Australian Parliamentary Delegation commends UCD for strong tradition of teaching and research in Australian history
A recent visit by an Australian Parliamentary delegation to UCD re-affirmed the long established links between the university and Australia. While visiting UCD Australian Studies Centre, the delegation took the opportunity to view the collection of Australian materials at UCD Archives and to meet with Professor Mary E Daly, Principal of the College of Arts and Celtic Studies, and Professor Hilary Carey, Keith Cameron Professor of Australian History to discuss future developments for Australian Studies at UCD.
Left to Right: Senator Alan Ferguson, Mr Philip Barresi, MP, Professor
Mary Daly, Senator Ursula Stephens.
Senator Alan Ferguson led the delegation whose deputy leader, Senator Ursula Mary Stephens, is one of two Irish-born members of the Australian federal parliament. Senator Stephens was born in Wicklow in 1954, and migrated to Australia as a child with her extensive family. Hosted by the Oireachtas, the nine-member delegation was made up of parliamentarians from both houses and included representatives from three major Australian parties.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Senator Ferguson reflected on the nature of Australia’s links to Ireland and UCD. He explained how almost one third of all Australians claim Irish ancestry, which makes Australia the most Irish of all societies outside of Ireland itself. He also spoke of the strong tradition of teaching and research in Australian history at UCD that dates back to the early 1970s.
Addressing the delegation, Professor Hilary Carey, Keith Cameron Professor of Australian History, signalled that Australian history courses were popular with both Irish and visiting American JYA students, and that exchange agreements with Australian universities have made it possible for increasing numbers of Australian students to study at UCD and for Irish students to take courses in Australia. She also outlined the Australian Studies research seminar and conference program hosted by UCD Humanities Institute of Ireland.
Left to Right: Mr Philip Barresi, MP, Senator Gavin Marshall,
Professor Mary Daly, Principal, College of Arts and Celtic Studies,
Senator Ursula Stephens, Professor Hilary Carey, Keith Cameron
Professor of Australian History, Senator Alan Ferguson, Senator Andrew
Bartlett, Mr Kerry Bartlett, MP.
Introducing the delegation to a display in the UCD Archives of Australian material in the papers of Eamonn de Valera and Frank Aiken, Professor Mary E Daly, Principal, UCD College of Arts and Celtic Studies, stressed the significance of political contact between Australia and Ireland in the post-war era. Ongoing research into Australian history at UCD reflected the depth of the existing relationship between the two countries and the quality of the resources available at UCD for Australian Studies.
Ending their visit, the delegation acknowledged the significance of the Global Irish Institute as a base for ongoing international research on the Irish overseas and they agreed to seek Australian government support for Australian Studies at UCD.