Ireland’s Edge, the ideas and discussion strand of Other Voices, returns to Dingle for its tenth edition on the 29th and 30th of November as part of this year’s Other Voices festival. 

The theme of this year’s programme, ‘Open Channels / Bealaigh Oscailte’ centres on themes of dialogue, movement and exchange, those powerful, often ambiguous forces that shape our relationship with our world. The words ‘Channel’  in English, and ‘Bealach’ in Irish, imply connection and communication. Ireland’s Edge for the past ten years now has itself been a channel, a way through the noise and chatter; a space in which people and ideas meet up; a forum where a diversity of voices and perspectives are brought to bear on the developments that define and redefine our world every day. This tenth edition will seek to give voice to why this kind of collective discourse and exchange is so indispensable to our shared future. 

As the world becomes ever more fractured, from the level of the community, to the transnational, movement and discourse in turn have become more fraught. This year, we will ask what lessons we can take from our global, and indeed national, past and present, and what policy makers, leaders and citizens might do to keep the channels open.

With a compelling lineup of speakers, panellists and performers, drawn from the worlds of politics, media, technology and creativity in its broadest sense, Open Channels / Bealaigh Oscailte will investigate how openness, the ability to both transmit and receive, to welcome and be welcomed, to speak and to listen, is a vital resource upon which our societies depend. 

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Is cúis áthais dúinn bheith ar ais i nDaingean Uí Chúis, agus an deichiú heagrán seo de Ireland’s Edge a chur i láthair mar shnáithe idirphlé agus caidrimh ag féile Other Voices na bliana seo.

Roghnaigh muid Open Channels / Bealaigh Oscailte mar théama do chomhdháil na bliana seo. Tugann an téama seo deis agus lionsa dúinn scrúdú a chur ar fhórsaí cumhachtacha a bhfuil tionchar nach beag acu ar an dóigh a gcaithimid le chéile agus leis an saol mór atá thart orainn - caidreamh, gluaiseacht, malartú. Na focail sin féin, tá siad breá follasach agus breá débhríoch ag an am céanna. Gan fiú na focail féin ‘Channel’ i mBéarla agus “Bealach’ i nGaeilge, tugann siad le tuiscint go bhfuil nasc éigin, idir cheangal agus chaidreamh, i gceist idir dhaoine, ní scarúint ach teacht le chéile a spreagann siad. Le naoi mbliana anuas, tá Ireland’s Edge ag iarraidh bheith ina cainéal ciúin nó tearmann oscailte le haghaidh idirphlé, caidreamh, cumarsáid, idirmhalartú, agus taiscéaladh idir dhaoine, in éadan míbhinneas an challáin agus an torainn a bhíonn ag réabadh agus ag scréach thart orainn i gcónaí. Sa deichiú heagrán seo den chomhdháil, beidh béim á cur ar thábhacht agus ar leochaileacht an saghas caidrimh seo idir dhaoine, go háirithe sna laethanta suaite corraitheacha seo.

De réir mar atá creatlach an tsaoil faoi bhrú agus ag titim as a chéile, is cuma cé acu cúrsaí áitiúla nó trasnáisiúnta atá faoi chaibidil, is amhlaidh atáthar ag cur srianta agus teorannacha ar ghluaiseacht daoine agus ar shaoirse cainte. I mbliana, beimid ag cuartú leideanna agus comharthaí ón stair agus ó chúrsaí reatha mar threoracha do shaoránaigh, do lucht déanta polasaithe, agus do cheannairí le misneach agus spreagadh a thabhairt dóibh na bealaigh go léir a choiméad ar oscailt.

Beidh foireann chumasach cainteoirí, ealaíontóirí, agus smaointeoirí i láthair ó réimsí éagsúla idir pholaitíocht, na meáin, cruthaíocht ildánach, agus teicneolaíocht. Beidh a n-aird á díriú ar na dúshláin agus na bagairtí ach freisin ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le hoscailteacht agus leathanaigeantacht mar acmhainní luachmhara pobail agus sóisialta.

Courtesy of our venue partner The Skellig Hotel, a specially prepared three-course lunch will be available to all Saturday attendees in the Skellig Hotel’s Coastguard Restaurant. 

This tenth edition of Ireland's Edge has been made possible thanks to the support of our event partners Reed and AIB.

Tickets for this year's Ireland's Edge are now available below.

Join us // Bígí linn.

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// FRI 29th NOV — 4PM-7:30PM // 

NEW (DIS)ORDER: GEOPOLITICS, DEMOCRACY AND POWER IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government, DCU and Hannah McCarthy, International Journalist, Documentary-Maker and Lawyer and Carole Cadwalladr, Journalist and Writer.

Hosted by John Naughton — Academic, Journalist and Author

The one thing we can be sure of is that Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President  of the United States on 5 January 2025. Beyond that we're all left guessing what his second term might mean for America and the world.  Ireland's Edge this year kicks off with a lively discussion between John Naughton, Hannah McCarthy, and Donnacha O'Beachain about what Trump 2.0 might mean for democracy, geopolitics, economies and power in the years ahead.

