Scoil Samhraidh Chumann Merriman 2012

Díreach go: téama | clár | cainteoirí | preaseisiúint.

Thriving at the Crossroads: Rural Ireland in a Globalised World
Tír, Tallamh agus Tuath Feasta

Dátaí
15 go 19 Lúnasa (Céadaoin go Domhnach).
Ionad
Lios Dúin Bhearna, Contae an Chláir,
Stiúrthóir
Bob Collins.

Fáilte go dtí an Scoil

The English poet wrote that No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent.

Even an island is no longer entirely an island these days, as we are learning to understand. Everywhere we turn we are reminded that we live in a global world, that we are linked in and switched on.

But each one of us lives in some kind of community, in some locality, somewhere with its own identity. For a long time, the focus of Ireland’s identity was its rural, its agrarian, base. Frequently romanticised, regularly misunderstood, it had an important part in the shaping of ourselves and of a sense of our ideal selves.

The world that gave us that approach is long gone. Ireland has been dramatically changed in the past fifty years. The face of the country has been transformed. Urban life and the urban experience dominate the international media and shape contemporary identities. And yet, rural Ireland continues to exist. Its landscape still proclaims its beauty. Its people make an impact on the life on the country. Its fields produce food that is consumed in many lands.

How does this rural Ireland co-exist with the globalised world? What is its future? This is the theme of this year’s Merriman Summer School. It sets out to offer a positive but realistic perspective on the reality that is rural Ireland. It will look at the possibilities and potentials of the future. It will consider the question of community: what is it; how is it changing; will the institutions that sustain it survive; how does the virtual community relate? Communications will also fit into this picture — the importance of local radio and newspapers, the perceptions of national media, broadband and much more.

Rural life is often, inappropriately, considered to be synonymous with agriculture. This is not the case but there is a close and enduring connection between the two. In addition many people’s work acts as a bridge between the rural and the urban. Agriculture is still very important. Life on and off the land will be a feature of a number of sessions at the School. Questions of farming, food, landscape, tourism, sustainability and environment will come under attention.

Employment, emigration, planning, recreation will also be part of the mosaic that the school will deal with. Seminars will offer an historical context for our contemporary deliberations and will look at the views of returned emigrants and at the particular questions that arise in setting up a modern communications company in a small village. Poetry and literature will, as ever, feature at the Merriman Summer School. So, too, will lively conversation and convivial company.

It promises to be a varied and lively School — with a guarantee of the best of Clare weather!

Beidh fáilte romhat!

Buíochas

Gabhann Cumann Merriman buíochas leo siúd atá ag cabhrú le heagrú is le maoiniú Scoil Samhraidh 2012:

Clár

Ionaid

  • Clárú agus imeachtaí um thráthnóna is istoíche: Amharclann an Pavilion.
  • Seimineáir maidne, Cúirt an Mheán Lae agus seoladh leabhar: Óstán an Royal Spa.
  • Club Merriman: The Barn, Cill Fhionnúrach (Déardaoin), tithe tabhairne áitiúla (Dé Céadaoin agus Dé hAoine), Óstán an Royal Spa (Dé Sathairn).

Dé Céadaoin 15ú

17.00
Clárú.
19.00
Fáiltiú.
20.00
Oscailt na Scoile.
20.30
Léacht: Rural Ireland: Facing the Future, le Kevin Whelan.
22.30
Club Merriman: (tithe tabhairne áitiúla).

Déardaoin 16ú

10.00 Seimineáir as Gaeilge 1
Teideal le fógairt, le Pól Ó Coimín agus Siobhán Ní Ghadhra.
Cathaoirleach na sraithe: Liam Ó Dochartaigh.
10.00 Seimineáir as Béarla 1
The Transformation of Irish Rural Communities from the 17th Century to the Present 1, le William J. Smyth.
Cathaoirlach na sraithe: Brian Ó Dálaigh.
12.00
Cúirt an Mheán-Lae: Léamh filíochta le Harry Clifton.
15.00
Painéal: Having a Voice: Communications.
Cainteoirí: Fiona Stack, John Waters agus Mairéad Ní Nuadháin.
Cathaoirleach: Le fógairt.
20.00
Painéal: Community: New Times, New Challenges.
Cainteoirí: Chris Curtin, Ruth Mc Manus and John Moroney.
Cathaoirleach: Le fógairt.
22.30
Club Merriman: (The Barn, Cill Fhionnúrach; cuirfear bus ar fáil ó Lios Dúin Bhearna)

