The Cumann Merriman Summer School 2005

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Brian Merriman 1805 – 2005 — a celebration

  • Location: Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare
  • Dates: 20 – 27 August 2005
  • Director: Bob Collins, former Director-General of RTÉ

Welcome to the School! 2005 is a very special year. If you have never attended a Merriman School before, this bicentenial year is the perfect oppertunity to come along and see what they are about. Of course, if you are a regular you’ll know already that this year is not to be missed!

Thanks

Cumann Merriman wishes to thank all those who have assisted with the organisation and funding of the 2005 Summer School:

  • Aonad na Gaeilge, Ollscoil Luimnigh
  • Bank of Ireland
  • Bernard and Moira Mc Namara
  • Clare County Council
  • Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
  • Foras na Gaeilge
  • Lisdoonvarna Merriman School Centre
  • Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
  • Radio Teilifís Éireann
  • Roche Ireland Ltd.
  • Údarás na Gaeltachta
  • University of Limerick

An Chúirt on CD

To mark the bicentenery of Brian Merriman’s death two very special CDs are to be launched at the 2005 Summer School. Both feature significant but radically different readings of his poem Cúirt an Mheán Oíche.

The Seán Ó Ceallaigh CD

Seán Ó Ceallaigh (1896 – 1994) was born in Furoor, Lissycasey, Co. Clare. There were still many native speakers of Irish in the area during his youth. The Irish he learned so well was Clare Irish and he would have heard Cúirt an Mheán Oíche recited by old Clare men — some of whom are likely to have been born whilst Brian Merriman was still alive. He became headmaster of the Irish College in Carrigaholt and was afterwards TD for Clare between 1959 and 1969. His son is Bishop Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh and with his permission and support the Clare County Library has issued this CD of his father’s recital of the poem. It has not been made available to buy but the Library has distributed copies freely to schools in the county. To obtain more information contact the Clare County Library on +353 (0)65 682 1616.

The Cumann Merriman & Raidió na Gaeltachta CD

Liam Ó Dochartaigh, Director of the 2005 Winter School, arranged a dramatic reading of Cúirt an Mheon-Oíche for that event. The readers were Eoghan Ó hAnluain, Áine Ó Ceallaigh, Audrey Ní Fhearghail, Alan Titley and Doireann Ní Bhriain. The producer was Darach Mac Con Iomaire. The cast then travelled to Baile Mhuirne in the Músgraí Gaeltacht to give a second live performance. The reading was recorded subsequenty by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and it is this recording that features on the second CD. The same cast is to read the poem again on 31 October 2005 as part of Oireachtas na Gaelainne in Cork.

Programme

Venues

Reception
Pump Room, Spa Wells Centre
Seminars in English
Hall, Spa Wells Centre
Seimineáir as Gaeilge
Pump Room, Spa Wells Centre
Renew Your Irish
An Mheánscoil
Cúirt a’ Mheán Lae
Pump Room, Spa Wells Centre
Set dancing
Hall, Spa Wells Centre
Lectures
Hall, Spa Wells Centre
Reading on Thursday
Royal Spa Hotel
Book Launch
Pump Room, Spa Wells Centre
CD Launches
Royal Spa Hotel
Club Merriman
Royal Spa Hotel

Saturday 20

17.00
Registration
19.00
Reception
20.00
Opening of School
By Seán Donlon, Chancellor, University of Limerick
20.30
Lecture
The Summons of the Midnight Court
By Alan Titley
Chairperson: Máire Ní Neachtain
22.30
Club Merriman — Dancing to the Four Courts Céilí Band

Sunday 21

11.45
Cúirt a’ Mheán Lae
Poetry reading
With Gabriel Rosenstock
12.30
Clare/Polka Sets 1
With Johnny Morrissey and Betty Mc Coy
15.00
Lecture — Merry Man – The Afterlife of the Poem
With Declan Kiberd
Chairperson: Angela Bourke
17.00
Book launch
Orthodoxies and Heresies: The New Ireland and its Sacred Cows
Edited by Jim Malone
(Proceedings of the 2004 Summer School)
20.30
Lecture — Merriman’s Ireland?
With Úna Nic Éinrí
Chairperson: Des Geraghty
22.30
Club Merriman — Dancing to the Four Courts Céilí Band

