Welcome to the Geographical Society of Ireland
The Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI), the professional representative organisation of geographers in Ireland, was founded in 1934. Over eighty years later, the GSI continues to raise awareness of the value and impact of Geography in Ireland and beyond, through a diverse range of activities and collaborations.
Society members are actively engaged in enhancing the international profile of Irish geography through their engagement with the International Geographical Union (IGU), RGS-IBG, Association of American Geographers (AAG) and other international groupings.
Maedhbh Nic Lochlainn (TCD) wins USI-IRC Why Research Matters Video CompetitionPhD student at TCD, Maedhbh Nic Lochlainn, has won the award for creativity in the inaugural USI-IRC Why Research Matters Video Competition.
Maedhbh’s research (on which her award-winning video is based) investigates how activists have used social media to contest housing and water issues in Ireland since the financial crisis. Maedhbh adopts a geographical approach to understand how activist use of social media works between and across digital technologies/platforms and material places. Using a combination of digital ethnography, maps, and participatory research interviews, she is contributing new understandings of activist practices and how these involve combining digital and material tactics in pursuit of transformative social change. Maedhbh points out that the importance of this question of the geographies of digital contention or protest has been highlighted during the ongoing pandemic, in which mass protest gatherings, alternative forms of digital dissent, and their potentials and limitations have captured popular attention. She observes, “We don’t understand enough about the practicalities and implications of these practices, but they matter for how we affect change and govern contemporary societies.” Maedhbh’s award was chosen by Creative Ireland’s Sheila Deegan. The winning video can be accessed here. Latest issues of Irish GeographyThe November 2019 (52-2) issue was a special issue, edited by Cormac Walsh (Hamburg) and Gavan Rafferty (Ulster) on Brexit Geographies: Spatial Imaginaries and Relational Territorialities on the Island of Ireland. It included papers around the potential impact of Brexit in relation to a range of subjects including cross-border functional geographies (including international comparisons), PPGIS in landscape management in cross-border areas, and marine spatial planning. This is an ongoing story that will unfold over the next decade but good to get some geographical perspectives down in advance of its full implementation.
The May 2020 (53-1) issue consists of a range of articles around; modelling building energy management in Dublin, cooperative farm succession, submarine geomorphology using remote sensing and a review paper outlining research on marine plastics at a global scale. There is also an extended book review on the multi-volume Cambridge History of Ireland from a historical geographers perspective. The editorial and book review already available with remaining articles to follow online in next two weeks. Geographers Respond to Covid-19
Also, highlighting the importance of knowledge gleaned from spatial analysis is the research by Gerald Mills et. al. ‘Making sense of publicly available data on COVID-19 in Ireland’. ish Geographers, in collaboration with others, have made a number of contributions to our understanding of the pandemic, the challenges it poses, its impacts on communities and the implications of management strategies. In doing so, the significance of space, place and location, as well as spatial mobility and interaction as factors that underpin how the pandemic works, has been highlighted. Ronan Foleys’s editorial in the most recent edition of Irish Geography ‘Geography and the Covid-19 Crisis in Ireland’ examines these issues from a number of disciplinary perspectives. In doing so, Foley reminds us all of the fundamental importance of geographical knowledge.
Also, highlighting the importance of knowledge gleaned from spatial analysis is the research by Gerald Mills et. al. ‘Making sense of publicly available data on COVID-19 in Ireland’. Involving a collaboration between geographers and medical practitioners, this work draws on publicly available data to examine the impact and pace of the pandemic as it waxed and waned unevenly across the country. Finally, McCarthy and MacCarron’s work on the spatial analysis of the death notices published on RIP.ie (which has received significant attention in the media) highlights the counties most affected by the saddest impacts of the virus, whilst also reminding us of the real people, families and communities that lie behind the statistics. Our condolences to all those who have lost loved ones during this crisis.
Images above: (top) shows the reduction traffic levels in response to the lockdown (supplied by G. Mills) and (below) shows deaths as recorded on RIP.ie (supplied by G.McCarthy) .
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Dr Susan Pike (DCU) has been appointed President of the Geographical Association. Susan works in Geography Teacher Education at DCU's Institute of Education, where she has coordinated Geography Education for 20 years. As a geographer, she also contributes to a range of other areas including early childhood education, as well as Masters options in Climate Change Education and Poverty and Social Inclusion in Education.
