John Toland, Man of Ardagh, Tercentenary Celebrations

A Night to Remember: John Toland, Man of Ardagh

– marking the tercentenary of Toland's passing with an evening of entertainment and appraisal –

A night to mark the tercentenary of the passing of philosopher and Inishowen man, John Toland is being held in the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin in Co. Donegal this Friday, 11 March starting 7pm.

"The tercentenary of Toland's death in March 1722 is obviously a significant anniversary by its very nature. Even now, 300 years after his passing, Toland's work and writings continue to be explored by scholars and academics across the world and for us not to mark his contribution to the study of modern-day philosophy would do an injustice to the man himself." – John Toland, Man of Ardagh event co-producer and local film festival director, Michael McLaughlin

Brian Lambkin, writer and historian, is the keynote speaker at the event on Friday. Brian is a former Principal of Lagan College, Belfast and founding Director of the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. He was a member of the Board of the Integrated Education Fund, Chairman of the Association of European Migration Institutions and is currently a member of the Board of Healing through Remembering. His writings include Opposite Religions Still? Interpreting Northern Ireland After the Conflict (Avebury, 1996) and Calming Conflict: Northern Ireland, Metaphor and Migration (UHF & MCMS, 2019).

The second speaker is Oscar Duggan, founder of The Manuscript Publisher, a publishing house which has produced several of Toland's works, with another on the way. Duggan was involved in the publication of a short biography and critical appraisal of Toland that goes under the title of John Toland: Ireland's Forgotten Philosopher, Scholar … and Heretic by J.N. Duggan (2010).

Other components of the evening include a short address by Trinity College scholar, Takaharu Oda from Japan, who has visited Clonmany in the past and earned his Ph.D. in Philosophy writing about Toland and his peers.

Music on the evening will have a flavour of the era in which Toland walked these Donegal highways and byways.

Come along to the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin at 7pm on 11 March and learn about Toland's life and legacy. All are welcome.