This article is from page 30 of the 2007-07-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
FINAL preparation are being made for this year’s Merriman Summer School which takes place in Lisdoon- varna from August 19 to 25.
This year’s school marks the 40th Anniversary of the event and is enti- tled Changed Utterly? Ireland 1967- 2007. The school brings thousand of extra tourists to north Clare each year and 1s now and essential part of the local tourism scene.
‘That week is a quite week around Lisdoonvarna. Holiday makers are starting to go home and September hasn’t hit. The Summer School is very important for the tourism of the area,’ said local organiser, Marian O’Callaghan.
“It is a very high profile event and it gives Lisdoonvarna a lot of very pos- itive publicity all over the country. It shows people that there is more to Lisdoonvarna, that it’s not all about September.
The school will be directed this year by well-known broadcaster and arts consultant, Doireann Ni Bhriain, and focuses on the massive changes that have taken place in Ireland over the last four decades.
“One of the highlights of this year school will be a concert by the Lis- morahaun Singers in Corpus Christi Church in Lisdoonvarna on August POAC) e mA Ebert
“This concert will feature Naomi O’Connell who began her singing with the Lismorahaun and has gone
on to win countless prizes.”
The school will be opened this year by eminent historian, Professor Gearoid O Tuathaigh of NUI Galway, who will set the tone for the week of debate, discussion, music, poetry, set dancing and general good fun.
Other highlights include a discus- sion on the changed role of the Irish female involving Nuala O’Faolain, Anne Enright and Marian Finucane, an examination of Ireland’s new- found wealth by economist, John Bradley and former Minister of State, Eithne Fitzgerald.
As the week draws to a close, Irish Times journalist and commentator, Fintan O’Toole and historian Di- armuid Ferriter will take a look at how the lessons of the past might in-
form our future on the island.
A series of local history seminars will also profile some local historical personalities including George Un- thank McNamara by Dr Peter Har- bison, Thomas Johnson Westropp by Maire Ashe Fitzgerald, Brendan O’Regan by Bernard Share while Conor Keane will look at Curious examples of Gaelic signage and place-names in Clare.
For more information check out WwWww.merriman.ie