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27 July 2005 — Celebration in Limerick

Prionnsias de Priondargast starts the walk off

Exactly 200 years after Brian Merriman’s death in Limerick on 27 July 1805, he was given formal recognition by the City Council in the person of the Deputy Mayor of Limerick, Councillor Jim Long at 10.45am in the City Hall. Approximately 80 were present for the event and former-Mayor Proinnsias de Priondargast was in charge of the proceedings. Also, the Cathaoirleach of Cumann Merriman presented three books on Merriman and his work to the Deputy‑Mayor in celebration of the bicentennary. The books presented were: a commemorative copy of the definitive version of Cúirt an Mheon‑Oíche (launched by Cumann Merriman the same day) by the Irish‑language scholar, Liam P. Ó Murchú of University College Cork; Merriman: I bhFábhar Béithe, a new collection of articles by Liam P. Ó Murchú on the poet (and Cumann Merriman’s 2005 Book of the Year); and The Midnight Court, a new translation by Ciaran Carson of Merriman’s great work, which was published earlier in the year during ‘Cúirt’, the International Literary Festival in Galway, with sponsorship from Cumann Merriman.

A Tour of Merriman’s Limerick

Plaques, about to be unveiled, commemorating the home of Brian Merriman

From 11.30 to 2.00, Prionnsias de Priondargast took the participants on a tour of the area in which Brian Merriman, and his people after him, lived .i. Mary Street, Merriman Place, and Old Clare Street. There was also an oppertunity to see an account of the baptism of one of Brian Merriman’s grandchildren in the parish registry in the parochial house next to Saint Mary’s Church. Liam Ó Dochartaigh (Cathaoirleach Chumann Merriman) and Liam P. Ó Murchú (editor of the text of the Court) had the honour of unveiling the plaques in commemoration of Brian Merriman on the wall of Number 5 Old Clare Street. The plaques were prepared by Limerick Civic Trust (Denis Leonard), one in English and one in Irish. Members of Conradh na Gaeilge, Luimnigh, read extracts from the Court for the occasion.

At 3.00, in the Pery Best Western Hotel Cúirt an Mheon‑Oíche, Liam P. Uí Mhurchú’s definitive edition, was launched in a special binding for members of Cumann Merriman to commemorate the bicentennial celebrations of the death of the poet.

Press Conference

Members of Coiste Chumann Merriman outside the house located on the site of Merriman’s home

A press conference was called at 4.00 at 2 Pery Square (The Georgian House & Garden) to publicise details of the programme for the 2005 Summer School. Present were the Deputy‑Mayor of Limerick, Councillor Jim Long, and Councillor Bernard Hanrahan, representitive of the Mayor of Clare. Participants were delighted to see Con Howard, one of the founders of Cumann Merriman, present.

Participants

Participants in the day’s events included the following members of Cumann Merriman committees: Diarmuid Breathnach, Bob Collins, Catherine Devine, Aisling Ní Bheacháin, Deirdre Ní Loingsigh, Máire Ní Neachtain, Marian O’Callaghan, Liam Ó Dochartaigh, Mary O’Flaherty, Eoghan Ó hAnluain, Liam P. Ó Murchú and Úna Uí Chuinn, as well as Síne Nic an Ailí, a student of Limerick University, who is working with the Cumann this year.

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