The Geographical Association (GA) is the leading subject association for teachers of geography. Its mission is to further geographical knowledge and understanding through education, with the vision of being a 'vibrant and diverse subject community inspiring high-quality geographical teaching and learning'. From its roots at a meeting to exchange lantern slides 128 years ago, it now has members in more than 60 countries and strong links with geographical organisations around the world. Having a GSI member as president will no doubt increase the visibility of the GSI internationally, and strengthen our links with Geographers and teachers of Geography across varied institutional sectors. Susan's chosen presidential theme this year is 'Compassionate Geographies', clearly a theme that is has relevance on lots of levels. New Research: Memories of Droughts in IrelandThe drought of Summer 2018 reminded us of how vulnerable Irish society is to water shortages, from local farms to businesses, wells to water supplies and even biodiversity. In a country renowned for rainfall we often forget that in the past Ireland has experienced some significant drought periods, particularly in the 1990s, 1970s and before. Funded by the Irish Research Council, Geographers from UCD and Maynooth University are looking to document local experiences and coping strategies that were implemented by individuals during past drought events and to identify lessons that can be learned from local experiences. So, if you have stories of your experience of drought you would like to share, know of weather records or diaries that you think may be of interest, or would simply like to find out more, please visit:
www.ucd.ie/droughtmemories Appointment of New President to the GSIThe Society is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Kathy Reilly (School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies, NUI Galway) as the new President of the Geographical Society of Ireland. Kathy takes over from Dr Adrian Kavanagh (Department of Geography, Maynooth University). The Society welcomes Kathy to the role and extends its gratitude to Adrian for his tireless work and dedication to the Geography in Ireland over the course of the past four years.
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Postponement of the 52nd Conference of Irish Geographers (CIG)
In light of the ongoing public health emergency across Ireland and the wider world, the Geographical Society of Ireland the Department of Geography TCD regret to announce the postponement of the 52nd Conference of Irish Geographers (CIG).
The CIG was due to be held in Trinity College Dublin from May 21st to 23rd 2020. We cannot guarantee that a venue will be available for the May 2020 dates scheduled and not to postpone would violate the public health warnings issued by the Irish government and college authorities. With the agreement of our colleagues in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick we are looking forward to Trinity College Dublin hosting the conference in May 2021.
Arrangements will now be made to reimburse all those who have registered at this point, unless you wish us to retain your registration fee until the rescheduled event is arranged. You will have received an email from the CIG registration desk at Keynote PCO, who will administer refunds or your request to retain your booking for 2021.
The TCD Committee (chaired by Cian O’Callaghan) and the Geographical Society of Ireland would like to thank Keynote for their assistance in this postponement and we look forward to continuing our joint work with them into 2021 and beyond.
Please note: an EGM of the GSI will be arranged in autumn to elect new committee members, notwithstanding any further public health restrictions in force at that time.
The GSI Committee is sending all members its best at this time, look after one another.
The CIG was due to be held in Trinity College Dublin from May 21st to 23rd 2020. We cannot guarantee that a venue will be available for the May 2020 dates scheduled and not to postpone would violate the public health warnings issued by the Irish government and college authorities. With the agreement of our colleagues in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick we are looking forward to Trinity College Dublin hosting the conference in May 2021.
Arrangements will now be made to reimburse all those who have registered at this point, unless you wish us to retain your registration fee until the rescheduled event is arranged. You will have received an email from the CIG registration desk at Keynote PCO, who will administer refunds or your request to retain your booking for 2021.
The TCD Committee (chaired by Cian O’Callaghan) and the Geographical Society of Ireland would like to thank Keynote for their assistance in this postponement and we look forward to continuing our joint work with them into 2021 and beyond.
Please note: an EGM of the GSI will be arranged in autumn to elect new committee members, notwithstanding any further public health restrictions in force at that time.
The GSI Committee is sending all members its best at this time, look after one another.
In Memory of Michael J. Bannon, formerly professor of planning at UCDGographers, especially those of a certain age, will be sorry to learn that Professor Michael J. Bannon, formerly of the UCD planning department, died on 18 December 2019. A UCD Geography graduate of the mid-1960s, Michael was a long-time advocate and exponent of the links between Geography and Physical, especially regional, Planning. For Obituary by Arnold Horner See here
Geographical Society of Ireland Celebrates it's 85th Birthday This month the Society celebrates its 85th birthday. Some ninety people attended the first meeting convened in Academy House, Dublin in 1934. Since then, the Society and its members have made significant contributions to the study/promotion of geography in Ireland.
