Annual Conference of the Irish History Students Assocation (Comhaltas na gCumann Staire)

Queen's University Belfast

9-10 March 2007

The IHSA (CCS) is a cross-border association for students of history in Irish universities. Submissions are invited on all topics from postgraduate and undergraduate students for this year's conference. We also welcome students from outside of Ireland working on Irish topics.

Abstracts of no more than 300 words for papers of approx. 20 minutes should be submitted to email. Please also include your contact details and a summary of your research interests.

The closing date for abstracts is Friday, 23rd February 2007.

Download the 'Call For Papers' poster here.

Download the Conference Programme here.

GETTING TO QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY

The main entrance to Queen’s University is on University Road, in South Belfast.

To get to Queen’s, the following travel information may be useful. Since many attendees will connect through Dublin, special attention has been given to Belfast-Dublin routes.

Please select your preferred mode of transport: bus, train, or plane. If you are travelling by car, please be aware that there are major road-works in progress in Dundalk, Newry and in Belfast itself; please plan accordingly.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation in Belfast is vast and varied. A full list of places to stay in Belfast may be found at www.gotobelfast.com, and attendees are invited to choose according to their own tastes and budgets.

To assist those who may be unfamiliar with Belfast, we have compiled a list of accommodation in the University area.

They are listed alphabetically, and are not endorsed by the conference organisers, but rather provided for your information and convenience.

Special rates and discounts:

Accommodation should be booked by attendees individually, not through the conference organisers. We have negotiated reduced rates, where possible (see marked with asterisk), and are more than happy to advise on any queries. Please do not hesitate to contact us at email.

In ascending order of expense:

Hostels: £9 - £12 per person, dormitories

* Ark Hostel
44 University Street, (Cnr Botanic Ave), Belfast BT7 1HB

+44 (0)28 90329626

Dormitories from £10.90 per person per night.

* Arnie’s Backpackers
63 Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast BT9 6AX (opposite Queen’s University)

+44 (0)28 90242867

4-bed dormitories £12 per person, 8-bed dormitories £9 per person.

University Accommodation: £15 per person, single rooms

* Queen’s Elms Village, 78 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5BW

+44 (0)29 90974525

Approx. £15 per night (single room, shared bathroom and shower).
For more information, please see website
Please book well IN ADVANCE as numbers are limited.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can present at the IHSA conference?
The conference is open to all students of history at Irish universities, at both postgraduate and undergraduate level. The theme is open, so that students may present research on any topic, in an atmosphere of debate and discussion.

We also welcome students from outside of Ireland working on Irish topics.

Can I present a paper on a non-Irish research subject?
A good many papers inevitably centre on Irish subject-matters. However, topics are by no means confined to Irish history. Any student of history in an Irish university may present a paper, and we have had papers on Russian, French, German, American and African subjects in the past, to name but a few.

Where can I get accommodation?
A full discussion of accommodation options in Belfast is included in the ‘Accommodation’ section of this guide.

What should I do if I want to present a paper?
Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words to email on or before Friday, 23rd February 2007. Please also include your contact details and a brief summary of your research interests.

How long should my paper be?
No more than 20 minutes IN TOTAL.

What if my paper runs to 25 minutes?
Your chairperson will be forced to call time, and the session will move on to the next speaker. The panels are tightly scheduled, as is the conference as a whole. The cumulative effect of papers running over time, even by only a few minutes apiece, is immense. Please have consideration for your chairperson, your audience and your fellow speakers and keep to time!

How will I know if my paper has been accepted?
All applicants will receive a reply AFTER 23rd February 2007.

I will be using MS Powerpoint or acetates. Who should I notify?
The co-ordinators will contact you to inquire as to your technical needs in advance of the conference. All details should be sent to email, as before.

How much will the conference cost to attend?
The registration fee is to be confirmed. Incidental costs will vary according to the attendee’s tastes; please see the ‘Getting to Belfast’ and ‘Accommodation’ sections of this guide for examples of the price ranges available.

Conference Co-ordinators: Mary Clarke (email), Elaine Doyle (email)