Monday 22

10.00
Seimineár Gaeilge 1
Mionléamh ar Théacs na Cúirte
Le Liam P. Ó Murchú
10.00
Seminar 1
Of Poets and Scholarly Men: Tomás Ó Míodhcháin and the Courts of Munster Poetry 1750 – 1805
With Brian Ó Dálaigh
10.00
Renew your Irish 1
Le Merriman agus Eoghan Ó hAnluain
11.45
Cúirt an Mheán Lae
Poetry reading
With Sinéad Morrissey
12.30
Clare/Polka Sets 2
With Johnny Morrissey and Betty Mc Coy
15.00
Lecture
Merriman – Cadhan Aonair?
Le Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail
20.30
Lecture
Merriman’s Teaching Milieu and the Irish Teaching Tradition
With John Coolahan
Chairperson: Áine Hyland
22.30
Club Merriman — Dancing to the Four Courts Céilí Band

Tuesday 23

10.00
Seimineár Gaeilge 2
Mionléamh ar Théacs na Cúirte
Le Liam P. Ó Murchú
10.00
Seminar 2
Brian Merriman: Poet of a Single Poem
With Brian Ó Dálaigh
10.00
Renew your Irish 2
Le Merriman agus Eoghan Ó hAnluain
11.45
Cúirt an Mheán Lae
Poetry reading
With Pádraig Daly
12.30
Clare/Polka Sets 3
With Johnny Morrissey and Betty Mc Coy
15.00
Lecture
The Hoard of the Imagination
With John F. Deane
Chairperson: Eileen Battersby
20.30
Lecture
Ireland under Two Unions 1805 – 2005
With Garret FitzGerald
Chairperson: Ronan Fanning
22.30
Club Merriman — Dancing to the Four Courts Céilí Band

Wednesday 24

10.00
Turas — Guided tour to Feakle and Loch Gréine
Willie Smyth will speak in Feakle about Merriman’s countryside
20.30
Reading
A reading of A Week in Summer, a story specially written for the bicentennial celebrations
Written and read by Maeve Binchy
21.30
Traditional music from Clare
22.30
Club Merriman — Dancing to the Four Courts Céilí Band

Thursday 25

10.00
Seimineár Gaeilge 3
Mionléamh ar Théacs na Cúirte
Le Liam P. Ó Murchú
10.00
Seminar 3
Marriage in Gaelic Ireland
With Donnchadh Ó Corráin
10.00
Renew your Irish 3
Le Merriman agus Eoghan Ó hAnluain
11.45
Cúirt an Mheán Lae
Poetry reading
With Celia de Fréine
12.30
Clare/Polka Sets 4
With Johnny Morrissey and Betty Mc Coy
15.00
Readings from Cúirt an Mheán Oíche
Bríd Ní Neachtain
Ciaran Carson
16.00
CD Launch
Cúirt an Mheán Oíche
Read by Seán Ó Ceallaigh, iarTD
Launched by Pádraig Ó hIrghile
20.30
Lecture
Where should Marriage and Society meet – and Why?
With William Binchy
Chairperson: Michael Mac Dowell
22.30
Club Merriman — Dancing to the Four Courts Céilí Band

Friday 26

10.00
Seimineár Gaeilge 4
Mionléamh ar Théacs na Cúirte
Le Liam P. Ó Murchú
10.00
Seminar 4
Church and people 1750 – 1805
With Margaret Mac Curtain
10.00
Renew your Irish 4
Le Merriman agus Eoghan Ó hAnluain
11.45
Cúirt an Mheán Lae
Poetry reading
With Peter Sirr
12.30
Clare/Polka Sets 5
With Johnny Morrissey and Betty Mc Coy
15.00
Lecture
Social Change and the Family in Ireland Over the Last Century
Gabriel Kiely
17.00
CD launch
Cúirt an Mheón Oíche
Published by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Launched by Muiris Ó Rócháin
20.30
Symposium
Marriage and the Family – Challenges for Ireland
Finola Kennedy
Linda Connolly
Denis O’Donovan TD
Cathaoirleach: Bob Collins
22.30
Club Merriman — Dancing to the Four Courts Céilí Band

Saturday 27

10.30
Symposium
The Battle Largely Won? Women 200 years after Merriman
Nuala O’Faolain
Katherine Zappone
Eamon Ryan TD
Cathaoirleach: Doireann Ní Bhriain