Dé hAoine 17ú

10.00 Seimineáir as Gaeilge 2
Ní Bheidh Uaigneas Orm Ann An Aisimirce go Ceantar Gaeltachta Chonamara, le Rhona Ní Chearbhaill.
Cathaoirleach na sraithe, Liam Ó Dochartaigh.
10.00 Seimineáir as Béarla 2
The Transformation of Irish Rural Communities from the 17th Century to the Present 2, le William J. Smyth.
Cathaoirlach na sraithe, Brian Ó Dálaigh.
12.00
Cúirt an Mheán-Lae: Léamh filíochta le Stiofán Ó Cadhla.
15.00
Painéal: Off the Land.
Cainteoirí: David Meredith and Carmel Fox.
Cathaoirleach: Le fógairt.
17.00 Book Launch
Saothar de chuid beirt fhilí ó Chontae an Chláir san ochtú aois déag, á fhoilsiú ag Field Day Books: Selected Writings Thomas Dermody, curtha in eagar is curtha i láthair ag an Dochtúr Michael Griffin de chuid Ollscoil Luimnigh agus Aodh Buí Mac Cruitín, leis an Dochtúr Vincent Morley de chuid Coláiste na hOllscoile Bhaile Átha Cliath. An tríú leabhar i sraith Editions de chuid Field Day is ea leabhar Mhichael Griffin . An ceathrú leabhar i sraith Filí de chuid Field Day is ea leabhar Vincent Morley. An tOllamh Breandán Ó Buachalla, nach maireann, a chuir an tsraith seo ar bun.
20.00
Painéal: On the Land.
Cainteoirí: Simon Coveney, Ethel Crowley agus Eddie Downey.
Cathaoirleach: Le fógairt.
22.30
Club Merriman: (tithe tabhairne áitiúla).

Dé Sathairn 18ú

10.00 Seimineáir as Gaeilge 3
Scannánú an Dúchais, Breandán Feiritéar.
Cathaoirleach na sraithe: Liam Ó Dochartaigh.
10.00 Seimineáir as Béarla 3
The Transformation of Irish Rural Communities from the 17th Century to the Present 3, le William J. Smyth.
Cathaoirlach na sraithe: Brian Ó Dálaigh.
12.00
Cúirt an Mheán-Lae: Léamh filíochta le Moya Cannon.
15.00
Turas na Scoile.
20.00
Painéal: Politics and Promise.
Cainteoirí: Éamon Ó Cuív agus Mairéad Mc Guinness.
Cathaoirleach: Le fógairt.
22.30
Club Merriman: (Óstán an Royal Spa).

Dé Domhnaigh 19ú

11.00
Painéal: Rural Ireland in Literature.
Cainteoirí: P.J. Mathews agus Garry Hynes.
Scor na Scoile.

Nóta* Is i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla a bheidh léamh na Cúirte seo.

