Seán Mac Diarmada Summer School 2015 Kiltyclogher, Co
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Seán Mac Diarmada SUMMER SCHOOL 2015 Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim presents The Relevance of the 1916 Proclamation in the Ireland of Today Fri 12th – Sat 13th June 2015 Conference Co-ordinator: Proinnsíos Ó Duigneáin Seán Mac Diarmada was born on February 28, County Galway under the 1883 near Kiltyclogher, County Defence of the Realm Act for Leitrim. He emigrated to giving a speech against enlisting Glasgow at the age of fifteen into the British Army. He was years. Returning to Belfast released four months later. he was sworn into the Irish Mac Diarmada fought in the Republican Brotherhood (IRB) General Post Office during the in 1908. He transferred to 1916 Rising and was one of the Dublin where he became a close seven signatories of the Irish personal friend of Tom Clarke. Proclamation, the document Together they later went on to issued by the IRB on April 24th, form the military committee 1916 which proclaimed Irish which would plan The Easter independence from the United Rising which took place in 1916. Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Along with the other six In 1910 he became manager signatories to this declaration, of the radical newspaper Irish Mac Diarmada was executed Freedom and as the national in Kilmainham Jail, just three organizer for both the IRB week later, on May 12th 1916. and Sinn Féin he travelled Seán MacDermott Street in extensively throughout the Dublin is named in his honour, country. By November 1913 as is the railway station in Mac Diarmada, who was one Sligo. The GAA park in Carrick of the original members of the on Shannon, Páirc Seán Mac Irish Volunteers, continued to Diarmada, is also named after work to bring that organization him. under IRB control. In May 1915 he was arrested in Tuam, Sean MacDiarmada Summer School Committee: Chairperson: Pat Fox Secretary: Catherine Fox Treasurer: John Keaney The Relevance of the 1916 Proclamation in the Ireland of Today. In a recent article the journalist In the light of such contrasting John Waters wrote: ‘Nothing opinions we are really looking of the logic, philosophy, forward to the views of our sentiment, rhetoric or passion lecturers and panellists. of 1916 remains alive in our We are delighted to culture…There is no point in have such eminent recalling the Proclamation: its commentators on once crystal sentences mean Irish life at this year’s nothing now.’ Waters’s note of Summer School and despair is in stark contrast to I know we can expect the view of the historian Ruth stimulating talks, Dudley Edwards who rejects the lively discussions Proclamation and its signatories and perhaps new out of hand: ‘May I enquire insights into why anyone should pay any ‘the relevance attention whatsoever to what the of the 1916 signatories of the Proclamation Proclamation’. of the Irish Republic thought about anything.‘ She goes on to assert that ’you treat the 1916 Proclamation as Holy Writ at your peril.’ Friday 12th June 2015 Registration for the Summer supporting people. Visitors will school will take place from 4.00 have the opportunity to visit pm to 5.30 at the Kiltyclogher the home prior to the opening community Centre. ceremony. The opening ceremony of the Following the opening ceremony 6th Seán MacDiarmada summer light refreshments will be served School will take place at 6.00 in the Community Centre in pm at the Seán MacDiarmada Kiltyclogher. homestead. The Opening On Friday evening parking Ceremony will be officiated by is limited at the grounds of Minister of State Simon Harris the homestead and we would TD. encourage people to park in The three roomed thatched Kiltyclogher and avail of our free cottage overlooking Lough shuttle service. Shuttle buses to McNean remains much as it did the opening ceremony will depart 130 years ago. The vernacular Kiltyclogher Community Centre buildings traditional furniture from 16.00 and return after the and cooking utensils bear witness event. to the simple lifestyle of a self- Evening Session 8.00 pm Susan McKay in the Irish Times Book of the Year 2014 and Penguin Book of Title: Though I did not say so; Great Irish Reportage 2013. She The Silences Women Keep is former Northern Ireland editor Susan McKay is an award of the Sunday Times and founder winning author and journalist. of the Belfast Rape Crisis Centre. Her most recent documentary Susan is the author of critically ‘Inez’ - A Challenging Woman won acclaimed books including best short documentary at the Northern Protestants - An Galway Film Fleadh in 2013 and Unsettled People, Sophia’s Story recent work has been included and Bear in Mind these Dead. This will be followed by Panel Discussion chaired by Susan McKay Panel: Eithne McNulty, Frank with the Irish government’s pilot