RECOMMENDATION FROM MARY McCay

     On February 25 and 26, 2002, Lorcan Collins gave two talks at Loyola University, sponsored by the English Department and the Biever Guest Lecture Series. His first talk, advertised throughout the New Orleans community, was extremely well attended. More people showed up than could be accommodated in the space we had reserved, so many sat in the aisles and listened to a very well prepared and charmingly delivered talk on the 1916 Easter Uprising. Lorcan interspersed his talk with a slide presentation of the key figures and sites of the Rising. The question and answer period at the end of the talk was lively and very helpful for the audience. After the talk, several members of the New Orleans community called me to thank me for providing such a fascinating and engaging speaker. One person claimed that he had been confused by the events in Ireland, starting with the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence, the Civil War, the Free State, and then the Republic, but that Lorcan spoke with him after the formal talk and clarified many issues for him. Everyone was really pleased with the evening.

     The next day, Lorcan gave a talk on Neil Jordan's film, Michael Collins, for the benefit of Loyola students. Again, the room was packed. Lorcan showed clips from the movie, explained the historical context, discussed historical vagaries, and outlined the way the movie worked to reinstate Collins as one of the key figures in Irish independence. The students, many of whom knew very little about Irish history, were really engaged in the talk, and several commented that Lorcan's talk made the movie so much more meaningful for them. I use this film in my Irish film class, so I have done a lot of research on it, but Lorcan taught me things I never realized about the film, the period, and the political intrigue depicted in the film.

     Lorcan also spent time with small groups of students discussing Irish history and literature, and all agreed that the two days they had with someone so completely committed to his subject was really motivating for them. They wanted to learn more about Ireland and about the historical events that are still having an impact on contemporary Irish politics and culture. The students were unanimous in their judgement that Lorcan was one of the best Biever lecturers in many years, and I am happy that the English department was able to co-sponsor such an engaging and committed speaker.

     Any group interested in Irish history and politics or Irish literature and culture would be very happy with a series of lectures by Lorcan Collins. I cannot recommend him highly enough for such a series of talks.

Sincerely,

Signed,

Professor and Chair, English Department
Director of the Loyola Irish Summer Program
Loyola University
6363 St Charles Avenue
Campus Box 50
New Orleans
LA 70118

Contact Mary McCay to confirm above.

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