The enlightenment was a European wide voyage of intellectual discovery and liberation. Arguably in the early 18th Century an Irish dimension of this process emerged. It took on its most radical form in the Belfast of the 1780’s and 1790’s.
Major influences ranged from Francis Hutcheson who asserted the right of resistance to oppressive government, opposition to slavery, and then Thomas Paine whose Rights of Man became ‘the Koran of Belfast’.
Ideas espoused at that time and especially in relation to human rights remained unfulfilled at the time and are still relevant today.
JOHN GRAY
Belfast born John Gray is Chair of Reclaim the Enlightenment, a charity founded in 2017. He is the former Librarian of the Linen Hall Library and has written and spoken extensively on our local history, on the Labour movement, the United Irishmen and other radical causes.
This talk is part of Cathedral Quarter’s Out to Lunch Arts Festival. If you would like to book an in-person ticket for this event please visit: Belfast and The Age of The Enlightenment – CQAF. However, if you would like to watch the talk online via Zoom please click on the ‘Tickets’ button at the right hand side of your screen.
Planning your Visit:
- Free car parking onsite at Clifton House.
- Booking in advance essential due to limited spaces. Please advise in advance of any accessibility requirements and for more information on accessibility and our talks and tours please visit: https://cliftonbelfast.com/visit/accessibility/
- Cancellations & Refund Policy – Cancellations must be made within 24 hours of scheduled tour start time.