Cainteoirí

Moya Cannon
Poet. Moya’s fourth collection of poetry Hands was published by Carcanet Press, Manchester, in 2011. A winner of the Brendan Behan award and of the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy award, she has been an editor Studies at Villanova University.
Harry Clifton
A poet and writer, Harry has published five collections of poems. His most recent collection of poems, Secular Eden:Paris Notebooks 1994-2004, was published by Wake Forest in 2007 and won the Irish Times Poetry Now award. He is currently Ireland Professor of Poetry.
Bob Collins
The Director of Merriman Summer School 2012 is chairman of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Former director general of RTÉ and former Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland.
Simon Coveney
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central. Elected to the European Parliament in 2004. Led the ‘Sail Chernobyl Project’ in 1997 to 1998, which involved sailing 30,000 miles around the world for charity. He continues to be involved in the running of a family farm in County Cork.
Ethel Crowley
A sociologist based in Cork, Ethel is the author of Land Matters: Power Struggles in Rural Ireland (Lilliput Press, 2006).
Paul Cummins
Bhunaigh Paul an comhlacht Telegael i 1998 i gcomhar le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus RTÉ. É ina phríomhfheidhmeannach ar an gcomhlacht ó shin. Tá Telegael ar cheann de na comhlachtaí teilifíse agus scannán is mó in Éirinn agus oibríonn sé le cuid de na craoltóirí is mó ar fud an domhain ar nós Disney, Nickelodeon agus Cartoon Network. Tá dhá ghradam Emmy agus go leor gradam idirnáisiúnta eile gnóthaithe ag an gcomhlacht.
Chris Curtain
A Lisdoonvarna native, Chris is Professor and Head of the School of Political Science and Sociology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Vice President for Innovation and Performance. Widely published on the theme of governance, rural development and natural resources management.
Eddie Downie
Eddie is the Deputy President of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Chairman of the Association’s Countryside Project Team and Direct Payments Project Team and board member of Teagasc. He farms in Slane, County Meath, with his wife Mary and their two children. His farm enterprises include drystock, tillage and broiler breeding.
Carmel Fox
Carmel is Chief Executive, Ballyhoura Development. She has significant experience of managing the implementation of European and national funding programmes.
Breandán Feirtéar
I nDún Chaoin a rugadh agus a tógadh Breandán. Bhí sé ar dhuine den gcéad sheachtar craoltóirí a bhunaigh Raidío na Gaeltachta agus chaith sé seal ina Cheannaire ar an stáisiún. Ba láithreoir teilifíse leis é. Mar léiritheoir físe tá fiche éigin scannán déanta aige ar théamaí dúchais agus tuaithe na hÉireann. Maireann sé anois i gConamara.
Garry Hynes
Garry founded Druid in 1975 and has worked as its Artistic Director from 1975 to 1991, and from 1995 to date. From 1991 to 1994 she was Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Recipient of a number of awards including four honorary doctorates.
P.J. Matthews
P.J. lectures in the School of English, Drama and Film at University College Dublin. Author of Revival: the Abbey Theatre, Sinn Féin, the Gaelic League and the Co-operative Movement (Field Day / Cork UP, 2003). Former Director of the Parnell Suwriting a cultural history of the Irish Folk Music Revival: 1951-1981.
David Meredith
David is a Senior Research Officer at Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority. Working within the Spatial Analysis Unit, he leads the Rural Development Research Programme focusing on issues of rural socio-economic and population change.
John Moroney
John is a farmer and freelance consultant from East Clare. He has a deep interest in farming activities, the business of agriculture, and in the general rural environment.
Mairéad Mc Guinness MEP
An agricultural economist and food policy expert, Mairéad serves on the European Parliament Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment, Food Safety and Public Health.Voted MEP of the Year for agriculture 2011 by her colleagues in the Parliament. Prior to becoming an MEP she was a well-known journalist, broadcaster and commentator.
Ruth Mc Manus
