This year’s speakers and lecturers
- 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).
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