The Cumann Merriman Website
A celebration of the 18th century Irish poet Brian Merriman and all aspects of Irish Language and culture.


Welcome to the Cumann Merriman Website

This is the English language home page of the Cumann Merriman website. Each page on our site begins with a brief table of contents followed directly by the main body of the document. Site navigation is always placed at the bottom of each page but is linked to from the table of contents at the top.

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On This Page

  1. Latest news.
  2. Summer School 2013.
  3. Maeve Binchy short story competition.
  4. Winter School 2013.
  5. Summer School 2012.
  6. Winter School 2012.
  7. Other Schools.
  8. Contact Cumann Merriman.

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This document is available in: Gaeilge | English.


The 2013 Merriman Summer School

Welcome to

Venue and dates

Theme
Ireland North and South: two societies growing apart?
Éire agus Ulaidh: ag dul a mbealach féin feasta?
Dates
14 to 18 August (Wednesday to Sunday).
Location
Lisdoonvarna, County Clare,
Director
Andy Pollak.

Further information

Read an overview of planned School events.

You can also subscribe to our RSS feed in English. This will let you know whenever we add new information to our site.

News & Forthcoming Events

Updated: Thursday, 16th May 2013.

Cumann Merriman Summer School 2013

Venue and dates

Theme
Ireland North and South: two societies growing apart?
Éire agus Ulaidh: ag dul a mbealach féin feasta?
Dates
14 to 18 August (Wednesday to Sunday).
Location
Lisdoonvarna, County Clare,
Director
Andy Pollak.

Detailed information about the School

A preliminary programme (subject to change), information on confirmed speakers and accommodation lists can be found in the 2013 Summer School section of this website.

Overview

This year’s Merriman Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare will will take a close look at politics, society and culture in the two Irelands over the past 15 years since the Good Friday Agreement.

Among the questions a range of distinguished speakers from both Irish jurisdictions will address are: Are the two societies in Ireland very slowly moving closer as the Good Friday Agreement intended or — as the Summer School’s title provocatively suggests — moving apart? Do they function in rather different worlds: the North struggling with its ancient bugbears of sectarianism and division, the South consumed by debt and austerity? What are the implications of this for the nationalist aspiration of unity by consent? Is there an alternative form of nationalism to Sinn Fein’s that might accommodate this phenomenon? Are most people in the South now totally ’switched off’ from the North and (if so) what are the future implications of this for both societies? Is there now, particularly among younger people, a kind of Southern Irish identity that excludes the North? Is there an emerging Northern identity? Is a new, more inclusive unionism emerging? What elements in culture, religion, society and the economy continue to act to bring the people of the island together — and how should policy‑makers and other influential people be seeking to promote and encourage these? And on the international front: What would be the implications for both parts of the island if the UK were to leave the EU and Ireland were to stay in? What are the implications for the island of Ireland of moves towards Scottish independence?

Speakers will include politicians and poets, geographers and journalists, academics, economists and others. As always, there will be a healthy mix of discussion and debate, poetry and music and convivial company.

The 2013 Summer School’s Director is Andy Pollak, Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies in Armagh.

The opening address will be given by Mícheál Martin, TD.

Maeve Binchy short story competition

The Merriman Short Story Competition in memory of Maeve Binchy has been won by County Cork writer, Danielle Mc Laughlin. The writer read her short story, In Through the Skin, to the audience in Glór Theatre on Friday 1st March at the opening session of the Ennis Book Club Festival.

The competition, organised by Cumann Merriman in association with the Ennis Book Club Festival and Clare County library, was set up to mark Maeve Binchy’s long connection with the Merriman Summer School, of which she was a regular member. She herself had some years ago written and recorded a special short story entitled A Week in Summer, which was set at the Merriman Summer School and she wished to honour the School by donating the royalties from its publication.

The competition was open to writers writing in Irish or English, born or resident in Ireland, and was judged by writers Anne Enright, Éilis Ní Dhuibhne and Alan Titley, who were unaware of the names of the writers whose work they were judging. As it turned out, they awarded the prize to a young writer who had already received several accolades for her short fiction, including The Writing Spirit Award for Fiction 2010, the From the Well Short Story Competition 2012 and the William Trevor/Elizabeth Bowen International Short Story Competition 2012.

Accepting the prize cheque for €1,000, Danielle, who lives in Donoughmore in County Cork, said Maeve was renowned for her generosity and for her encouragement of emerging Irish writers. I am delighted and honoured to be yet another recipient of this legendary generosity and encouragement. Gordon Snell, Maeve Binchy’s husband, sent a special message of congratulation, saying that Maeve was always delighted to see new Irish writers come on the scene and did everything she could to help and encourage them.

Doireann Ní Bhriain and Máire Ní Neachtain of the Cumann Merriman committee, presented the award to the writer.

Previous News & Events

Cumann Merriman Winter School 2013

Venue and dates

Dates
1 – 3 February 2013.
Theme
An Cultúr Dúchais — ó thinteáin go hilmheáin.
Directors
Máire Ní Neachtain, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál.
Liam Ó Dochartaigh.
Location
Óstán Westport, Cathair na Mart, Co. Mhaigh Eo.

Further information

Read more about the 2013 Merriman Winter School.

Cumann Merriman Summer School 2012

Venue and dates

Dates
15 to 19 August (Wednesday to Sunday).
Theme
Thriving at the Crossroads? Rural Ireland in a Globalised World.
Director
Bob Collins.
Location
Lisdoonvarna, County Clare,

Further information

Read more about this School.

Cumann Merriman Winter School 2012

Venue and dates

Dates
27 to 29 January
Theme
Comhar @ 70: Borradh sa Litríocht.
Directors
Deirdre Nic Mhathúna and Máire Ní Neachtain.
Location
Hotel Westport, Westport, County Mayo

Further information

Read more about this School.

Other Schools

Read about other Cumann Merriman Schools in the Schools section of our website.

Contact Us

You can find out about forthcoming Cumann Merriman events by contacting us via our mail form, or by telephone during office hours on 00 353 86 382 0671.

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