A Look Back at the Cumann Merriman Summer School 2006

Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh

The famous broadcaster and the ‘voice of gaelic games’, delivering the opening speech on the Saturday night, 19th August.

Doctors Hillery

Dr. Patrick Hillery, Patron of Cumann Merriman, and his wife Maeve during the opening of the 2006 Summer School.

Club in another light

Club Merriman is an integral part of a day at the School. For some it is the applied version of the set‑dancing workshop! For others it is a meeting of friends with a few songs and a few jars.

Síle and Breandán

Síle Ní Lochlainn and Breandán Ó hÉamhaigh, members of the backup team at this School.

Br. Seán Mc Namara

Brother Seán in full flight on his great hero, Michael Cusack. Seán is the author of the biography of Cusack, The Man From Carron.

Michael and Mícheál

Dr. Michael Griffin, School Director, and Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh just before the official opening of the School.

Professor Dáithí Ó hÓgáin

Dr. Michael Griffin, Muiris Ó Rócháin and Professor Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, after Dáithí gave his lecture, ‘Narratives of Hurling’ on the Sunday night.

Betty and Johnny

Betty Mc Coy and Johnny Morrisey, the School’s excellent set‑dancing tutors for many years, enjoying a break during Club Merriman.

Merripeople

Seán Mc Donagh, Máire Ní Neachtain and Aideen Friel.

Luke Gibbons

Professor Luke Gibbons discussing Michael Cusack and James Joyce at the Merriman School.

Aifric Mac Aodha

Aifric is a young and vibrant voice in Irish poetry and gave an engaging reading at the first Cúirt an Mheán Lae session.

Cúirt an Mheán Lae on Sunday

Part of the large audience at Aifric Mac Aodha’s Cúirt an Mheán Lae.

Beth Corcoran

Comhar is a monthly magazine in Irish which covers current affairs, the arts and literature. Beth was in charge of the Chomhar stand when it visited the School.

Always read the lable…

The sulphur water of the spa wouldn’t be the drink you’d most often hear called during the Merriman School. All the same, you’ll see one or two people throwing back a glass with the nose pinched most days! Said to ease hangovers... but not by those who have them!

Sets in Club Merriman

No surprise here! School participants enjoying another night’s set dancing under the guidance of Betty and Johnny.

Waltzes in Club Merriman

There’s always something new at a Merriman School. Our English visitors showed an unusual version of a waltz in the Club.

Alan Titley

As has been observed, neither Fermanagh nor Fiji are hurling strongholds — but it wasn’t always so! Alan’s lecture explored parallels between the displacement of the Irish language and that of hurling. Imagine Liam Mc Carthy going home to Donegal, or the Kilkenny Gaeltacht…

John Mc Auliffe

Both a prolific writer and a busy academic, John was in the chair for Monday’s Cúirt an Mheán Lae. Find out more about him on his own webpage at The University of Manchester.

Cúirt an Mheán Lae on Monday

John Mc Auliffe’s session drew a full house, developing a trend that lasted the whole week.

Róisín Ní Ghairbhí

Róisín delivering her lecture, Athbheochan na Gaeilge i dTuamhumhain 1847–1911, in the Pump House.

Doreen and Aisling

Local artist Doreen Drennan and her daughter Aisling, seen here with an example of Doreen’s work. This painting was part of the Timeless Images exhibition hosted by the Merriman Summer School. This show was organised by Doreen.

Kevin, Michael and Eoghan

Possibly one of the most dynamic speakers at the School this year, Kevin Whelan gave a genuinely stimulating lecture about cultural nationalism and the GAA on Tuesday night.

Luke, Luke and Síle

Luke Gibbons, Luke ‘Ming the Merciless’ O’Flanagan and Síle Ní Lochlainn, as the audience gathers for Tina O’Toole’s lecture, Beyond the ‘Hidden Ireland’: The Munster Women Writers Project.

