Celebrating 100 years of Spanish at Queen’s University, Belfast

2026 marks the centenary of the establishment of the Spanish Chair at Queen's University Belfast, one of the first Chairs of Spanish in Great Britain and Ireland and a landmark in the development of language and cultural studies in these islands. To celebrate 100 years of teaching, research and international influence, Queen's is hosting a major public programme featuring leading writers, poets and scholars from Spain, Argentina, the UK and the USA, alongside representatives of the Spanish Embassy and Instituto Cervantes. The events highlight Belfast's long-standing connections with the Spanish-speaking world and the pivotal role Queen's has played in shaping the study of Spanish across the UK and internationally. The centenary exhibition and public events will showcase the cultural, educational and global impact of Spanish at Queen’s, while celebrating the achievements of generations of students and alumni.

Thursday 17th September

15:30 Seamus Heaney Centre (Spanish and English)

Poetry reading: Luis García Montero, Director of the Instituto Cervantes, with Professor Isabel Torres, Musgrave Chair of Spanish

17:00 McClay Library (Spanish and English)

100 Years of Spanish @Queen's: Celebrating the Past; Shaping the Future

Exhibition launch and Photo Competition Prize Giving, curated by Dr Fiona Clark and Dr Anne Holloway

Wine reception in the McClay Library

Friday 18th September

09:30 Council Chamber (English)

Welcome and Introduction: Professor Isabel Torres, Musgrave Chair of Spanish

09:45-11:00 Council Chamber (Spanish)

“Mauricio Amster, tipógrafo pionero polaco entre España y Chile”

Juan Manuel Bonet, with Professor Gabriel Sánchez Espinosa

Coffee break

11:30-12:45 Council Chamber (English)

Professor Ignacio Sánchez Prado, with Professor Sarah Bowskill

Break for lunch

14:30 Council Chamber (English)

Welcome Address: Professor Richard Miles, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor

14:45-16:00 Council Chamber (English and Spanish)

Claudia Masin, with Dr Ricki O’Rawe

16:15-17:30 Council Chamber (English and Spanish)

Elvira Lindo, with Dr Geraldine Lawless

Wine reception in the Canada Room

With generous sponsorship from: the Instituto Cervantes; the Embassy of Spain, London; The School of Arts, English and Languages; the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Queen’s University, Belfast.

Description supplied by the event organiser.