A one-day conference on ‘Pilgrim, Heritage & Regenerative Tourism in Europe’ will take place in Dalgan later this month to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union.
According to Patsy McLean, President of the Association Friends of St Columbanus in Ireland, the conference will explore cultural heritage, regenerative tourism and the potential for European collaboration on the Columban Way from Ireland to Italy.
The conference also marks the twinning of Meath with Italy. The Association Friends of St Columbanus in Ireland received funding through Meath County Council to host a conference focused on the Turas Columbanus/Columban Way.
The conference highlights the unique contribution of Turas Columbanus/The Columban Way as a pilgrim cultural route across Ireland, the UK and Continental Europe in connecting communities in a diversity of cultures.
The conference addresses four topics:
– St Columbanus and his journey across Europe 1,400 years ago
– Cultural Heritage and Pilgrim Trails
– Pilgrim Trails as Regenerative Tourism (projects helping to revitalise rural communities)
– EU Cultural Routes, connecting people and shared culture across Europe.
The speakers include:
Dr Kevin Griffin, TU Dublin;
Dr John Knightly, NMS/World Heritage;
Mark Mohan, Ireland Ancient East/Failte Ireland;
Deborah Girvan, Chairperson Friends of Columbanus, Bangor;
as well as representatives affiliate groups from France, Italy and Switzerland
To participate, please sign up on Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/4qWjoPE
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
09:15 – 09:45 | Registration & Coffee
09:45 – 10:00 I Welcome by Patsy McLean – Chair FOC (ROI)
10:00 – 10:15 | Saint Columbanus and Pilgrimage (Pat Colgan & Ann Gray)
10:15 – 10:35 | Keynote Address (Deborah Girvan – FOCB & Via Columbani)
10:35 – 11:05 | SESSION 1 (Dr. Kevin Griffin – TU Dublin) – Cultural Heritage & Trails
11:05 – 11:20 I Q & A – for Session 1
11:20 – 11:45 I Short Networking Break
11:45 – 12:15 | SESSION 2
(Mark Mohan Failte Ireland – Irelands Ancient East) Regenerative Tourism
12:15 – 12:30 I Q & A – for Session 2
12:30 – 13:15 | Lunchtime, networking and Columbanus exhibition
13:15 – 13:45 | SESSION 3 (Dr. John Knightly – World/Heritage/EICR, National Monuments Service), Cultural Routes: collaboration and opportunities.
13:45 – 13:55 I Phillip McDonagh Poet – Short Poem
CASE STUDIES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
14:00 – 15:00 | Columban Way Case Studies – Connecting Communities:
15:00 – 15:20 Q & A from the Panel
15:20 – 15:30 Closing Remarks from Patsy McLean (Chair FOC (ROI)
Book your place here: https://bit.ly/4qWjoPE