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A TANGLED WEB: DISINFORMATION, EXTREMISM AND THE GROWTH OF THE FAR-RIGHT

‍Aoife Gallagher, Extremism Researcher and Author of Web of Lies: The Lure and Danger of Conspiracy Theories, Lucky Khambule, Co-Founder & Coordinator of The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) and Una Mullally, Writer and Journalist.

Hosted by Christopher Kissane — Historian, Writer and Host of Ireland’s Edge — The Podcast  

This year has seen an explosion in the reach of far-right messaging on social media in Ireland, mirroring developments in the UK, Europe, and the US. A number of high profile cases of racist misinformation have been accompanied by a daily rhythm of viral posts and videos reinforcing narratives being spread by far-right activists and groups, and often by foreign governments deliberately trying to destabilise political debate. So how do we protect our public discourse, and our societies, from such toxic influences, especially when social media's algorithms continue to amplify them?

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN: IN CONVERSATION WITH MINISTER EAMON RYAN TD

Minister Eamon Ryan TD — Minister for the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Transport, in conversation with Christopher Kissane — Historian, Writer and Host of Ireland’s Edge — The Podcast

Eamon Ryan was first elected a TD for the Green Party in 2002, and has served as a minister in two Green coalition governments, as well as serving as party leader from 2011 until earlier this year. He has had a major influence on Ireland's energy and transport policies over the past two decades, pushing concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability to the front of the political agenda. Yet the Green Party has faced a major political backlash to each of its periods in coalition government. With his party again facing an uncertain electoral future, the former leader has a unique insight into the challenges of green politics in Ireland.

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// SAT 30TH NOV — 12PM-6:30PM //

PAVED PARADISE?: BALANCING TOURISM & SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Didi Ronan, Founder NATIVE, Lynne Dyer, Founder of Street Food Project, Penzance & Growing Links and Peadar Ó Fionnáin, GP and Green Party Local Area Representative for Corca Dhuibhne.

‍Hosted by Christopher Kissane — Historian, Writer and Host of Ireland’s Edge - The Podcast  

Tourism is now the lifeblood of many coastal communities, revitalising towns long blighted by emigration and lack of opportunity. But its scale and nature has also begun to put huge pressure on local life and services. West Kerry, like many heavily touristed areas, has seen a boom in second homes and holiday rental properties, at the same time as a housing crisis for local residents and workers. Positives for many sectors have been accompanied by issues of inequality and ageing: alongside booming tourism and a critical lack of accommodation, Dingle is now the oldest town in Ireland. So how can we balance the benefits of tourism with the social needs of communities?

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ABAIR GAEILGE

‍Doireann Ní Ghlacáin PhD, Craoltóir, Ceoltóir agus Podchraoltóir ar How to Gael  // Broadcaster, Musician, Co-Host, How to Gael Podcast, SexyTadhg, Ealaíontóir // Artist, Edel Ní Loibhéad, Léiritheoir agus Craoltóir // Producer and Broadcaster

‍Á chur i láthair ag // Hosted by Billy Mag Fhloinn, Béaloideasóir, Seandálaí, Ealaíontóir, agus Ceoltóir // Folklorist, Archaeologist, Artist and Musician 

Beidh dreas ceoil ó SexyTadhg // With a performance from SexyTadhg

Tá ‘athbheochan chultúrtha’ na hÉireann i mbéal an phobail le déanaí agus í á plé go fuinniúil bhríomhar i measc an phobail.  Gan amhras tá aird an tsaoil mhóir ar chreag bheag s’againne i lár na farraige le tamall anuas, agus go fiú na hinnill chuardaigh féin, deir siad go bhfuil Éire ar ceann de na cinn scríbe is tarraingtí ar domhan de réir rogha an phobail. Tá ról agus tionchar lárnach ag an nGaeilge i ré órga seo na n-ealaíon Éireannacha, rud is léir ón dóigh a bhfuil saothar Gaeilge ag dul ó neart go neart i ngach réimse ealaíon idir scannánaíocht, teilifís, ceol, amharclannaíocht, agus na taibhealaíona. Tá  dlúth-cheangal agus teagmháil domhain leis an nGaeilge á gcothú i rith an ama ag lear mór daoine, ó ghlúin go glúin, anseo agus thar sáile. Cad tá ag spreagadh na hathbheochana seo? Cén tionchar atá an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr comhaimseartha ag imirt ar a chéile? Cén chiall is féidir a bhaint as seo, cén léargas atá againn ar thodhchaí na Gaeilge agus ar a bhfuil i ndán di? Cé hiad pobal na Gaeilge sa bhliain 2024 agus cén ról atá ag an nGaeilge i saol an lae inniu?

