Daniel O’Connell Summer School goes from strength to strength
NOWHERE is the life, work and legacy of one of Kerry’s most famous sons remembered in such detail than at the Daniel O’Connell Summer School. This event attracts leading academics from around the world, as well as Ireland, to Kerry to celebrate the life of O’Connell.
But while the Liberator’s legacy is naturally the focal point of this event, in recent years it has expanded its itinerary to encapsulate many other important cultural, historical and social aspects associated with the Iveragh Peninsula.
The 2017 summer school takes place from Friday 25 to Saturday 26 of August when Professor Maurice Bric, Director of the Daniel O’Connell Summer School, gives his introduction at The Library in Cahersiveen on Friday morning to be followed by Cahersiveen man Micheal Lehane. Micheal was recently appointed Political Correspondent with RTE.
Among the many keynote speakers this year are former Taoiseach John Bruton, MEP, Sean Kelly, Kerry County Council CEO, Moira Murrell, Professor Brendan O’Keefe, while the annual memorial Mass for the O’Connell family will be celebrated by the Bishop of Kerry Dr Ray Browne.
The Danial O’Connell Summer School brings the communities of Cahersiveen and Caherdaniel together and provides a platform on which they can discuss the challenges of population decline in Iveragh and the struggles of rural isolation. Local history is also an important part of the weekend.
The event attracts visitors and academics to Cahersiveen to discuss various historic and democratic themes aligned with O’Connell’s legacy. In short, the weekend is a celebration of local and international history, inspired by one of Kerry’s most famous sons.
For more information on this year’s summer school, contact Mary O’Connor at 087 2805702. Email: maryoconnor derrynane2@ gmail. com