (Galway) and Prof. Joachim Fischer (UL).
Later, Austrian - Irish links in history and today were explored in a series of mini lectures chaired by Dr Marieke Krajenbrink (UL). Our President Dr Declan Downey (RAH, UCD) gave a Tour d’Horizon of Irish-Austrian Historical Engagement. Former President Paul Dubsky looked back at the History of the Irish-Austrian Society and Thomas Nader rounded out the session with a view on Austrian-Irish relations.
In between talks and music, the group was given a tour of the Irish-German Book Collection in the Glucksman Library and two of it’s Special Collections, specifically the Gottschalk and former president Dr. Otto Glaser collections.
As we moved around the University campus, pre Christmas university life was in full flow. An open air music concert, lighting of the Christmas tree and of course students everywhere busy studying in the run up to exam week.
The day was closed out at University Concert Hall with a concert given by the Irish Chamber Orchestra under conductor Thomas Zehetmair, playing works by Mozart and Karl Amadeus Hartmann.
The Irish Austrian Society thank the University of Limerick and Prof Gisela Holfter in particular for putting together this fascinating event and program of music, literature and culture. The Irish Austrian Society are proud to have had the opportunity to support this event, together with the Austrian Embassy in Dublin and other institutions.