Ruth is senior lecturer and head of the Geography Department at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. She is the author of Dublin 1910–1940: shaping the city and suburbs (2002) and Crampton Built (2008), as well as many articles on different aspects of urban geography, suburban history, population, heritage, tourism and geography education.
Rhona Ní Chearbhaill
Cainteoir dúchais ó Chonamara. ‘An Aisimirce go ceantar Gaeltachta Chonamara agus Árann: léiriú liteartha agus eitneagrafaíochta’ is teideal reatha dá tráchtas dochtúireachta. Bronnadh scoláireacht Fulbright uirthi le déanaí agus beidh sí ag teagasc i gColáiste Lehman i Nua Eabhrac don bhliain acadúil 2012 go 2013.
Siobhán Ní Ghadhra
Príomhoifigeach Oibriúcháin Telegael, tar éis di deich mbliana a chaitheamh mar Cheannasaí Léiriúcháin ann. I measc na gcraoltóirí ar oibrigh sí leo tá TG4, RTÉ, BBC, Discovery, Nickeolodeon, ZDF, Disney agus Cartoon Network. Tá sí mar bhall d’Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann. I measc na nduaiseanna atá gnóthaithe aici tá dhá dhuais Emmy, agus duais IFTA.
Mairéad Ní Nuadháin
Leas-Phríomhfheidhmeannach ar Chláir RTÉ. Bhí sí ina hEagarthóir ar Choimisiúnú, Gaeilge, ilchultúrthachtachas agus Oideachas ó 2001. Rinne sí coimisiúnú ar chláir dála Teens in the Wild agus an clár aitheanta In The Name of the Fada a rinne an fear grinn Des Bishop mar aon le cláir eile a bhfuil ardmholadh faighte acu, cláir ar nós The School, Scannal agus Music Changes Lives.
Stiofán Ó Cadhla
Léachtóir agus Ceann Roinn an Bhéaloidis agus na hEitneolaíochta, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh. D’fhoilsigh Cló Iar-Chonnachta An tSlat Féithleoige: Ealaíona an Dúchais 1800-2000 sa bhliain 2011, saothar anailíseach ar bhéaloideas a bhuaigh an chéad duais do shaothar próis sna comórtais liteartha ag an Oireachtas na bliana 2010. Bronnadh Gradam Filíochta Mhicíl Uí Airtnéide 2012 air dá chéad chunuasach filíochta An Creideamhach Déanach (Coiscéim, 2009).
Éamon Ó Cuív TD
Bhí an tUasal Ó Cuív ina Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta ó 2002 go 2010 agus ina Aire Leasa Shóisialaí ó 2010 go dtí 2011. Garmhac le hÉamon de Valera agus mac leis an scoláire cáiliúil Gaeilge, Brian Ó Cuív is ea é. Currently Fianna Fáil spokesman on Agriculture, Food and Community Affairs.
Brian Ó Dálaigh
Cláiríneach ó dhúchas. Cáilíochtaí bainte amach aige sa stair i gColáiste na hOllscoile, BÁC agus in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad. É ar scor óna phost mar phríomhoide scoile. Cuid mhaith foilsithe aige ar stair agus ar shaíocht Thuamhumhan.
Liam Ó Dochartaigh
Gaillimheach ó dhúchas is ea Liam. Chaith blianta ag léachtóireacht sa Ghaeilge in Ollscoil Uladh agus in Ollscoil Luimnigh agus chuidigh le bunú dhá roinn ollscoile nua Gaeilge sna hinstitiúidí seo. Stiúrthóir ar Rannóg an Oideachais Idirnáisiúnta in OL ó 2000 go 2009. Stiúrthóir ar Scoileanna Geimhridh Merriman ó 1998 go 2010. Cathaoirleach reatha Chumann Merriman.
William J. Smyth
Emeritus Professor Geography,University College Cork, William is the author of the prize-winning Book Map-Making, Landscape and Memory (Cork University Press, 2006) and joint editor Atlas of The Great Irish Famine (Cork University Press, summer 2012).
Fiona Stack
Currently General Manager of Radio Kerry, Fiona spent three years as Station Editor at Newstalk. She has worked as a Communications and Community Relations Specialist for Intel Ireland. Radio Kerry was named Local Radio Station of the Year in the PPI Radio Awards in 2005, 2007 and 2010.
John Waters
A writer and journalist, John has specialised in raising unpopular issues of public importance, most recently the issue of the hidden mistreatment of men in Irish society, particularly in relation to their right to legally protected relationships with their children. He has published a number of books and written several plays for stage and radio. His most recent book is Was It For This? (TransWorld, 2012).
Kevin Whelan
Kevin is Director of the Keough Naughton Centre of the University of Notre Dame in Dublin. He has authored or edited fifteen books and over one hundred articles, and he has lectured on Irish topics in over a dozen countries. Among his books are The Tree of Liberty (1996), Fellowship of Freedom (1998), and the Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape (second edition, 2011).