Speakers

Maeve Binchy
Journalist, author. Has written many successful novels (Light a Penny Candle, Firefly Summer, The Lilac Bus etc). Hon. D.Litt (NUI) 1990. Attended the first Merriman School (Ennis, 1968)!
William Binchy
Regius Professor of Laws, Trinity College, Dublin. Has authored and co-authored books on private international law, torts and family law; has represented Ireland at the Hague Conference on Private International Law on the themes of marriage and inter-country adoption.
Ciaran Carson
Poet. Has published nine collections. Literary awards include the Irish Times Irish Literature Prize, T.S. Eliot Prize and the Oxford Weidenfield Translation Prize (for Dante’s Inferno, 2002). His most recent work is an acclaimed translation of Merriman’s Cúirt an Mheán Oíche. Cúis áthais agus bhróid ag Cumann Merriman go raibh baint acu le ‘macleabhar’ seo Mherriman a thabhairt ar an saol!
Bob Collins
Former Director-General of RTÉ. Has a long association with Cumann Merriman and was Director of two Summer Schools in the early eighties.
Linda Connolly
Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University College, Cork. Recent books: The Irish Women’s Movement: from Revolution to Devolution, 2003; Documenting Irish Feminisms, 2004. Forthcoming is Social Movements in Ireland (with Niamh Hourican).
John Coolahan
Emeritus Professor of Education, National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Has done extensive work as advisor not only to the Department of Education but also at international level. One of his books is: Irish Education: history and structure, 2000.
Pádraig Daly
Poet, Augustinian priest, translator. One of his collections is The Last Dreamers: new and selected poems. His most recent book is a translation of the Irish poems of William English (Liam Inglis), an Augustinian who died in 1778: Without shoe or horse, 2005.
John F. Deane
Poet, novelist, short story writer, translator, member of Aosdána. Elected Secretary-General of the European Academy of Poetry in 1996. Many prestigious prizes include the Marten Toonder Award for Literature. His work is translated to German, French, Bulgarian, Italian, Swedish. Carcanet will publish his most recent collection, The Instruments of Art, this year.
Celia de Fréine
File, drámadóir, scriptscríbhneoir (Ros na Rún). Bhuaigh Duais Patrick Kavanagh (1994), Duais Chomórtas Filíochta Dhún Laoghaire (1996), Sparántacht ón gComhairle Ealaíon (1997).Duais Smurfit-Lá. Cnuasaigh dá dánta is ea Fiacha Fola agus Faoi Chabáistí is Ríonacha.
Seán Donlon
Former Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Irish ambassador in Washington. Advisor to John Bruton when Taoiseach. Chancellor of University of Limerick.
Garret FitzGerald
Economist, politician, writer. Minister for Foreign Affairs 1973 – 77. Leader of the Fine Gael Party. Taoiseach June 1981 – early 1982 and again in 1982 – 87. Chancellor of National University of Ireland.
Áine Hyland
Professor of Education and Vice-President of University College Cork. Chairperson of the National Committee on Educational Disadvantage. One of Ireland’s leading authorities on the history of education, she was a member of the group set up by the Government in 1995 to review the Constitution.
Finola Kennedy
Dr. Finola Kennedy is an economist. Her principal areas of expertise are public expenditure and demography. Her book, Cottage to Crèche: Family Change in Ireland, has been published recently.
Declan Kiberd
Professor of Anglo-Irish Literature, University College, Dublin. Equally at ease with literature in Irish. Major works are Inventing Ireland, 1995 (Irish Times Literature Prize 1997) and Irish Classics, 2000.
Gabriel Kiely
Professor of Social Policy and Social Work and Jean Monnet Professor of European Family Policies, University College, Dublin. Among many publications under his name is Theorising Irish Social Policy, 2004 of which he is joint editor with B. Fanning, P. Kennedy and S. Quin.
Betty Mc Coy
Long-established dance teacher who has played a central role in the revival and popularity of set dancing.
Margaret Mac Curtain
Historian, pioneer in the field of Irish women’s history, member of the Dominican congregation. Lecturer in University College Dublin 1963 – 94. Visiting professor in Kansas, Boston, Baltimore. Chairperson of the National Archives Advisory Council 1997 – 2002.
Johnny Morrissey
Dance master. Well-known set dancing teacher and participant; a concertina player.
Sinéad Morrissey
The youngest ever poet to win the Patrick Kavanagh Award (1990). Taught school in Japan and New Zealand. Between Here and There (2002) is one of her latest collections.
Doireann Ní Bhriain
Broadcaster and arts consultant. A regular participant in Merriman Summer School’s thematic poetry readings.
Máire Ní Neachtain
Lecturer in Irish in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. Was Cathaoirleach of Cumann Merriman and directed the 1999 Summer School.
