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


Guest Speakers at the 2009 Merriman Summer School

This page lists the speakers and lecturers attending the 2009 Summer School and provides short biogs for each of them.

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Speakers and Lecturers for 2009

Paul Bew
Professor of Politics at Queen’s University Belfast. Member of the British House of Lords. Most recent publication is Ireland: The Politics of Enmity 1789‑2006 (2007).
Bob Collins
Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and a former Director‑General of RTÉ. Directed the Summer School previously, in 1980, 1981 and 2005.
Tom Collins
Head of Education Department and Dean of Teaching and Learning at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
John F. Deane
Poet and writer. A member of Aosdána, his most recent collection is A Little Book of Hours (2008). Founder of Poetry Ireland and of The Poetry Ireland Review.
Noel Dorr
Former Secretary-General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and well‑known at Merriman Schools. Also formerly the Irish Ambassador to the United Nations.
Clare Duignan
Managing Director of Radio in RTÉ, previously Director of Television Programmes.
Cilian Fennell
Media Coach, TV Producer. Former producer of the Late Late Show and former Head of Programmes with TG4.
Diarmaid Ferriter
Historian and broadcaster. Professor of Modern Irish History at University College Dublin. Has published extensively on nineteenth and twentieth century Irish history.
Seán Freyne
Professor Emeritus of Theology at Trinity College, Dublin and Visiting Professor at the Harvard School of Divinity. Author of several books and many articles.
Philip Furlong
Former Secretary General of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
Maureen Gaffney
Chairperson, National Economic and Social Forum. Psychologist, writer, broadcaster and columnist. Works include The Way We Live Now (1996).
James Harpur
Poet. Has had four collections published by Anvil Press. Most recent collection is The Dark Age (2007). Has won a number of awards, including the 2009 Michael Hartnett Award and the British National Poetry Competition.
Sara Keating
Writes about the arts for the Irish Times and the Sunday Business Post, among other publications. Was awarded a PhD for her research on twentieth‑century Irish culture at the Samuel Beckett School of Drama, Trinity College Dublin in 2006. Currently teaches at TISCH School of the Arts, New York University.
Brigid Laffan
Principal of the College of Human Sciences in University College Dublin. Founding Director of the Dublin European Institute UCD in 1999. Author of Integration and Co‑operation in Europe (1992), The Finances of the Union (1997) and co‑author of Europe’s Experimental Union (2000).
Emily Logan
Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children. She was appointed by Her Excellency, President Mary McAleese, following an interview process involving fifteen children and three adults. Recently appointed Chair of the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children.
Johnny Morrissey
Dance master. Well‑known set dancing teacher and School participant. Also a concertina player.
John‑Mark Mc Cafferty
Head of Social Justice and Policy with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Represents SVP in Social Partnership, was member of the National Economic and Social Council 2003‑2007. Previously worked as policy and projects officer with the Combat Poverty Agency.
Betty Mc Coy
Long‑established dance teacher who has played a central role in the revival and popularity of set dancing.
John Mc Hale
Has recently taken up his new position as Professor of Economics at NUI Galway. Was Associate Professor of Economics at the School of Business, Queen’s University, Canada. Raised in Waterford but has spent the past 19 years in the US and Canada.
Póilín Ní Chiaráin
Iriseoir cáiliúil agus comhfhreagraí an Tuaiscirt le RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh
File. D'fhreastail sí ar Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, áit ar dhein sí staidéar ar an nGaeilge agus ar an bhFraincis. Bhronn an Chomhairle Ealaíon sparántacht uirthi sa bhliain 2008. D'fhoilsigh Coiscéim Péacadh, a céad chnuasach filíochta (2008).
Deirdre Nic Mhathúna
Léachtóir le Gaeilge i gColáiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach. Is iad na sainréimsí taighde atá aici ná filíocht na seachtú haoise déag, léamh lámhscríbhinní agus eagarthóireacht ar théacsanna iarchlasaiceacha.
Brian Ó Dálaigh
Cláiríneach ó dhúchas. Cáilíochtaí bainte amach aige sa stair i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath agus in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Má Nuad. É ina phríomhoide scoile ar feadh a shaoil. Cuid mhaith foilsithe aige ar stair agus ar shaíocht Thuamhumhan.
Eoghan Ó hAnluain
Iar-Léachtóir Sinsearach le Gaeilge i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Bhí sé mar Stiúrthóir ar 24 Scoil Gheimhridh. Iar‑Rúnaí Chumann Merriman agus Cathaoirleach an Chumainn 1992 go 1997.
Pádraig Ó hAoláin
Príomhfheidhmeannach ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Ag saothrú sa Ghaeltacht le Gaeltarra Éireann agus le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta ó lár na seachtóidí i leith, i bpostanna éagsúla ar a n-áirítear Bainisteoir Tionscail Ghaeltachta, Ceannaire Eolais agus Leas-Phríomhfheidhmeannach‑Forbairt Réigiúnach.
Aongus Ó hAonghusa
Stiúrthóir Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann.
Tadhg Ó hIfearnáin
Léachtóir Sinsearach le Gaeilge in Ollscoil Luimnigh. Tá an chuid is mó dá shaothar dírithe ar an tsochtheangeolaíocht. Tá go leor tograí goirt agus teoiriciúla curtha i gcrích aige in Éirinn, i Manainn, ar Mhór‑roinn na hEorpa agus i Meiriceá Thuaidh.
Frances Ruane
Director of the Economic and Social Research Institute since 2006. Previously an Associate Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin. Member of the Council of Economic Advisors to the First Minister of Scotland, Chairman of the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector and a Commission Member of the National Pensions Reserve Fund.
Michael Smyth
Head of School of Economics at University of Ulster. Well‑known writer and commentator on economic matters in Northern Ireland.
Enda Wyley
Dublin Poet. Collections include To Wake To This (2009), Poems for Breakfast (2004 ), Eating Baby Jesus (1993), and Socrates in the Garden (1998). Has received several Arts Council Bursaries and awards, including the inaugural Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize.
Nuala Hayes
Well known actor and storyteller. Member of Abbey Theatre for five years. Founded Two Chairs Company, with musician Ellen Cranitch 18 years ago. Has performed at all the major Storytelling Festivals in Ireland was Director of the Dublin Festival, Scéalta Shamhna, for 10 years. Recently played leading roles in the New Theatre’s adaptation of The Tailor and Ansty by Eric Cross (2005); The Well of the Saints by J.M. Synge (2008) and in The End of the Beginning, by Seán O’Casey, with Big Telly Theatre Company.
Anne‑Marie O’Farrell
Well respected harpist, composer and teacher who graduated from UCD and was awarded an M.A. in compostion from NUI Maynooth. Plays a pivotal role in the development of the Irish Harp and is consultant to Salvi harpmakers. Performs with both classical and traditional musicians. Recordings include her solo albums, Heads and Harps, Harping Bach to Carolan, The Jigs Up, and Double String with Cormac de Barra.

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