Gaelgóirís prepare to convene as the Merriman Winter School returns to Westport for the tenth time
Making Merriman at winter schoolCulture
Áine RyanWHETHER or not the tenth Cumann Merriman Winter School, to be held in Westport soon, will replicate any of the bawdy and Rabelaisian scenes from Cúirt an Mhean Óíche (The Midnight Court) will not be confirmed – on the record anyway – by its organisers.
One thing for sure is the annual gathering, honouring the legacy of 18th century poet, Brian Merriman, will include much ceol agus craic. Of course, Scoil Merriman is also fundamentally about scholarship and the cross-generational narrative it engenders.
According to local organiser Úna Uí Chuinn: “The Merriman Winter School gives all gaelgóirís a platform to show their scholarship and also to mix socially and to keep in touch with the network of friendships spawned through the school.”
Bean Uí Chuinn explains to The Mayo News that this year’s theme, ‘Comhar@70: BlΡthú na Litríochta’, celebrates the contribution of that Irish language publication, founded under the aegis of An Comhchaidreamh – a network organisation established in 1935 that links the Irish Language societies in the country’s universities.
An scoil, which will run from Friday, January 27, to Sunday, January 29, at Hotel Westport, will be officially opened by the retired Director General of RTÉ, Cathal Goan. Professor Alan Titley will be among the line-up of distinguished speakers, while recently retired Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster MΡirtín Mac Donnchadha will act as Fear a’ Tí for Club Merriman on both nights.
The busy programme will also include a symposium led by young gaelgóirí, Eilís Ní Dhúill, Meadhbh Ní Eaghra agus FiontΡin de Brún, who all work in the modern mass media. Moreover, acclaimed Mayo harpist, Laoise Kelly will create the musical ambience on Sunday morning for a poetry reading.
“Cumann Merriman always aims to engage with the general public, and interested visitors, in devising its programme. And while the proceedings of the Winter School are held in the Irish language, there is a lively bilingual social scene on the fringes of the school,” Úna Uí Chuinn explains.
She says the organisation is ‘proud of being a pioneer in cultural tourism”, offering a ‘unique tourism product’ to the national and international students and enthusiasts who attend the annual event.
“And Westport is the perfect town to host the school. It is back here because I invited Cumann Merriman to return. The school was last held here in 2008. With the tightly-knit community here, and the great volunteering ethos, the visitors get a great welcome,” she continues.
This year’s school will also focus on the rich musical heritage of Mayo – a subject close to Dr Úna Uí Chuinn’s heart. After she retired from primary school teaching in 1998, she undertook a Masters degree in Chant and Ritual Song in the University of Limerick. Part of this course opened a window to the Irish song heritage of Mayo.
“It quite simply opened up a whole new horizon for me and I went on to pursue a Phd at Queen’s University, Belfast, where all the old music manuscripts were stored,” she enthuses.
Etching new furrows in the wake of the scholarship of 18th-century experts Edward Bunting and PΡdraig Ó Loinsigh, Úna’s pioneering research has significantly added to the treasury of Mayo’s musical heritage. An impressive tome, her thesis is entitled ‘PΡdraig Ó Loinsigh and na hÁmhrΡin as Maigh Eo Í LΡmbhscríbhíní Bunting 1802’.
The Directors of this year’s school are Deirdre Nic Mhathúna, ColΡiste Phadraig, Dhroim Chonrach and MΡire Ní Neachtain, ColΡiste Mhuire gan SmΡl.
FoundationsESTABLISHED in 1967, Cumann Merriman promotes interest in the celebrated 18th-century poem ‘Cúirt an Mhean Oíche’ (‘The Midnight Court’) and its author, Clare man Brian Merriman. It also fosters a focus on the history and traditions of Thomond (Tuamhumhan, the old north Munster) as well as all aspects of Irish culture.
The distinguished list of patrons of Cumann Merriman include the incumbent, celebrated poet, Seamus Heaney, as well as the late UachtarΡin na hÉireann Eamon de Valera and Cearbahll Ó DΡlaigh.
The Cumann Merriman Winter School is held each year during the weekend closest to St Brigid’s Day, February 1, traditionally the beginning of the ancient Celtic festival of Spring, Imbolc.
Cúírt Mean OícheDURING his morning stroll in 1780, the poet falls into a reverie as he admires the many beautiful views. Soon a fierce woman, the bailiff of the chief fairy, is taking him to a court of women who are discussing Ireland’s falling population and the scarcity of good marriage partners. Addressing the court, one young woman chastises all those men who wait so long to wed they are too old to satisfy their women. One miserable old man defends his gender but is attacked by the woman for his lack of prowess as a husband. She proposes that priests should get married.
The bailiff then calls on one woman after another to chastise Merriman and to show him no mercy. The poet eventually awakens in a state of terror. The poem also provides a picture of the rural folkways and life at the time.
For more information on the Cumann Merriman Winter School, visit
www.merriman.ie or call Úna Uí Chuinn on 087 9324725.