There has been much excited and lively commentary and discourse in recent times on the subject of Ireland's ‘cultural renaissance’; the international spotlight undoubtedly has been beaming brightly upon our small Atlantic rock, and a cursory Google search will confirm that ‘Ireland is so hot right now’. At the heart of this heralded golden era of contemporary Irish art, creativity and culture is the Irish language. Evidenced by the unprecedented success of recent Irish language film, television, music, theatre and performance art, there are signs of a new groundswell of engagement with our native language which crosses generations and continents. What has led to this fateful moment for the Irish language? How has contemporary culture invigorated the Irish language? What does this signify as it evolves and develops? What does the future hold for "the language"? Who are the Irish speakers of 2024 and what role does Irish fulfil today? This panel of creative Irish voices explores all this and more through the first language of Ireland. 

‍This conversation will be conducted completely in Irish with simultaneous translation accessible via translation headsets. Please note, there are a limited number of headsets which will be given out on a first come first served basis.

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‍LUNCH

Courtesy of our venue partner The Skellig Hotel, served in the Coastguard Restaurant

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PARKS AND RECREATION?: HOW DO NATIONAL PARKS FIT INTO THE NATIONAL PICTURE?

‍Olive Heffernan, Science Journalist and Author of High Seas: Ambition, Power and Greed on the Unclaimed Ocean, Aodh Ó Domhnaill, CEO of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, (IFPO) and Ella McSweeney, Broadcaster and Journalist

‍Hosted by Christopher Kissane — Historian, Writer and Host of Ireland’s Edge — The Podcast  

This year has seen the creation of Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí, Ireland's eighth and newest National Park. Encompassing 28,000 hectares of land and sea, covering landmarks including the Conor Pass, Mount Brandon, and the Blasket Islands, it is the largest National Park in the country, and a key site for the protection of biodiversity. But how will the creation of the park affect the lives and livelihoods of those in the region, from fishermen to farmers to residents? And what role do National Parks have in the delicate balancing act between conservation and sustainability?

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AESTHETICS OF EVIDENCE: FORENSIC ARCHITECTURE

‍Joshua Richards, Researcher, Forensic Architecture, in conversation with ‍Una Mullally, Journalist and Writer.

Forensic Architecture is a pioneering interdisciplinary research agency based at Goldsmiths University of London that investigates state and corporate violence. Their work operates across human rights, journalism, architecture, art and aesthetics, academia and the law, and has been admitted in legal processes in jurisdictions around the world, including in the US, the UK, Germany, Greece, and Israel. What differentiates Forensic Architecture’s work from that of other investigative organisations, however, is that it operates as art as well as evidence; their work has been showcased in museums and galleries around the world and shortlisted for the Turner prize. Having previously trained in architecture, Joshua Richards is a researcher at Forensic Architecture, using spatial reconstruction and analysis to investigate state violence. His work includes ___. At Ireland’s Edge, Joshua speaks with journalist and writer Una Mullally about Forensic Architecture’s innovative work, the battle for truth in a post-truth era, putting forensics in the public domain of art and media, and why this work is more necessary and more vulnerable than ever.

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"STAY TUNED": THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING AND MEDIA

‍Kevin Bakhurst, Director General, RTÉ, in conversation with ‍Christopher Kissane — Historian, Writer and Host of Ireland’s Edge — The Podcast

2023 was a momentous year in Irish broadcasting. For RTÉ the national broadcaster it was its most turbulent year in decades. A series of bruising PAC hearings on foot of revelations to do with presenter's and executive remuneration raised serious issues about governance and public accountability at the station. RTÉ had fallen from a preeminent position in the public's approval of and reliance on the broadcaster through the Covid emergency to its lowest ever rating. It now fell to its newly appointed Director General Kevin Bakhurst to steer the organisation through these storms both internally with RTÉ staff and to restore the public's trust in the national broadcaster while attempting to ensure that the government would be willing to continue its funding and support into the future. In what will be one of the most thought provoking and lively conversations at this year’s Ireland’s Edge, Diarmaid Ferriter and Kevin Bakhurst will discuss the challenges faced and now facing RTE and Irish public service broadcasting and media. Issues of financial security, political control, and online culture and national identity in the face of all pervasive global media. The stakes could not be higher.

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"DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT": IN CONVERSATION WITH BLINNE NÍ GHRÁLAIGH

Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC in conversation with David Kenny, Professor in Law and Fellow at Trinity College Dublin

Born to Irish parents and raised in London, Irish civil rights advocate, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh’s courtroom career began on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Derry, first as legal observer and then as part of the Belfast-based team representing the families of those killed and injured. As a barrister she has frequently been nominated for leading awards, and has worked on many high-profile cases of significant importance to civil rights and justice in the broadest sense. Blinne represented Conradh na Gaeilge before a Coventry court in the ‘Irish Headstone Case’. During the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, she represented those prosecuted for toppling a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol. More recently she represented South Africa in their International Court of Justice case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. At Ireland's Edge, she speaks to Professor David Kenny, professor and head of the Law School at Trinity College Dublin, about law, human rights, and the pursuit of justice.

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