Language Politicisation, Revitalisation and Reconciliation

Professor Mícheál Mainnín’s lecture series explores the historical, cultural and political dimensions of language in Ireland and the UK. The lectures trace the origins of negative perceptions of the Irish language from Shakespearean England, examine the challenges and opportunities for revitalising indigenous languages through comparisons between Northern Ireland and Scotland, and consider the role of language in reconciliation through Brian Friel’s Translations. Together, the series highlights how language shapes identity, reflects power, and serves as both a source of division and a pathway towards understanding and reconciliation.