Renowned Speakers to attend the Michael J. Murphy Winter School

Renowned Speakers to attend the Michael J. Murphy Winter School in Ti Chulainn Cultural Centre, Mullaghbane, South Armagh, on the weekend of November 18-19, 2016.

Once again the Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership has teamed up with Ti Chulainn and to deliver another exciting Michael J. Murphy Winter School; and the line-up for Winter School has been finalised. The theme of this year’s Winter School is ‘The Independent Mind’. This is to pay homage to Michael J. Murphy, the celebrated folklorist, writer, photographer, broadcaster and socialist republican, as probably the most independent mind ever to come out of South Armagh.

With this theme in mind it is absolutely fitting that the school will commence on Friday evening, November 18th, with Fr. Peter McVerry. Peter McVerry, whose roots are in Newry and South Armagh, is the foremost independent thinker in Ireland. He has stood out for decades against the treatment of the urban poor and disadvantaged and has continually agitated against successive governments for their indifference.

On Saturday, November 19th, the theme will be further enhanced by the contribution of people who have courageously followed their own independent minds.

Niall Murphy, All-Ireland Champion musician from the Camlough area, will speak about his decision to follow a career in music. He will illustrate his talk with examples of his music.

Three well-known political and social commentators, who contribute regularly to the columns of ‘The Irish News’ and a variety of other publications and media outlets, will give individual contributions and will then take part in a forum. These distinguished independent minds are Fionnuala O’Connor, Brian Feeney and Patrick Murphy. Therefore, if you wish to listen to or participate in the very best of lively debate it is to be found in Ti Chulainn Cultural Centre, An Mullach Ban, on the weekend of November 18-19.

On August 25th an event took place in Ti Chulainn as part of the Ring of Gullion Lúnasa Festival which saw the community of Carricknagavna National School (1858-1972) come together to remember through photographs, roll-books, reports and correspondence. Upwards of 250 people attended, with contributions from past students, past teachers and their relatives and a DVD of the proceedings will be launched and shown on Saturday at the winter school. Copies of the DVD will be available for purchase.

Also at the weekend the winner of The Michael J. Murphy Short Story Competition will be announced. The competition is open to all over-18s and the closing date for receipt of entries is November 1st. Please post hard copies of entries(with your name, address and contact telephone number) to: The Secretary, Cuimhneamh, Ti Chulainn, Maphoner, Mullaghbane, Newry, Co.Armagh.

Further details will appear in the press and on the ‘Cuimhneamh’ facebook page.