Humanitarianism and Hunger

2025 Famine Summer School, National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Ireland. 

May 29—June 1, 2025

Call for Papers:

The 2025 Famine Summer School will take place at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, County Roscommon, Ireland on May 29—June 1, 2025. The theme of the 2025 Famine Summer School is “Humanitarianism and Hunger”.

From Indigenous and settler communities in North America to India and the Sultanate of the Ottoman Empire, as well as Great Britain and in Ireland, private individuals and groups across class divides raised funds and risked their lives in a humanitarian response to Ireland’s Great Hunger (1845-1852) that often contrasted with official responses. The 2025 Famine Summer School explores the comparisons and contrasts between the historical context and the challenges of humanitarian responses to the Great Hunger and famines in the world today.

We welcome proposals for 20-minute papers and envisage dedicated panels on the topic of (but not limited to) Humanitarianism and Hunger during the period of the Great Irish Famine and as it relates more broadly to Ireland in the past and present. Proposals from established and emerging academics, graduate/postgraduate students, independent scholars, and local historians, authors, and artists are all welcome.

Inquiries and proposals of no more than 250 words, accompanied by a brief biographical note on the speaker, should be sent to Dr. Jason King: faminestudies@Irishheritagetrust.ie and Professor Christine Kinealy: Christine.Kinealy@quinnipiac.edu by 1 February 2025. Decisions on proposals by the organising committee will be communicated by the end of February.

For more information on the Famine Summer School please click here.

The keynote speakers and artists for the 2025 Famine Summer School are: 

Caroilin Callery (Irish Heritage Trust) 

Professor Christine Kinealy (Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute, Quinnipiac University)

Professor Mark McGowan (University of Toronto)

Dr. Eamonn McKee (Department of Foreign Affairs)

Sharing Lands: Reconciliation, Recognition and Reciprocity Plenary Panel 

Professor LeAnne Howe (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, University of Georgia)

Dr Padraig Kirwan (Goldsmiths, University of London)

Professor Gillian O’Brien (Liverpool John Moore’s University)