Travelling with Dante: Irish Women Writers in the Nineteenth Century (Trinity College Dublin, 11 February 2026)

Beatrice’s Irish Voice. Women Writers and Dante: A History of Cultural Reception (XVIII-XXI Century) – Event Series

“Travelling with Dante: Irish Women Writers in the Nineteenth Century”

Anne O’Connor (University of Galway / Ollscoil Na Gaillimhe)

11th February 2026 – Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin, 4-6 pm

Respondent: Francesca Sartori (University of Bristol)

Moderator: Federica Coluzzi (Centre for Dante Studies in Ireland)

For Irish women writing about Italy in the nineteenth century, Dante travelled with them: the Italian poet served not just as a guide to Italian history, culture and language but also as an indicator of the women’s erudition and status. The presence of Dante in the works of Irish writers in this period provides significant insights into how the poet was used to provide commentary on the papacy in the nineteenth century, with Irish religious divides projected onto the Italian situation.

Using examples from Irish writers such as Lady Morgan, Julia Kavanagh and Countess Blessington, this presentation will show how Dante’s influence was not confined to descriptions of the culture and heritage of Italy, but rather how his words were deemed by Irish women writers as pertinent to the political, literary and religious situation in nineteenth-century Italy. It will furthermore suggest that the inclusion of references to Dante provided these women writers with opportunities to make written pronouncements on the affairs of other countries at a time when women were often not afforded such agency and voice.

The event will be accessible to remote participants, please register here.