Conference to address post-Celtic Tiger Ireland

The challenges of living in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland will be discussed at the ninth annual Ceifin conference which opens today.

Irish and international speakers will discuss topics like community and interculturalism at the two-day event in Ennis, Co Clare.

Speakers include Special Olympics chief Mary Davis, Revenue Commissioners chairman Frank Daly, Trust founder Alice Leahy and African Women’s Network Ireland director Salome Mbugua Henry.

This year’s conference is running under the theme of ’Freedom: Licence or Liberty? Engaging in a Transforming Ireland’.

Ceifin chairman Fr Harry Bohan founded the organisation in 1998 to promote values-led debate in Ireland.

He said: “There is little dispute that Ireland in the 21st Century is a society in transformation. But for all our success there are many who feel disconnected and marginalised in our society.

“We may be enjoying freedom from the economic and social shackles of our past, but does that freedom constitute liberty or is it engendering a licence that is gnawing at and ultimately threatening the fabric of our new society.”