For much of the past five hundred years, ghosts have dominated the supernatural landscape. The ways in which the dead have been perceived by the living has changed significantly over time, both in terms of their various guises and the contexts in which they appear. Despite this they still remain understudied, and the potential ghosts have to shed light on key historical moments. 

This conference will explore representations of the revenant dead in the Irish and British Isles in historical context. Taking a broad chronological scope we will shed light on how representations of ghosts changed over time, and how they can illuminate specific historical moments. We will place ghost beliefs and accounts of sightings of, or engagements with, the dead within their historical context, and consider how these stories were shaped by ideas about religion, community, neighbourhood, gender, space and place, emotion, and the supernatural more broadly. 

• When: 25 – 27 June, 2025
• Where: Rooms G10 and 202, Foundation Building, MIC Limerick Campus

Conference registration is now open.

For further details, email Charlotte Millar.