Cúirt an Mheán Lae on Tuesday

Another full house! School participants enjoying Bernard O’Donoghue’s poetry in the Pump House at the Spa Wells Centre.

Seán Jordan

Cumann Merriman’s long‑serving sound man is a familiar face to regular participants. Seán’s professionalism and patient temperement ensures that all runs smoothly for speakers.

Bernard O’Donoghue

This Cork poet was in the chair for Tuesday’s Cúirt an Mheán Lae.

Piaras and Tina

Dr. Tina O’Toole, University of Limerick, pictured after her talk on The Munster Women Writers Project, with Dr. Piaras Mac Éinrí of University College Cork.

Treasa and Peadar

Treasa and Peadar Mac Mánais are old hands at the Merriman School. They are pictured here outside Cassidy’s beautiful pub in Carron during in the School tour.

Out on the Burren

School participants on a visit to the Caherconnell ring fort.

Brendan Dunford

Brendan gave a very interesting talk to the School on the Burren and on the future of farming there in particular. He is pictured here near Michael Cusack’s house, giving a talk about the flora and fauna of the Burren.

Soft Day in the Burren

Not the most promising start to a School tour! Shelter was sought in the Caherconnell Centre while we waited for the fine weather to return. Luckily, it did!

Having the Craic

Breandán Ó hÉamhaigh, Síle Ní Lochlainn and Arne Peters taking Club Merriman far too seriously!

The Baloonatics

Still standing after their performance of Cyclops, the raucous tale of pints and prejudice in a Dublin pub. Rumours that eighteen pints of porter were consumed during the performence are untrue... two survived!

Carron National School

This is Carron National School, which Michael Cusack attended. He was one of the first pupils to enroll.

The Four Courts Céilí Band

Without the music there wouldn’t be many sets. Here are the lads hard at work in Club Merriman. The legs on the right hand side belong to Johnny Morrisey

Michael, Seán and Liam

Thursday 24th August 2006.

Brian Farrell

Brian, the Cathaíorlach for Niamh Hourigan’s lecture, takes a question from the audience.

Seán, Eithne, Máire and Patricia

Thursday 24th August 2006.

What’s the next line?

Not the first time a Merriman lecture ended in an outdoor singing session — nor the first time a song ended before the end!

Craic Merriman!

Thursday 24th August 2006.

Niamh Hourigan

Niamh taking questions from the audience after her lecture on globalisation, the Irish language and the media.

Brian Ó Conchubhair

Brian makes a point during the second of two lectures given by him this week on subjects relating to the Irish‑language revival.

Cúirt an Mheán Lae Dé hAoine

Futa Fata Féasóg! Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin brought a musical dimension to Cúirt an Mheán Lae.

Biddy Jenkinson

The poet and writer, Biddy Jenkinson, who took charge of Cúirt an Mheán Lae the previous day.

Seeing through Counties

The geography of sport or the sport of geography? Patrick J. O’Connor and Michael Griffin.

Máirín and Joe Steve Ó Neachtain

Saturday 26th August 2006.

Billy

Sustenance for weary Scholars! A School in Lisdoonvarna wouldn’t be right without it, and no better man to see after us.

Seán Mac Réamoinn

Saturday 26th August 2006.

Winding‑up the School

Liam Ó Dochartaigh closing the 2006 Summer School. Bob Collins and John A. Murphy are next to him on the stage, after John’s lecture on Irish Ireland.

Michael Griffin

Saturday 26th August 2006.

Suzette and John Liddy

Saturday 26th August 2006.

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin

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This song is called Amhrán an Ghaeilgeora Mhóir. It is the lonely lament of a young man forced to abandon his true love because of her profound grammatical inadequecies! It was recorded live in the Spa Wells Pump House during his session at Cúirt an Mheán Oíche.

John Mc Auliffe

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This poem is called Context. Its inspiration was the period John spent in London tutoring students at home. It was recorded in the Spa Wells Centre straight after his session at Cúirt an Mheán Oíche.