White, Seán Ó Súilleabháin, initiative which led to the hill Marie Crawley walking festival and the Glens Centre. She was also a member is a native of Eithne McNulty of the Dublin based National and Manorhamilton. In the 1980s Economic Forum. After moving and 90s she was a volunteer to Northern Ireland in 1996 she a number of books and articles became an active member of the on different aspects of his native NI Women’s Coalition and ran Longford and his adopted county for election to the Assembly in of Leitrim. Among these are: 2004. She went on to become Longford Authors (1978), Scéal vice chair of NI Civic Forum. She Chlub Colmcille, Colmcille GAA also worked on peacebuilding Story (1984), Leitrim GAA Story with women on the Shankill 1886-1984), Come on Cannaboe, Road and in rural border areas. 100 years of Sean O Heslin’s Club More latterly Eithne became (1978), Leitrim GAA Millenium Regional Director of Trócaire Book (2000), Leabharlann heading up its NI functions and Chontae Liatroma 75 Bliain travelling widely to the many ar an Saol (2000). Seán is a poverty programmes it funds. passionate supporter of Gaelic She remains in that post and is games, the Irish language and currently on sabbatical. Irish music. His interest in things Irish stems from the events and , a native of Frank White publicity surrounding the 50th Meenagh, Glenfarne, has been anniversary of the 1916 Rising involved in local history from when he was a young lad. an early age. From 1990 he has been systematically collecting Marie Crawley, originally from oral history from older members Roscommon and now living of the community. He was a in Belleek, manages a Sligo/ major contributor to Glenfarne: Leitrim multi- agency project. A History and has given talks on Since 1995 she has co-authored The Ancient Territory of Breifne, numerous publications on gender The Tottenhams of Glenfarne and proofing and mainstreaming The Sligo Leitrim and Northern commissioned by both the Irish Counties Railway. He was government and NI Assembly. involved in the recent discoveries She has also written many on Thur mountain where a reports on minority experiences. landscape rich in megalithic A former vice chair of the NI monuments was identified. His Women’s Coalition she contested great grandfather Charles Cullen elections in Fermanagh/South was secretary of the Glenfarne Tyrone following the Good Friday Sinn Féin Organisation prior to Agreement. Marie has served 1916 and according to family lore on numerous NGO/statutary he attended meetings with Sean partnerships throughout Ireland, Mac Diarmada in Tom Clarke’s mainly in the areas of rural shop in Dublin. Charles took the development, gender equality pro-Treaty side after the civil and peace and reconciliation war. programmes. She is a strong advocate for Palestine and is a was county Seán Ó Súilleabháin founder member and chair of librarian in Leitrim for 33 years, Sadaka-the Ireland Palestine retiring in 2012. He has written Alliance. Saturday 13th June Registration: 9.00 am Welcome 9.45 am Session 1: 10.00 – 11.00 am Dr Mary McAuliffe Mary was the organiser of the 4 day national commemoration Title: Women and Revolution on the founding of Cumann - Gender, Politicisation and na mBan in April 2014 which Participation in the 1916 Rising included the State celebration Mary McAuliffe is from Co. Kerry at Glasnevin Cemetery led by and holds a PhD from the School President Higgins, an unveiling of History and Humanities, of a commemorative plaque Trinity College. She lectures on at Wynn’s Hotel and a major 2 gender history at UCD Women’s day conference on Cumann na Studies. Her research interests mBan in Collins Barracks. She is include gender and Irish history, currently working on research on memory and history, oral history the female revolutionaries in the and military history. Her latest Rising. She is past president of publication was a re-issue, the Women’s History Association with new introduction, of the of Ireland (2011-2014) and a mid-19th century travelogue committee member of the Irish by Frances Taylor Irish Homes Association of Professional and Irish Hearts (UCD Press, Historians. Classic Series 2012) and a biography of Kathleen Browne 11.00 am – 11.30 am Tea/Coffee entitled Senator Kathleen Break Browne 1876-1943, Patriot, Politician and Practical Farmer. Session 2: 11.30 am– 12.30 pm Roy Garland Agreement. He was a founding member of the Guild of Uriel, Title: A Unionist Reflects on the a dialogue group based near 1916 Proclamation Dundalk. Roy led Understanding Roy Garland was a regular Irish Ulster workshops with Fr Henry News columnist and is the author Grant S.J. during the 1980s of a biography of Gusty Spence. and worked with Loyalist and He completed a thesis The Ulster Republican leaders during Volunteer Force: Negotiating crucial years. He was the first History in 1991.