Úna Nic Éinrí
Lecturer in Irish in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. Dr Nic Éinrí’s special interest is 18th century poetry. Her latest work is Canfar an Dán…, 2003, an edition of the poems of William English, Augustinian priest (d. 1778).
Bríd Ní Neachtain
Ball d’fhoireann na Mainistreach anuas go 1999. As Conamara don chainteoir dúchais seo. Bhí ar stáitsí Hong Kong, Broadway, Dún Éideann, Londain… Cuimhnítear ar a ról i gCré na Cille sa Taibhdhearc. Ní baol go ndearmadfar go ceann i bhfad a léamh ar pháirt na mná óige (Cúirt an Mheán Oíche) ag Cúirt na Gaillimhe i mbliana.
Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail
Léachtóir i Roinn na Nua-Ghaeilge, An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Foilsíodh ábhar a tráchtais dochtúireachta: The Scribe in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Ireland: Motivations and Milieu, 2000. Ag ullmhú eagráin den scéal Cath Cluana Tarbh do Chumann na Sgríbheann Gaedhilge.
Donnchadh Ó Corráin
Professor of Medieval History, University College Cork. Has published widely on many areas of early Irish history: canon and vernacular law, Viking studies, names, genealogy… An authority on many aspects of early Irish social history… Founder and Editor of Peritia, Journal of the Medieval Academy of Ireland.
Brian Ó Dálaigh
Clare historian. Among his publications are Ennis in the Eighteenth Century, 1995, essays on Merriman in County Clare Studies, 2000, and on Eugene O’Curry in North Munster Antiquarian Journal, 2004. Has edited: Corporation Book of Ennis, 1990; The Strangers Gaze: Travels in County Clare: 1534-1950 and co-edited Irish Townlands, 1998 and Irish Villages, 2003.
Denis O’Donovan
Solicitor and TD for Cork South West. Chairperson of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution to establish those areas where Constitutional change may be desirable or necessary.
Nuala O’Faolain
Once a lecturer in UCD, then television producer – first in the BBC and then in RTÉ. A period as an opinion columnist in the Irish Times followed. Has written three successful books: Are you Somebody?, 1996; My Dream of You, 2001 (a novel); Almost there, 2003.
Eoghan Ó hAnluain
Senior Lecturer in Irish in University College Dublin up to retirement. Directed 24 winter schools, was secretary of Cumann Merriman in its early years and chairperson 1992 – 97.
Pádraig Ó hIrghile
Held many government ministries before becoming European Commissioner for Social Affairs in 1973. President of Ireland between 1976 and 1990. Associated with Cumann Merriman since its 1968 Summer School. Patron of the Cumann since 1976 as successor to Presidents Eamon de Valera and Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh.
Liam P. Ó Murchú
Léachtóir sa Ghaeilge i gColáiste Ollscoile Chorcaí. Is é an t-údar is mó é ar dhán Mherriman agus ní bheidh dul thar a eagrán den dán, Cúirt an Mheon Oíche, 1982. Is mór an chomaoin atá curtha aige ar an bhfile agus ar Chumann Merriman, i mbliana go háirithe.
Muiris Ó Rócháin
Duine d’fhondúirí Scoil Willie Clancy, é ina Stiúrthóir ar an scoil ó 1973. Mórfhigiúr i ndomhan an cheoil thraidisiúnta. Cathaoirleach ar Chomhairle Raidío na Gaeltachta.
Gabriel Rosenstock
Duine de fhilí Innti. Scríbhneoir, aistritheoir, eagarthóir. Timpeall céad leabhar scríofa/aistrithe aige. Dúil aige sa Haiku mar sheánra. Ball d’Aosdána. Sampla maith dá stíl, dá ghreann agus dá ghrinneas is ea Ólann mo mhiúil as an nGainséis, 2003.
Eamon Ryan
Green Party TD, Dublin South. First elected May 2002. Portfolios include Communications, Natural Resources, Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Chairman of the Dublin Cycling Campaign.
Peter Sirr
Poet, translator, freelance writer. Until 2003 Director of the Irish Writers’ Centre. Editor of Poetry Ireland Review. Has published seven collections, the most recent of which are Selected poems, 2004 and Nonetheless, 2004.
Willie Smyth
Professor of Geography, University College Cork. Chairperson of Irish Centre for Migration Studies. Director of the 1998 Merriman Summer School.
Alan Titley
Scholar, Irish Times columnist, novelist, literary historian, dramatist… Winner of many writing awards, Amach, 2004, the story for young teenagers which won the Bisto Prize in 2004 , is an example of his versatility. Head of the Irish Department, St Patrick’s College, Dublin City University.
Katherine Zappone
Philosopher, educator and independent researcher. Member of the Irish Human Rights Commission, former CEO of the National Women’s Council in Ireland, widely published in feminism, ethics, equality issues and education. Recent work includes: Charting the Equality Agenda: A Coherent Framework for Equality Strategies in Ireland North and South (2001) and Re-Thinking Identity: The Challenge of Diversity (2003).

