Summer Lecture Series: An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia

Nicholas Mackey Author of An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia will give a lecture based on his book and his travels. His lecture will include the following… 

• An Irish Lens on History & Culture

As an Irishman exploring this ancient land, Nicholas Mackey will reflect on parallels between Ireland and Mesopotamia – both regions at either extreme of the European continent deeply shaped by colonial histories, contested identities, and a strong sense of cultural memory. This lecture will reflect upon his own journey as an Irishman encountering another place of layered history, division, and resilience. He will also delve into links between Ireland and Türkiye that date back more than 6,000 years. 

• Shared Experiences of Empire & Identity

The British colonial footprint in Mesopotamia in some ways mirrors aspects of Ireland’s own experience under rule by a foreign power. In this lecture Mackey will draw on this connection, examining how history, conquest, and resistance have shaped both lands. 

• Poetry, Storytelling & the Irish Literary Tradition

Throughout his lecture, Mackey will talk about the cultural connections between Ireland and Mesopotamia, referring to poetry, storytelling and verse. Themes of exile, memory, and belonging – themes deemed vital to Irish literature will be referred to and brought to light.

This will be an illustrated lecture with images from Mackey’s book. Following this lecture Nicholas Mackey will do a book signing of An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia. Books will be on sale at this event. The book is also available on Amazon

Nicholas Mackey – Biography

Dubliner Nicholas Mackey is a writer, photographer and poet. His new book, An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia, was inspired by an extraordinary journey through southeast Türkiye. Richly illustrated, it blends memoir, poetry, art and history to offer an Irish perspective on Northern Mesopotamia – the Cradle of Civilisation – where the ancient Euphrates and Tigris rivers flow. The book uncovers deep historical ties between Ireland and Türkiye spanning 6,000 years while exploring themes of identity, belonging and shared humanity.

What people say about An Irishman in Northern Mesopotamia…

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book, an incredibly vivid and inspiring account of Nicholas Mackey's travels in Northern Mesopotamia, beautifully illustrated. His journey through history, different cultures and the company of different peoples through the perspective of his own life and early days in Ireland, has important lessons for us all. We must embrace, connect with and understand the richness, variety and cultures of different peoples. Reading and travelling are essential to achieve this. In this book Nicholas Mackey deserves great praise in helping to understand the importance for us all to overcome differences and to live together in harmony, increasingly vital in our troubled world today. This inspiring account of his travels is highly recommended”. Jonathan Shackleton, Antarctic historian and author