Abstract submission
We invite abstracts that explore any aspect of Caesarean Section or the legacy of Dr James Barry. Submissions may be historical, clinical, research focused or reflective. Accepted abstracts will be presented as digital posters and showcased on the conference website. Authors will also be able to submit a short video presentation of up to three minutes to accompany their poster.
Suggested themes include:
- Historical perspectives on Caesarean Section and its evolution
- The life, work and impact of Dr James Barry across Ireland, Scotland and South Africa
- Developments in obstetric and reproductive health research
- Clinical practice, safety and decision making in Caesarean birth
- Neonatal outcomes and longer term considerations
- Gender, identity and representation in medicine and healthcare
- Patient experiences, narratives and birth choices
- Global and cross cultural perspectives on maternity care
- Ethical, social and policy aspects of Caesarean Section
- Future directions and innovation in obstetric care
Submission guidelines:
- Please follow a standard abstract structure (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion)
- Include all author names and affiliations
- Indicate the presenting author
- Submission deadline: 9th March
Registration
Registration will be separate for each city so that participants can choose the in person day that suits them best.
Each registration includes full online access to the sessions taking place in the other two cities.
Registration links will be available soon.
| Conference registration
Attendance at University College Cork, Ireland - General |
90 € |
Includes Glucksman event on the 24th of June. Includes online access to events hosted by the other two universities, either remotely or via live-streamed sessions available at University College Cork for in-person attendees. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees both days. |
| Conference registration
Attendance at University College Cork, Ireland - Students |
50 € |
Includes Glucksman event on the 24th of June. Includes online access to events hosted by the other two universities, either remotely or via live-streamed sessions available at University College Cork for in-person attendees. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees both days. |
| Conference registration
Attendance at University of Edinburgh, Scotland. |
Free |
Includes online access to events hosted by the other two universities, either remotely or via live-streamed sessions available at University of Edinburgh for in-person attendees. |
| Conference registration
Attendance at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa |
Free |
Includes online access to events hosted by the other two universities, either remotely or via live-streamed sessions available at Stellenbosch University for in-person attendees. |
| Full online access |
Free |
|
| Cork historical walking tour (25th June) |
10 € |
|
| Pre-conference Glucksman Art Gallery event only (In person - Cork, 24th June) |
20 € |
This event is included in the Cork in-person registration fee, but is also open to those who wish to attend this event only. Please use the registration link to book your tickets. |
| Pre-conference Glucksman Art Gallery event only (Online - 24th June) |
10€ |
| Conference dinner (Cork, 25th June) |
TBC |
|
Conference Programme
The programme below outlines sessions taking place across Cork, Edinburgh, and Cape Town. Please be aware that this is a draft programme and might be subject to change.
Download Dr. James Barry's Legacy and A Tale of Three Cities - Conference Programme.
Venues
University College Cork (Cork, Ireland)
In-person activities in Cork will take place across the University College Cork campus:
Both venues are centrally located on campus and are within easy walking distance of each other. Sessions will also be streamed live at CUMH for hospital staff.
University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland)
In-person sessions in Edinburgh will be held on the University of Edinburgh campus.
Stellenbosch University (Cape Town, South Africa)
In-person sessions in Cape Town will take place on the Stellenbosch University campus.
Venue details will be confirmed and published shortly.
Online access
💻 Attend localy, connect globally
All sessions from Cork, Edinburgh, and Cape Town will be streamed live. This allows you to follow the full programme from anywhere.
You may choose to:
-
attend the conference entirely online from your own location, or
-
combine online participation with attending one or more of the in-person days in your nearest city, where sessions from the other two universities will be live-streamed on site.
Each city will have its own dedicated online access link, enabling you to join sessions as they take place across the three locations. A detailed programme will be provided in advance to help you plan which sessions and links to use over the two days.
You will receive your access link(s) by email shortly after registration.
Sociocultural activities
Alongside the academic programme, a series of sociocultural events will take place across the three host cities. These events are designed to create space for informal exchange, and shared engagement with the historical and cultural themes of the conference. Some events are location-specific, while others are accessible online from any location.
Pre-conference event – Glucksman Art Gallery, University College Cork, Ireland
24 June 2026 | In person (Cork) & online
This event marks the opening of the 200 Years of Caesarean Section – Dr James Barry’s Legacy and A Tale of Three Cities conference and will take place at the Glucksman Gallery, University College Cork.
Set within the gallery space, the event will explore the life and work of Dr James Barry, one of Ireland’s most significant historical medical figures, through invited contributions, visual engagement, and discussion. The programme will consider Barry’s medical legacy, cultural and artistic contexts, and how his life and work have been interpreted over time.
The event will include:
- a self-guided tour of the Glucksman Gallery
- a wine reception
- invited contributions from Dr Michael Waldron (University College Cork) and Claire Ó Nualláin (Courtauld Institute, London)
This event is open to all. Online access will be available for all registered attendes.
Please book your place via the registration link.
In person attendance has a cost of 20€ and online attendance has a cost of 10€.
This event is included in the in-person Cork registration.
Cork historical walking tour
25 June 2026 | In person (Cork)
A guided historical walking tour of Cork city will be offered to in-person attendees. Further details will be provided soon.
Please book your place via the registration link. This event has a cost of 10€.
Conference dinner (Cork)
25 June 2026 | In person (Cork)
A conference dinner will be held on the evening of 25 June at University College Cork.
Further details will be confirmed and published in the coming weeks.
Lunch for in-person attendees - University of Edinburgh, Scotland
26 June 2026 | In person (Edinburgh)
Lunch will be provided for attendees joining the conference in person in Edinburgh.
Closing session and exchange - Stellenbosch University, South Africa
26 June 2026 | In person (Cape Town) & online
The final session of the conference will be hosted from Cape Town and will include conversational summaries from the three cities, followed by a shared exchange marking the bicentenary theme of the conference.
This session will be accessible both in person in Cape Town and online for participants joining from other locations.