Press release

Date of issue

To be released
17.30
27 July 2005

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Details of the Merriman Summer School 2005 were announced in Limerick on Wednesday 27 July, exactly 200 years to the day of the poet’s death in Old Clare Street, Limerick, on 27 July 1805.

This year’s Summer School will be in Lisdoonvarna, from Saturday to Saturday, 20 – 27 August. The Director is Bob Collins, former Director-General of RTÉ, and recently appointed Chief Commissioner of the North’s Equality Commission.

The School will be opened by Seán Donlon, Chancellor of the University of Limerick.

This will be a special school to celebrate the bicentennial of Brian Merriman’s death. The intention is to look back in celebration and to look forward with the continuing relevance of the main subjects of Cúirt an Mheán Oíche. There will be an enhanced programme to cover:

  • Cúirt an Mheán Oíche; the poem, its language, its influence
  • Brian Merriman himself and his times – Clare, Limerick, education, the clergy, and the broad historical context
  • A contemporary consideration of the main themes of his great poem
  • Contemporary Poetry in English and Irish

There will be a particular focus on marriage, one of the main themes in the poem, and a topic of significant current interest. The life of women then and now, and the clergy of the time, are other themes to be explored. Ireland’s role in Europe at the time of Merriman’s death, and today, will also be featured.

So as to mark the role of Merriman as poet and to celebrate contemporary poetry in the context of the bicentennial, a feature of this year’s school will be Cúirt an Mheán Lae — “The Midday Court” — with eminent poets reading in Irish and English. There will also be sessions providing in-depth readings of the original text of Cúirt an Mheán Oíche.

As usual, there will be sessions on Renew your Irish, set dancing classes with the acclaimed dance teachers Betty Mc Coy and Johnny Morrissey, song sessions, and a visit to Feakle and Loch Graney – Merriman’s country in East Clare, and Club Merriman, the nightly gathering of Summer School participants with conviviality and set dancing guaranteed, and outbreaks of song very likely.

People

Among the participants at the 2005 Merriman Summer School will be:

  • Maeve Binchy
  • William Binchy
  • John Coolohan
  • Linda Connolly
  • John F Deane
  • Seán Donlon
  • Garret FitzGerald
  • Áine Hyland
  • Finola Kennedy
  • Declan Kiberd
  • Gabriel Kiely
  • Margaret Mc Curtain
  • Doireann Ní Bhriain
  • Úna Nic Éinrí
  • Bríd Ní Neachtain
  • Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail
  • Donnchadh Ó Corráin
  • Brian Ó Dálaigh
  • Denis O’Donovan TD
  • Nuala O’Faolain
  • Eoghan Ó hAnluain
  • Patrick J Hillery
  • Liam P Ó Murchú
  • Muiris Ó Rócháin
  • Eamon Ryan TD
  • Willie Smyth
  • Alan Titley
  • Katherine Zappone

There will also be contributions from the poets Ciaran Carson, Pádraig Daly, Celia de Fréine, Sinéad Morissey, Gabriel Rosenstock and Peter Sirr

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