Naturally, the more of a country you see, the more you'll come to know it. This is why since my arrival in Hungary as Irish Ambassador in August 2019, I set myself the target of visiting at least one Hungarian region, town or city outside Budapest every month. While the COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately curtailed my ability to fulfil this promise, I am delighted that in the last two years, I have been able to visit every major city and town in Hungary and far more besides.
A major part of any visit to a region, town or city, in addition to calling on the mayor, the Chamber of Commerce and other economic related meetings, is to visit the University, and in particular the Irish Studies Departments, their scholars and students. The study of Irish literature, history, heritage and politics is a great way to not only gain a better understanding of Ireland but an opportunity to build cultural relations and people-to-people links between Ireland and Hungary. As the Irish Government’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025 states: “Irish studies programs can play a vital role in developing an enhanced awareness of Irish life and culture among the next generation of the diaspora and in the development of the affinity diaspora.” This is why I am anxious to ensure Irish Studies programs in Hungary are supported, nurtured and sustained for the next generation.
Therefore, in my travels throughout Hungary, I want to recognize those institutions and individuals that do so much to keep the flame of Irish Studies burning brightly in Hungary and work to pass on the torch to a new generation of scholars and affinity diaspora. In my most recent visits to Eger and Debrecen, and in 2020, to Pécs, I made sure to meet the scholars and students in the Károly Eszterházy Catholic University, the University of Debrecen and the University of Pécs. I had the pleasure of providing a lecture on contemporary Ireland to the students at all three universities. These visits to the Universities are not only a way to connect with those interested in Irish studies and Ireland but are also an opportunity to explore the strengthening of links between universities in Hungary and universities in Ireland. Irish studies can in fact act as a conduit for building those relationships and can lead to partnerships in areas and sectors beyond Irish studies.
The Fifth Province
The Embassy of Ireland also plays our part in promoting and sustaining Irish Studies in Hungary. Every year, we host an Irish Studies Scholars Forum, which brings together all the universities, institutions, societies and scholars working on Irish studies and Irish culture in Hungary. This is an opportunity to gather all the activities and events happening in Hungary related to Irish studies and to encourage collaborations while also finding opportunities for the Embassy to support these activities. One such recent initiative has been the establishment of ‘The Fifth Province’, a website that brings together everything Irish studies and Irish culture related in Hungary, from events, lectures, conferences, publications and interviews, and to bring these activities to as wide an audience as possible. Cleverly, the name refers to the fact that Ireland is made up of four provinces – Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster – and now there is a virtual fifth province right here in Hungary. Anyone with an interest in Irish culture and wants to know more and even to get involved, I would encourage you to visit www.thefifthprovince.hu.
In addition, since 2014, and with the help of Irish companies in Hungary and the Irish Hungarian Business Circle, the Embassy has been running an Irish Studies Bursary Program. This program enables two Hungarian students of Irish Studies to travel to Ireland to undertake research or attend conferences or summer schools. Such a program is in recognition of those in Hungary committed to Irish Studies and such visits to Ireland will hopefully help sustain this commitment and encourage others to pursue their interest in Irish studies. Thus, we aim to sustain Irish studies in Hungary.
Promotion through culture
Of course, Irish cultural events are also an ideal way of promoting an interest in Irish studies. During my recent visit to Eger and Debrecen, I was honored to open an exceptional exhibition on the life and work of one of best loved Irish poets and Nobel Prize winner in literature, Seamus Heaney. The exhibition, entitled “Listen Now Again”, is the product of a partnership between Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Library of Ireland. Seamus Heaney transforms the ordinary world into extraordinary words. Few poets have captured the ear and imagination of the world like Seamus Heaney and with this exhibition, I hope that more students will be inspired to study Ireland and our rich literary heritage. The exhibition also complements the annual Seamus Heaney memorial lecture, which is organized by the Széchenyi Academy of Arts and Letters, and proudly supported by the Irish Embassy.
Literary centenary
2022 will be a big year for Irish Studies in Hungary. Next year, we will have the most important literary centenary in the history of the Irish State. February 2nd, 2022 marks the centenary of the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses, the defining literary monument of the 20th century, and the single most influential Irish artwork ever produced. Of course, Hungary has a strong link with Ulysses. The father of Leopold Bloom (or Virág, the Hungarian word for flower), the hero of Joyce’s Ulysses, hailed from Szombathely and each year around June 16, this city celebrates Blooms Day with a festival, which the Embassy has proudly supported over the years. The Embassy will be working with the city of Szombathely again in 2022, as well as with the James Joyce Society in Hungary and the Irish Studies scholars and institutions to develop a program of events throughout Hungary to mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of this seminal book in the history of modern literature.
I look forward to continuing my travels throughout Hungary and in doing so, recognizing the contribution that Irish Studies makes to deepening the understanding and respect between Ireland and Hungary and widening the opportunities to strengthen our deeply rooted ties. And, by way of a very enjoyable by-product, visiting the wine regions of Hungary and enjoying what they have to offer – of course, all in the interests of building stronger bilateral relations!


Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Top 5 Articles
L'Oréal Appoints New Managing Director in the Region January 6, 2025
Gedeon Richter to Sell Chinese Biosimilar Product in Europe October 9, 2024
2024 Sustainable Future Awards Presented October 10, 2024
New President at the American Chamber of Commerce December 11, 2024
Minister of Economy Praises Hungarian Tourism December 10, 2024
No comment yet. Be the first!