I am a third-year History student at the University of St Andrews currently working on my self-defined research project as a Laidlaw Scholar. Passionate about how words shape the world, I have decided to examine great Irish speeches and literature in the period surrounding 1916. I am keen on making connections with other Laidlaw scholars to discuss leadership elements of the project, as well as with anyone looking at speech and language, conflict, concepts of nationalism and revolution, or Irish History.