In Memory of Gordon Herries Davies (1932-2019)Gordon Davies, otherwise Gordon Leslie Herries Davies (he favoured the latter form from the late 1970s), who died on 22 February 2019 was one of the most significant figures ‘doing Geography’ in Ireland during the second half of the last century. More....
EUGEO 2019
This year Geography at NUI Galway hosted the 7th EUGEO Congress in conjunction with the 51st Conference of Irish Geographers, in Galway City in the west of Ireland. The conference took place over four days (May 15th – 18th 2019) and the theme for the 2019 conference was Re-Imagining Europe's Future Society and Landscapes. The theme focuses on the centrality of the concepts of society and landscape within the Discipline of Geography and the importance of the relationship that exists between the physical and cultural landscape. Over 500 delegates attended the conference representing an astonishing 37 countries.
Save GeographyIn response to the changed position of Geography within the Junior cycle curriculum The Association of Geography Teachers of Ireland has created petition, calling for the restoration of Geography as a core subject on the Junior Cycle curriculum. If you can, please support this petition.
Year of Geography 2019
2019 has been declared the "Year of Geography". This initiative will focusing on different places/counties and different geographical themes each week during 2019 to raise the profile of Geography in Ireland both at a national and at a local level. Nine reasons why geography mattersRTE Brainstorm recently published an article by By Anna Davies, Irish Research Council and Frances Fahy, NUI Galway outlining why geography is so important!
Does Geography have a future?
At CIG 2018 Shelagh Waddington from Maynooth University outlined some of the issues about the removal of Geography from the core curriculum of the Junior Cycle, Read more in her blog post Does Geography have a future? |
Night of Geography 2020The “Night of Geography" or "GeoNight" 2020 will be held on the 3rd of April this year. GeoNight was initiated by the French Geographical Society (Comité National Français de Géographie (CNFG) in 2017 in order to increase the recognition of geographical knowledge among the public. Last year saw a host of events from societies across Europe as well as Africa and South America. This year we encourage participation from Irish geographical communities, so if you are hosting events do let us know.
34th International Geographical CongressThe deadline for the 34th International Geographical Congress to be held in Istanbul (17-21 August 2020) had been extended to January 28th. The theme of the conference is 'Geography: Bridging the Continents'
Registration and Themed Session Submissions for CIG 2020 open this weekThe 25th Annual Conference of Irish Geographers will take place in UCD from 21st to 23rd of May 2020. Registration and themed session submissions open this week. See more
New followers on TwitterThanks to all who participated in the 2019 Year of Geography initiative. Its success can be seen not only in its coverage in the local media but also in the increased traffic on twitter and other forms of social media. Followers on Twitter have increased from 408 on January 1st 2019 to 1,815 today! As can be seen from the diagram below (produced by Adrian Kavanagh) each month saw new followers!
Donegal features as the final county on the GSI's Year of Geography InitatiativeDecember sees Donegal feature as the final county on the very successful Year of Geography social media initiative, the objective of which has been to better highlight Geography across the island of Ireland and to better illustrate to the Irish public the work that geographers do. Follow #DonegalWeek in to find Tweets about people's favourite Donegal places, interesting place names, maps of everything from the county's coastal heritage its transport network, border connections and border passes and much more.
Prof. Des Gillmor makes a strong case for Geography in letter published in The Irish Times.Prof. Des Gillmor (Trinity College Dublin) published a letter in the Irish Times outlining how students see that geography is of ‘vital relevance to their lives and to the world today’, that twice as many students study geography at Leaving Cert than study history, and that geography is ‘the only subject which deals comprehensively’ with contemporary challenges such as climate change. Read the letter here
Upcoming Exhibition and Symposium
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Membership
Membership of the society is open to anyone with an interest in environmental and geographical issues. Benefits of membership include; - A subscription to the international peer-reviewed journal Irish Geography, - Participation in field trips and events sponsored by the society - Access to a network of individuals and organisations with similar interests. - Information on geographical events in Ireland and overseas. |
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