Aifric Mac Aodha

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This poem is called Dillseachtaí. Aifric read it for us on the Monday night in the Roadside Tavern.

Bernard O’Donoghue

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This poem is called Ter Conatus. It is a powerful, sad piece that shows understanding of an aspect of rural Ireland that is still with us. It was recorded in the Spa Wells Centre.

Biddy Jenkinson

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This poem is called Cáitheadh. It features in the Uiscí Beatha collection, published by Coischéim. It was recorded in the Spa Wells Centre.

Brian Ó Conchubhair 1

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Brian’s lecture on the Thursday morning, Cogadh na gCanúintí le linn na hAthbheochana explored the way in which the Irish‑language revival broke with trends and embraced the dialects of the living tongue. In Irish only.

Brian Ó Conchubhair 2

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On the Friday morning Brian discussed Dubhghlas de hÍde, and the possibility that the time he spent in America as an assistant‑professor may have considerably influenced his approach to the language revival. In Irish only.

John A. Murphy

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The final lecture of the School was given by John on Saturday morning, the twenty-sixth. Its title was ‘Irish-Ireland: Self-delusion, then and now'. He told us, however, that this was missing a question mark. In this interview he discusses the subject matter of the lecture and describes his long‑standing association with the Merriman Schools. In Irish only.

Alan Titley

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A great man for the Irish and for spórt, in this interview Alan discusses the lecture he gave on Monday, and explores parallels between the displacement of the language and of hurling. In Irish only.

Maeve Binchy

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Maeve Binchy is one of the Merriman School’s longest serving visitors. Here she talks about the School in general and the short story she wrote for the 2005 bicentenery.

Betty Mc Coy and Johnny Morrissey

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You couldn’t imagine the Summer School without set‑dancing workshops and it would be hard enough to emagine the workshops without the two masters. Here, Betty and Johnny tell us about how the workshops were started, their work in preserving sets and a lot more.

Fidelma Mullane

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Fidelma is a specialist in vernacular architecture and has particular interest in its erosion in County Clare. She gave a lecture on this subject on the Friday morning and also discussed the invaluable support she receives from CLASP.

Michael Cusack Plaque

One of the first things to be seen in the entrance lobby to Croke Park is this imposing bronze plaque of Michael Cusack.

Con Howard

Thirty‑nine years on, Cumann Merriman founder member Con Howard is still a regular School participant. The Cusack Stand can be seen behind him — appropriately enough for this year’s School!

The Hogan Stand

Dr. Michael Griffin, Director of the 2006 Merriman Summer School, in the Hogan Stand at Croke Park during a quiet moment before the press conference to announce the event.

Dr. Michael Griffin

Dr. Michael Griffin presenting the Programme for the forthcoming School. Con Howard, Cumann Merriman founder member, can be seen listening attentively on the left of the picture.

Liam Ó Dochartaigh

Liam Ó Dochartaigh, Cathaoirleach of Cumann Merriman, opening the press conference. He is pictured here with Con Howard, Úna Uí Chuinn, Michael Griffin and Breandán Ó hÉamhaigh, all members of the Cumann Merriman team for this Summer School.

Clare Hurlers

Men of Clare rejoice! Michael Griffin talking with Johnny Cullinan and Jimmy Smyth, famous hurlers of their era... discussing the Clare team’s defeat of Wexford in this very stadium the previous day, perhaps?

Con Howard

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Con Howard was one of the founders of Cumann Merriman in 1967 and has now been involved for 39 years. In this interview he looks back at the Cumann’s foundation and at the circumstances surrounding it.

Jimmy Smyth

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Jimmy Smyth is a former Clare hurler. We asked him about changes in hurling, football and the GAA its self during his own time and since that of Cusack. He concludes the interview with a verse about a certain Christy Ring…

Michael Griffin

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Dr. Michael Griffin is the Stiúrthóir of this year’s Summer School. Here he discusses the various events planned for the School. We hope to publish a further interview with Dr. Griffin after the School.