Reflection of good relations with Embassy of Ireland
On February 4th 2019, the exhibition entitled “Strangers to Citizens” was officially opened at the student dormitory ŠD, Nitra. A great number of visitors were welcomed by the Ambassador of Ireland, Her Excellency J. E. Hilda Ó Riain and the Rector of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, prof. RNDr. Libor Vozár, CSc. Other distinguished guests and representatives of the university included the emeritus rector of the university, Dr. h. c. prof. RNDr. Daniel Kluvanec, CSc., the former mayor of Nitra, doc. Ing. Jozef Dvonč, CSc., the former director of DAB theatre in Nitra, Ján Greššo, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, doc. PaedDr. Jana Duchovičová, PhD., the Vice-Rector for International Relations, PhDr. Martina Pavlíková, PhD., the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health Care, doc. PhDr. Rastislav Rosinský, PhD., the Vice-Dean for International Relations and Development at the Faculty of Arts, prof. PaedDr. Bernard Garaj, CSc. and other members of the academic community.
The exhibition in Nitra as the first Slovak town
The Ambassador of Ireland, H. E. J. E. Hilda Ó Riain clarified the goal and content of the “Strangers to Citizens” exhibition, which takes place in Nitra as the first town in Slovakia. This exhibition was conceived and developed under the auspices of The Irish in Europe Project (based in NUI Maynooth) and the National Library of Ireland as part of the ‘Louvain 400’ celebrations in 2007. This travelling version of the exhibition – consisting of 21 pull-up posters – was developed and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to mark Ireland’s 2013 EU Presidency. The exhibition in Nitra has been organized by the Embassy of Ireland in Bratislava, in cooperation with the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra.
The Ambassador of Ireland, H. E. J. E. Hilda Ó Riain clarified the goal and content of the “Strangers to Citizens” exhibition, which takes place in Nitra as the first town in Slovakia. This exhibition was conceived and developed under the auspices of The Irish in Europe Project (based in NUI Maynooth) and the National Library of Ireland as part of the ‘Louvain 400’ celebrations in 2007. This travelling version of the exhibition – consisting of 21 pull-up posters – was developed and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to mark Ireland’s 2013 EU Presidency. The exhibition in Nitra has been organized by the Embassy of Ireland in Bratislava, in cooperation with the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra.
According to the Ambassador, ´the exhibition has toured about ten European countries and about 50 cities; lately, it has been successfully presented in Ljubljana, Slovenia. From February 4th to February 8th, the exhibition is open to the public at the student dormitory of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, particularly due to the excellent and long-standing cooperation between the Embassy of Ireland in Bratislava and the university. We believe that the exhibition will address not only the students, but also the general public. After Nitra, the exhibition is moving to Bratislava for one week and then to Vienna.´
They are all over the world
Visitors to the “Strangers to Citizens” exhibition can get acquainted with the selected historical periods of the troubled country and adopt the main idea of the exhibition – that migration for the Irish was highly positive.
Visitors to the “Strangers to Citizens” exhibition can get acquainted with the selected historical periods of the troubled country and adopt the main idea of the exhibition – that migration for the Irish was highly positive.
"The Irish were leaving the country during the 16th – 18th centuries due to serious social, economic or religious problems. In the countries to which they migrated, they were able to create suitable backgrounds and positive relationships with the local people. By becoming experts, people started to talk more about Ireland, thus raising awareness of this country. Today, the Irish are all over the world, on each continent, but despite their flexibility and adaptability, they still remain Irish with pride in their native land. And the exhibition also reflects this."
There is always a connection between Ireland and the countries, cities and people where the exhibition has toured to great success. H. E. Hilda Ó Riain adds smilingly, ´honestly, the Irish are popular all over the world.´
An important milestone of good relationships
The rector of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, prof. Libor Vozár expressed his gratitude to the Embassy of Ireland to install this traveling exhibition at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra.
The rector of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra, prof. Libor Vozár expressed his gratitude to the Embassy of Ireland to install this traveling exhibition at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra.
He said that ´it is very important to strengthen the mutual relations and contacts between Slovakia and Ireland, because Ireland is one of the English-speaking countries that has plenty of opportunities for our students studying English. The organization of the exhibition represents an important milestone in developing good relations between the university and the Embassy of Ireland´.
The English texts of the exhibition were translated by bachelors from the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra
The “Strangers to Citizens” exhibition provides its visitors with a tiny booklet containing the texts of the posters translated from English into Slovak. The booklet describes the stories of Irish migrants who left the country to search for better work and brighter futures. The visitor might learn various peculiarities from it, e. g. that the Irish women were a common sight on Flemish battlefields in the late sixteenth century; that in French Atlantic ports, Irish entrepreneurs quickly secured a niche in the thriving and highly lucrative wine and brandy markets; or how the daughter of an Irish soldier became a model and the favourite of the French king. The outputs were supervised by Mgr. Katarína Welnitzová, PhD., the texts were translated by the first-year-students of the Master's programme at the Department of Translation Studies at the Faculty of Arts, the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra: Dominika Balážová, Bibiána Čičalová, Stanislava Fusková, Ľuboš Gaľa, Marek Gernát, Eva Jánošíková, Xénia Kilianová, Lenka Kleimanová, Natália Kotešovská, Dagmara Mikleová, Daniela Miklošová, Ráchel Moravcová, Viktória Nagyová, Alžbeta Vörösová, Veronika Vránová, Michal Zervan.
The “Strangers to Citizens” exhibition provides its visitors with a tiny booklet containing the texts of the posters translated from English into Slovak. The booklet describes the stories of Irish migrants who left the country to search for better work and brighter futures. The visitor might learn various peculiarities from it, e. g. that the Irish women were a common sight on Flemish battlefields in the late sixteenth century; that in French Atlantic ports, Irish entrepreneurs quickly secured a niche in the thriving and highly lucrative wine and brandy markets; or how the daughter of an Irish soldier became a model and the favourite of the French king. The outputs were supervised by Mgr. Katarína Welnitzová, PhD., the texts were translated by the first-year-students of the Master's programme at the Department of Translation Studies at the Faculty of Arts, the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra: Dominika Balážová, Bibiána Čičalová, Stanislava Fusková, Ľuboš Gaľa, Marek Gernát, Eva Jánošíková, Xénia Kilianová, Lenka Kleimanová, Natália Kotešovská, Dagmara Mikleová, Daniela Miklošová, Ráchel Moravcová, Viktória Nagyová, Alžbeta Vörösová, Veronika Vránová, Michal Zervan.
Text and photo: Ing. Jana Černáková, R – the Media Department
