Announcing Kaleidoscope 3

In Kaleidoscope 1 and Kaleidoscope 2 we presented the ideas of both established and emerging Irish authors on (1) the craft of writing fiction and (2) what Europe means to Ireland. In this third instalment we explore views on faith, spirituality and art, again from a range of writers from across the island of Ireland and its diaspora.

It is striking how often contemporary Irish authors refer to religion as being part and parcel of the culture in which they grew up. This may have been positive (developing a sense of the numinous, altruism, magic, art) or negative (oppressive systems of thought and practice), but how does faith or spirituality work for authors now? Do climate change, social media, contemporary art and literature, play a role here? Which disciplines or arts can help to negotiate the more invisible aspects of our humanity? A quarter of the way into the 21st century we look where we are and look forward to new approaches and perspectives on the sacred and/or the unconscious.

The collected texts will be published on a new Kaleidoscope 3 website, starting in December 2025.

This project is supported by KU Leuven (Druwé fund and Herman Servotte fund) and Irish College Leuven.