The Department of Sociology and ISKS are holding an important symposium on the theme of Stigmatising Neighbourhoods on November 4th 2011. Chaired by TV3 Presenter and Irish Times columnist Vincent Browne, the event will feature four panel presentations on local, national and international research on this theme. It will examine the stigmatisation of neighbourhoods (with a particular focus on the role of the media in this process) in local, national and international settings including Limerick, Dublin, Utrecht and Australia.

The event will take place from 10.30am until 3pm in the West End Youth Centre (adjacent to Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre), Childers Road, Ballinacurra-Weston. The speakers are Matthieu Permentier (Netherlands Institute of Social Research); Annette Hastings (School of Social and Political Sciences,University of Glasgow); Amanda Haynes, Eoin Devereux and Martin Power(Department of Sociology, UL) and Brian Conway (Department of Sociology, NUI Maynooth).

The event will mark the commencement of University of Limerick's new MA in Sociology (Youth, Community and Social Regeneration) and the launch of a major research report entitled 'Feeling Safe in Our Community' undertaken by Dr. Martin Power and Dr. Cliona Barnes (Department of Sociology, UL).

All are welcome to attend, but early booking is required due to a limited number of places. Lunch and Refreshments will be provided on the day. Car Parking is available and admission is free. To book a place please email: niamh.osullivan@ul.ie