I have long bemoaned the fact that across the years of the American Civil War sesquicentennial there has been no Irish conference or series of talks on the Irish experience of the American Civil War. Thankfully that is set to change this year. I am delighted to say that the prestigious Hay Festival in Kells, Co. Meath is dedicating one day of their programme to the Irish in the American Civil War. It promises to be a day to remember for all of those interested in the Irish diaspora, Irish emigration or the 200,000 Irishmen who participated in this conflict. The day-long series of 45 minute lectures will take place on the Carmel Naughton Stage in Kells Church of Ireland on Thursday 25th June. The full line up (which I am honoured to be a part of) can be found below, and you can purchase your tickets here. I hope to see some of you there!

10am: Damian Shiels
Damian Shiels is author of the definitive and highly influential work The Irish in the American Civil War.

11am: Glen Gendzel
American historian Glen Gendzel talks about the story of California in the American Civil War.

12pm: Robert Doyle
Robert Doyle tells the story of Carlow-born Civil War veteran Myles Keogh on the anniversary of his death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

2pm: Myles Dungan
The presenter of the RTÉ Radio 1 History Show will highlight the life of Oldcastle Civil War veteran, the author and journalist Charles Halpine, and his hilarious creation Myles O’Reilly.

3pm: Tom Bartlett
Thomas Bartlett of Aberdeen University talks about President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

4pm: David Gleeson
David Gleeson (The Green and the Gray) looks at the Irish who fought for the Confederate States of America between 1861 and 1865.