The 27th conference of the Irish Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand (ISAANZ) was held at the University of Otago, New Zealand’s largest and oldest university, from 20–22 November. This year’s theme, Health, Wellness and Care, encouraged participants to reflect on what these ideas mean for Ireland and Irish communities worldwide.

As the emergency measures of the COVID-19 pandemic fade into memory and the virus becomes an endemic part of life, scholars and community members explored health and care within a broader ecosystem—social, political, economic, environmental, and viral. Discussions focused on how these interconnected factors shape both historical and contemporary understandings of wellness.

Dr Ida Milne’s presentation focused on Ireland’s experience during the 1918–19 influenza pandemic, a period marked by world war and revolutionary upheaval. The presentation reflected on how the COVID-19 crisis prompted a re-engagement with historical sources, offering fresh insights into issues such as the anxieties faced by medical professionals confronting an unpredictable novel disease.

The influenza session was chaired by Professor Diane Hall from Monash University, who had previously presented at the WHAI conference at Carlow College, organised by Dr Judy Bolger. Special thanks were extended to Ida for making travel possible during a busy academic season.