The summer school was founded in 1996 by Dr Tony Murray, who has taught English Literature and Irish Studies for many years and is also Curator of the Archive of the Irish in Britain. Tony has published widely on literary and cultural representations of migration and diaspora and his book, London Irish Fictions: Narrative, Diaspora and Identity was published by Liverpool University Press in 2012.
The summer school provided an informal but informed setting for students to read and discuss contemporary literature. It was also an opportunity to explore the different relationships writers have with place and identity, whether born in Ireland or of Irish descent. How has the experience of migration influenced their work? How in turn has their writing helped express and mediate Irish culture and Irishness at home and abroad?
During its 25-year history, the summer school has hosted over 90 different writers including Edna O'Brien, Eimear McBride, Matthew Sweeney, Emma Donoghue, Ronan Bennett, Martina Evans, Maurice Leitch, Julia O'Faolain, Shane Connaughton, Anne Devlin, Blake Morrison, Polly Devlin, John Healy and Kit de Waal.
Although no longer running as a short course, the Irish Writers in London Summer School has been an important part of the University’s history and holds a special place among the Irish community in London.
First established in 1996, the Irish Writers in London Summer School celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021. You can watch a video about the history of the Summer School.
A group of participants taking part in the Irish Writers Summer School workshops.
Summer School
