The Galway International Arts Festival has unveiled a menu of around 20 public talks and debates in association with the University of Galway.
The First Thought Talks events will be a series of interviews, in-depth conversations, debates and discussions featuring leading Irish and international voices, including academics, artists, historians, activists, authors, journalists, musicians and others.
Topics include a conversation on US politics between political reporter Marion McKeone ?and award-winning journalist Fintan O’Toole called Trump Again??!!. Actor and activist Liz Carr will explore the topic of assisted dying with Christian O’Reilly in Better Off Dead?.
Journalists Elaine Burke and Adrian Weckler will survey Artificial Intelligence in The Rise of the Machines, Colm Tóibín will discuss his writing process with Elaine Feeney, academic and author Pankaj Mishra will discuss his acclaimed essay The Shoah after Gaza, and Chair of the Irish Climate Change Advisory Council Maria Donnelly will be in conversation with Sheila Malone.
Other topics include sculpture, life during climate transition, writing fiction, the vinyl record revival, theatre, the psychology of resilience, album covers, film, international security, TV, Human Rights law, peasant life, the distraction of ‘woke’, the Irish response to climate change, modern Irish history and thoughts on a United Ireland.
Full details on the First Thought Talks may be found online at www.giaf.ie
