Cloughjordan Honours Thomas MacDonagh 2017

“The story of the men who loved Ireland has often been told, and I, with other Irish women rejoice to do them honour, but I am a little jealous that of Irish women the hero tale has not been told, for they too love their country and work for it.” Susan Mitchell 1919

Friday 28th April
7.30 pm Official opening of ‘Cloughjordan Honours Thomas MacDonagh’
The Land Where Nothing Is – by artist Suzanne Walsh
Suzanne is a cross-disciplinary artist working mainly with text, performance and audio. This installation is made from sources which include poetry of MacDonagh and Ledwidge together with comments from Facebook groups, on housing and environmental concerns.

Saturday 29th April
Thomas MacDonagh Summer School
Registration 10 – 10.30 am (booking is essential 087 3946862)
Fee €15. (Heritage Group members and volunteers at the MacDonagh Museum €10)

Chairperson – Anne-Marie Kelly
10.30 am Beyond 1916 – Cumann na mBan and Revolutionary Propaganda
Speaker – Mary McAuliffe
Through her research Mary became interested in the contributions of women to Irish history, from the medieval to the modern and has gone on to publish several books.

11.30 pm 77 Women Quilt – Remembering the Women in Richmond Barracks
Speaker – Máirín Johnston
Mairín was one of a group invited to creatively respond to the stories of the seventy seven women imprisoned in Richmond Barracks after the Rising. This project reflected the diversity of women’s experience in contemporary Ireland.
12.30 am The family of Fredrick and Isabella Gifford
Speaker – Lucille Redmond
Lucille Redmond, great-grand-daughter of Frederick and Isabella, shares her family history with us. She is a regular and welcome contributor to the Summer School.

LUNCH BREAK
2 pm Rathurles through the Ages
Caimin O’Brien will share his expertise in a talk on the ring fort and site of the Aonach or ancient gathering at Rathurles. Following his talk he will lead a guided tour of the site, with the kind permission of the Brereton family.

Guided Bus Tour
The tour will include: the historic site at Rathurles, the Devaney Memorial in Kilruane and Grawn Church

8 pm Bawney and Friends – Music, song, poetry, story and surprises.
Join with Bawney Hayes in the company of his talented guests and stay for the ‘cupán tae’.

Sun 30th April .
Chairperson – Peadar Kirby
3 pm Creative Rebellion: Artistic Consciousness at the time of MacDonagh
Dr. Caoilfhionn Ní Bheacháin and Dr. Angus Mitchell, University of Limerick, will reflect on the role of the artist before and after the Rising of 1916. This event will explore the power of the arts and creativity to transform society. This will be followed by a tour through the Ecovillage to the new Community Amphitheatre, a multi-purpose performance space.

8 pm Hanna and Francis Sheehy Skeffington
Speaker – Michelene Sheehy Skeffington
Micheline will present an illustrated talk on the involvement of her grandparents in the feminist, nationalist and peace movements of the early twentieth century and their association with Thomas and Muriel MacDonagh.

Monday 1st May
2 pm Ceiliúra Bealtaine in Knocknacree Wood
Join with Mary Meighan in Knocknacree Wood and be part of a celebration of Bealtaine – our Celtic Festival honouring the arrival of summer.

4 pm The Cloughjordan Ukelele Band in the Middle Country Cafe
The Ukelele Band aim to entertain their audience with a selection of songs and tunes ranging from country classics to punk rock. Come along and enjoy – Free admission.

9 pm Oíche Ghaelach – Ceol agus craic in Grace’s pub
Beidh fáilte roimh chách, go mór mhór roimh cheoltoirí agus iadsan ar mhaith leo bheith páirteach sa seisiún.
Local schools present essays on –
My memories of 1916 commemorations during 2016
A selection of pupils’ essays will be on display during the weekend