UCD College of Arts and Humanities Annual Lecture 2025/26

Tugann Coláiste na nEalaíon agus na nDaonnachtaí UCD cuireadh croíúil duit,i gcomhpháirtle hInstitiúid Clinton UCD, freastal ar Léacht Bhliantúil an Choláiste

Titled‘Mohawk Irish: William Johnson and the Iroquois’, the lecturewill be delivered by journalist, writer and UCD alumnus, Fintan O’Toole, at the newly reimagined Trapdoor (former DramSoc theatre). Places are limited and booking is essential. The lecture will be followed by a reception.

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Synopsis

William Johnson came from a Catholic family in County Meath that lost its land after the Jacobite wars. He ended up in the Mohawk Valley, became an Iroquois chief, played a pivotal role in the defeat of the French in North America and carved out an extraordinary multicultural world in upstate New York. As the British Empire's sole go-between with the indigenous nations, he tried to establish his family as the essential mediators between European and native America. In this talk Fintan O'Toole reflects on Johnson's practice of cultural fluidity and ability to move between worlds.

Biography

The award-winning journalist Fintan O’Toole is one of Ireland’s most influential public intellectuals and a critical voice on politics and the arts. His writing career began with In Dublin as the theatre critic, a role he later took up with The Sunday Tribune, The New York Daily News and The Irish Times.

In 1988 after a period as editor of Magill, he joined The Irish Times and his column has featured for 30 years. He has written books on theatre, politics, biography and cultural history. Fintan O'Toole was the UCD Alumni Awardee in Arts & Humanities 2018.

This event is the first in a series organised by UCD Clinton Institute to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.