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 intimate detail than at the Daniel O’Connell Summer School. This event attracts historians and speakers to Kerry to celebrate the life of O’Connell, and this year’s school runs from August 31 to September 1.

But while the Liberator’s legacy is naturally the focal point of the event, in recent years it has expanded its itinerary to encapsulate many other important cultural, historical and social aspects associated with the Iveragh Peninsula.

Professor Maurice Bric is Director of the Daniel O’Connell Summer School and he is proud of the contribution it makes to understanding the life and times of O’Connell, and the locality he came from. This is the sixth year of the summer school which has proven to be a huge success and important fixture in Cahersiveen’s calendar of events.

A sample of this year’s lineup of speakers includes Gerard Brockie who will talk about how the building of the Danial O’Connell Memorial Church came into being, how he lobbied the Irish hierarchy and even went to Pope Leo XIII to get his blessing for the project. Other locally focused lectures cover topics like the folklore of south Kerry, Life in the Big House, and ‘ travel and travelling in 19th Century Ireland’. The latter offers an interesting insight into coaches and roads, and how Daniel O’Connell travelled from Derrynane to places like Tralee. This year also marks the centenary of when women were first given the vote; in keeping with this theme there will be talks about the impact of women on Irish politics today, as well as during O’Connell’s time.

The keynote Daniel O’Connell Lecture will this year be given in the format of a wide-ranging interview on Irish and international affairs. The interviewee is Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who will be interviewed by well-known journalist and RTE broadcaster Olivia O’Leary.

Lastly, on Saturday, September 1 in Derrynane House, a lecture-recital by the popular baritone Gavin Ring takes place. Gavin will be fresh from his appearance at the 2018 Proms, and he will talk about the writings of Thomas O’Brien Butler - a pioneering composer of operas in Irish, and native of south Kerry – on whom Gavin recently completed a PhD thesis.

For more information on this year’s summer school, email: maryoconnorderrynane2 @gmail.com

John Bruton main speaker at last year’s Daniel O Connell Summer School.

Christy O Connell, Daniel O Connell Summer School, Eoin O Shea, Kerry County Council, Michéal Lehane RTE Journalist and John Joe Carroll, Kerry GAA Delegate Munster Council at last year’s Daniel O Connell Summer School.