Cumann Merriman Summer School 2009

What to Expect

Exactly fifty years ago a remarkable combination of Politician and Civil Servant — Seán Lemass and T K Whitaker — produced a blueprint for development: the First Programme for Economic Expansion. Its purpose was to address the many problems that the Irish State faced at the time and to prepare it to take a fuller place in the world. Much has changed in the meantime. Ireland is a confident member of the world community; a long‑established partner in Europe; better educated; better off; its young people citizens of the world. And yet, it faces a new set of challenges and the impact of the deepest economic recession to hit the world in almost a century.

This is the background to the 2009 Summer School. Every generation has decisions to take about its future, its priorities, its place in the world. For this generation of political leaders, policy makers and citizens these decisions appear more complex than they have done foe a long time. The quickly assumed certainty of the so‑called Celtic Tiger period has given way to a worrying uncertainty about tomorrow. This is the focus of the School. What are the challenges we face?

Looking forward, looking back

There will be a little retrospection. Diarmaid Ferriter, historian and writer, will offer an insight into the context of half a century ago to set the scene for the rest of the School, which will look to the future. Education is, as ever, a key issue and a determinant of so much of what is possible. Tom Collins, Professor of Education at NUI Maynooth will consider the imperatives of educational policy. Maureen Gaffney, psychologist and commentator, will consider the social development of the country and the impact of the changing context.

Cherishing the children of the nation equally has been something of a slogan since its first use more than ninety years ago. Children, now and in the past, are very much in the public consciousness at present. Emily Logan, Ombudsman for Children, will reflect on the State’s policies and priorities in their regard.

Ireland in a global context

We do not live in isolation and a sub‑theme in the School will be our relations with others. Paul Bew (Lord Bew), Professor of Politics at Queen’s University Belfast will look at developments in Northern Ireland locally, and, more broadly, between the two jurisdictions on the island.

Noel Dorr, former Secretary‑General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and well known at Merriman Schools, will look at the issues that face Ireland in shaping its foreign policy in a world whose centre of gravity may be changing significantly.

Brigid Laffan, Principal of the College of Human Sciences in UCD, will address the issue of Ireland’s place in Europe and, specifically, its place in the EU.

Economics

One topic that will not be overlooked is the one which has dominated our consciousness for much of the past year — economics. The science that has seemed more dismal than usual in recent times has assumed a more central place in our lives.

John Mc Hale of the Queen’s University in Canada, but soon to become Professor of Economics in NUI Galway, will reflect on the future focus and direction of policy in this vital and pressing area.

Old favourites

The School will see the return of all the regular features, including:

• Seminars, in Irish and English covering topics such as the relationship between Ministers and senior civil servants, Irish in the education system, language planning, the library in the digital age, the media etc.
• Renew Your Irish with Eoghan Ó hAnluain
• Cúirt an Mheán Lae, the mid‑day poetry reading begun at the 2005 bicentennial School. This year’s poets include John F. Deane and Enda Wyley.
• Setdancing workshops with Betty Mc Coy agus Johnny Morrissey, on Thursday and Friday.
• The School Tour, on Wednesday.
• Club Merriman, with dancing and singing ’til late.

... and of course

We look forward to the informal contacts, the easy context, the research visits to local taverns and, with any luck, good Clare weather to round off the programme.

Bíg línn!