An Cailín Bán – the cultural afterlife of Ellen Hanley (1803-19)
‘An Cailín Bán: the cultural afterlife of Ellen Hanley (1803-19)’ by Dr Róisín Byrne.
Róisín will present the tragic story of 16 year old Ellen Hanley over 200 years ago in Limerick. She will explore how her victimhood was romanticised in art and media, creating a cultural legend.
Dr. Róisín Byrne is an early career historian from Celbridge. She was awarded her PhD in history from Maynooth University in 2023. Her thesis explored the cultural impact of actors, managers and playwrights moving between the theatres of London and Dublin between 1660 and 1800. She is a member of the eighteenth-century Ireland society. She has contributed to the Historic Towns Atlas Project, hosted by the Royal Irish Academy. Her research mainly focuses on the socio-cultural history of Ireland, through the Renaissance, Enlightenment and Romantic eras. Her work explores themes of identity, place, folklore, philosophy and art.