We are all conscious that welcome new strands are being braided into Ireland’s indigenous culture. As we work to facilitate this new development, we should also look at better ways to open up existing strands of cultural activity to each other.

The Conference brings architects, poets in Irish and English, traditional musicians, archaeologists and folklorists together so that they may speak to each other and to us from their particular cultures. We explore our common responsibility for the natural, built and cultural environments, and to welcome all those who are charged with the care of these dominions.

This year we take the River Shannon as our central metaphor, the great river that runs north to south down the spine of our island, from the depths of prehistory into that future we are all engaged in shaping. The Shannon is fed by many rivers, each with its wellspring in a particular place, a particular culture. In that sense, the Shannon drains all of Ireland, even as it nourishes and sustains us.