On 25 May 2026, American Professor David Livingstone from Palacký University (Olomouc, Czech Republic) gave guest lectures to students of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and the Faculty of Philology at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. The event was organised by the Department of Foreign Languages for the Humanities, with the head of the department, Associate Professor Nataliia Holovatska, responsible for its organisation.

The public lecture on the topic “A Terrible Beauty Is Born: The Shared Cultural Heritage of Ireland and Ukraine” facilitated a deeper understanding of issues of national memory, cultural identity, the role of literature in shaping public consciousness, and the significance of art in general during complex historical periods. The professor managed to analyse the similarities and differences in the cultural and historical experiences of the Irish and Ukrainian peoples in an accessible and engaging manner, incorporating musical art into his analysis.

Professor David Livingstone’s guest lectures sparked keen interest and served as a platform for lively discussion among students and lecturers. His charismatic delivery, the combination of academic rigour and openness to discussion, and the relevance of the topics he raised helped deepen participants’ knowledge of literary studies, cultural studies, and intercultural communication.

Holding such meetings is an important component of developing international academic cooperation and creates new opportunities for professional and academic exchange between Ukrainian and European universities.