The fact that the Merriman Summer School was able to discuss "these islands" as a viable region was an indication of how greatly the political and cultural environment had changed in the last 20 years, Ms Miriam Hederman O'Brien, Chancellor of the University of Limerick, said at the weekend.
Delivering the opening address to this year's summer school, Ms Hederman O'Brien said it would be strange if we were to ignore the part that changes in Europe had played in this transformation. "Membership of the European communities has given Ireland self confidence as well as access to resources and to a wider field of influence," she said.
The theme of this year's summer school is "Five Territories, these islands at the turn of the millennium."
One of the highlights of this year's school will be a lecture on Wednesday by the poet Seamus Heaney. His paper will deal with "Degrees of Separation: the Irish poet and Britain," and on Thursday evening the poet will give a reading.