Discovering Thomas Moore: Ireland in nineteenth-century Europe

Find out more about Moore! A new exhibition at the Royal Irish Academy Library, in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast.

240 years ago in 1779, Bard of Ireland, Thomas Moore, was born on 28 May in Dublin. During the nineteenth century, Moore would become one of Ireland’s best known ambassadors by means of his prose, poetry and above all his lyrics for the Irish melodies and National airs.  His influence on contemporary European musicians is well attested as is the popularity of his music on both sides of the Atlantic.  But Moore was a trained classical scholar who researched his literary and historical writings thoroughly. Curated by musicologist Dr Sarah McCleave, School of Arts, English & Languages, QUB, this exhibition will expose the breadth of Moore’s research and writing about Ireland and will explore Moore’s role as an Irish writer with an international reputation in positioning Ireland within Europe through cultural exchange. It will also address contemporary European fascination with the orient and Moore’s influential role in depicting eastern culture, particularly via his hugely successful work, Lalla Rookh, read throughout Europe and adapted for musical performance.

We are particularly pleased to acknowledge the co-operation of our Queen’s University academic and library colleagues in bringing this exhibition and accompanying lecture series together.

Read the latest Blog post from the ERIN project team. 

Lunchtime Lecture Series

9 October, 2019: ‘Re-imagining Moore’ by Prof. Harry White, MRIA, School of Music, UCD

30 October, 2019: ‘Thomas Moore in Paris’ by Dr Tríona O’Hanlon, Independent Scholar

6 November, 2019: ‘Genius of the East?  Moore’s Orientalism’ by Dr Daniel Roberts, School of Arts, English & Languages, QUB

13 November, 2019: ‘Sentiment and song in Moore’s Irish melodies and Lalla Rookh’ by Dr Sarah McCleave, School of Arts, English & Languages, QUB

20 November, 2019: ‘The politicization of the harp through Moore’s Irish melodies’ by Prof. Úna Hunt, Conservatory of Music and Drama, TU Dublin

Exhibition opening hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-4.30pm, except on conference days. See Library landing page for exceptions. Free admission. No individual booking required. Group bookings please contact: library@ria.ie / 01-6090620