Belfast Take Two

I just returned from giving a paper at the New Voices: Legitimate Ireland conference at Queen's University in Belfast.  My paper was titled "Criticizing Masculinities: James Joyce and reactions against hegemonic masculinity."  I spoke about the progression in Joyce's writing from Dubliners to Portrait to Ulysses and his movement from a more subtle criticism of hegemonic masculinity to a more active push for change.  And Leopold Bloom as representative of a new kind of masculinity which is not limited by the rigid boundaries of Irish hegemonic masculinity.  The paper went well and my co-panelist also had a very interesting paper on the Dublin poet Paul Durcan who I am now very excited to read.  Overall it was a great experience!

Here is a picture of Queen's University

After the morning at the conference I decided to go visit Belfast Castle at the recommendation of my father-in-law.  It was raining when I arrived there but it was still interesting to see.  I would love to go back on a sunnier day (and with proper shoes) and hike Cave Hill behind the castle.  The top is nicknamed Napoleon's Nose and it has a beautiful view of the city below.  There are also remains of dwellings from early peoples up there.

Here are two pictures of Belfast Castle.  The second was taking my a kind security guard who saw me ineptly trying to take a picture of myself with the castle in the background.

The tremendous view from Belfast Castle.

I already decided that I must go back to Belfast before I leave in July because a new Titanic museum has opened in the last couple weeks which is supposed to be phenomenal! I can't wait!  www.titanicbelfast.com

Here is a picture of the Europa Hotel, the most bombed hotel in the world.  Too bad I couldn't stay there.