Preaseisiúint

Dáta eisithe: Dé Luain, 9ú Mí Lúnasa 2011 (12:00 nóin)

An Scoil go hAchomair

Téama
Changing Irish Childhoods: An óige in Éirinn mar a bhí — mar atá

Stiúrthóir
An tOllamh Nóirín Hayes
Dátaí
Dé Céadaoin 17ú go Dé Domhnaigh 21ú Mí Lúnasa 2011.
Ionad
Lios Dúin Bhearna, Contae an Chláir.

TOSACH

Is í an tAire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige Frances Fitzgerald TD, a osclóidh Scoil Samhraidh Merriman 2011 ar an gCéadaoin 17ú Lúnasa agus is é Michael D. Higgins iarrathóir Pháirtí an Lucht Oibre ar phost an Úachtaráin a dhúnfas an Scoil ar an Domhnach an 21ú Lúnasa. Beidh léachtóirí, iriseoirí, síciatraí, údar do pháistí, dearc-ealaíontóir, grúpa drámaíoctha óige, filí, Eavan Boland a léifeas sleachta óna saothar ag meánlae ar an Déardaoin 1ú Lúnasa ar dhuine díobh, i measc rannpháirtithe na bliana seo.

Is í an tOllamh Nóirin Hayes as Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath a stiúróidh Scoil na bliana seo. Is saineolaí í Nóirín ar an luathoideachas do pháistí agus ar chearta leanaí. Is cinnte gur tionóil spéisiúil, bríomhar, taitneamhach a bheas ann leis an ngnáthmheascán de ábhar machnaimh, de chomhluadar agus de spraoi. Is é Fintan O’Toole colúnaí de chuid an Irish Times a thabharfaidh an léacht tionscnaimh tráthnóna na Céadaoine ar Changing Irish Childhoods’,téama na Scoile féin agus beidh raon leathan topaicí ar an téama seo á gcíoradh ag léachtaí, seimineáir agus siompóisiamaí le linn na gceithre lá.

In Amharclann an Phailliúin i Lios Dúin Bhearna a bheas imeachtaí an iarnóin agus na hoíche ar bun agus beidh seimineáir i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla ar siúl gach maidin áit a bpléifear an-éagsúlacht ábhar ó chailíní as tithe na mBocht in Éirinn a seoladh chun na Nua Shéalainne go dtí sealbhú, saibhriú agus spraoi trí Ghaeilge i Naoínraí.

Beidh comhláithriú le Kevin Malone, síciatraí agus údar ar chúrsaí meabhairshláinte agus an t-ealaíontóir Seamus McGuinness, maidir le féinmharú i measc na nÓg ar cheann de bhuaicphointí na Scoile. Beidh saothar Sheamuis ar an ábhar ar taispeáint le linn na Scoile ar fad agus is cinnte gur mír chorraitheach agus chumhachtach a bheas ann. Cuirfidh cur i láthair drámatúil le baill óga Jigsaw, painéal comhairleach óige as Gaillimh leis an ngné seo de chlár na Scoile.

Beidh Joseph Dunne, Ollamh Cregan le Fealsúnacht agus Oideachas i gColáiste Phádraig ag caint ar Childhood and Adulthood:Boundary Explorations, labhróidh Sheila Greene, Ollamh agus Stiúrthóir ar an Ionad um Thaighde ar Leanaí i gColáiste na Tríonóide agus Dympna Devine as Scoil an Oideachais agus Stiúrthóir Eatramhach ar Ionad Thaighde na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath ar Contemporary Irish Childhood agus pléifidh Brian O’Neill, ceannasaí ar Thaighde i nDámh na nDán agus na Turasóireachta in InstitiúidTeicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath Children and the New Media. Tá Siobhán Parkinson, Laureate na nÓg, agus na filí Peter Sirr agus Gabriel Rosenstock ar liosta na n-aíonna freisin.

Is í an t-iar-Aire Rialtais agus iarsheanadóir Mary O’Rourke, a bheas ina cathaoirleach ar phainéal a phléifidh cearta leanaí ar thráthnóna na Déardaoine. Labhróidh Maria Corbett ón gComhghuaillíocht um Chearta Leanaí, Fergus Ryan ón roinn dlí in Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Carl O’Brien comfhreagraí Gnóthaí Sóisialta an Irish Times ar an bpainéal céanna.

Beidh siúlóidí thart ar Lios Dúin Bhearna, seoladh leabhar agus ceol, damhsa agus amhráin ag Club Merriman ar an gclár chomh maith. Tá fáilte roimh chách: is féidir bualadh isteach chuig seisiúin nó dhó nó is féidir na ceithre lá ar fad a chaitheamh ag an Scoil.

DEIREADH