Editors Comment
The Empty Chair
As a member of the Irish Diaspora I am glad to be the Contexts editor at the time of the Dublin Summer School. We have some great presentations from Christine Christie, Jane Clarke, Anne Aiyegbusi and Alfonso D’Auria as well as commentaries from participants Robert, Ishani and Fiore about their experience.
I thought it necessary to include the voices of those who couldn’t attend – those on both sides of the border who suffered at the hands of institutions, both state and religious. The empty chair bears witness to their struggles and suffering. I include an article by Theresa Flacke who worked with victims of sexual abuse in Galway where state and religious institutions turned a blind eye to the horrors for many years. Please take time to watch the videos and also enjoy the music of Sting.
Over the summer I came to the decision to resign from the GASi management committee and this means I must also relinquish the role of editor of Contexts. The December edition will be my last publication as editor.
I feel privileged to be in contact with so many individuals in GASi through the role. Thank you for all your generous contributions. Thank you to Meri Rizzi who took on the role of Art and Poetry editor, to Malcolm Peterson as the Book Review editor, Susannah Vosmer for commitment to the research column and to Carla Penna, Carmen O’Leary and Rachel Abramowicz for continuing work on the dictionary, and last but not least you, the readers who this newsletter is for.
If you are interested in taking up the role of editor of Contexts, please do get in touch with David Glyn. It’s a great experience.
Thank you
Addendum
Following discussions with the members of the current management committee (MC) I have decided to remain on the MC and continue my work as Editor of Contexts. If you think you might like to collaborate on the publication and development of the newsletter do get in touch with either me or David Glyn.