EUROPEAN NIGHT OF IDEAS IN IRELAND: The inter-Celtic world, a richness for Europe: Exploring perspectives from the mayors of Galway (Ireland), Lorient (France) and Lugo (Spain).

18:00 Galway time - 19:00 Lorient time - 19:00 Lugo time

Video conference : Zoom link here

Interpretation available in English, French and Spanish

As part of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Embassy of France, in partnership with NUI Galway and the Embassy of Spain in Ireland, is organising the European Night of Ideas on 27 January 2022 at 6 pm, which puts Europe and its regional cultures in the spotlight.

The concept of the modern "Celtic identity" brings together the regions of several European countries: Brittany in France, Galicia and Asturias in Spain and Connacht in Ireland. These regions, marked by the winds of the ocean and widely open to the world, want to see the construction of Europe can be a positive factor in the development for their own identity, their language and their culture.

During this night of debate organised online, we will explore the views of the mayors of Galway, Lorient and Lugo on the importance of natural biodiversity and cultural biodiversity at the heart of a Europe open to the world.

• How is the promotion of Celtic culture not a withdrawal into itself but rather the will to preserve an original and magical culture and to make it a space open to the future?

• How can we explain the fact that Celtic culture, which is rooted in history, is so popular today, including among the younger generations?

• How can we put in place linguistic policies that that bring hope and diversity for the future?

• How can local, national and European identities be combined? Beyond economic aid, how can Europe carry the project of a humanity rich in the variety of its languages and cultures?

PROGRAMME :

Debate

• Colette Connolly, Mayor of Galway (Ireland)

• Lara Méndez López, Mayor of Lugo (Spain – Galicia)

• Fabrice Loher, Mayor of Lorient (France – Brittany)

Moderated by Dr Cliona Hensey, Postdoctoral Researcher, NUI Galway

Introductory remarks

• Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh- President of NUI Galway

• H.E.M Vincent Guérend French ambassador in Ireland

• H.E.M Ildefonso Castro Spanish ambassador in Ireland

The debate will be webstreamed and recorded.