The Patrick MacGill Summer School 1981-2009

The Patrick MacGill Summer School has been in existence for twenty-nine years.  It was founded in 1981 in Glenties to celebrate the memory of local writer, Patrick MacGill, whose work on the plight of emigrant workers in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century and on the horrors of the Great War in which he fought are still being published and read.  The School has, in that time, brought together speakers representing all walks of public life in Ireland – North and South – to analyse and debate topics of major national interest.  The School's themes have included Emigration & Employment (1988), Education in Ireland (1989), The Constitution of Ireland 1937-1987(1987), Northern Ireland – The Future(1986) and, more recently, Drugs and Alcohol in Ireland – Use and Abuse (2001).  In 2002 the School dealt with the issues surrounding the Nice Referendum, Nice – The Arguments, The Debate, The Facts and these proceedings were published.  The 2003 proceedings were published under the title: “Why Not? Building a Better Ireland”.  In the following year the title of our book was “Political Choice & Democratic Freedom in Ireland” which was the theme of the MacGill school and, in the 25th year of the school, its proceedings were published under the title “Managing Ireland's Future 2005-2030”.  The 2006 book was entitled: “The Soul of Ireland-Issues of Society, Culture and Identity” and was published by the Liffey Press as also was last year's publication, “The Challenge for Government”.  All publications were edited by the founder/director of the MacGill Summer School, Joe Mulholland, former managing director of RTE Television.

Over the years, speakers at the School have included Taoisigh and Tánaistí and, in 1987, two of the country's most eminent members of the judiciary, now alas no longer with us, Mr. Justice Brian Walsh and Mr. Justice Niall McCarthy of the Supreme Court, contributed to the debate on the Irish Constitution, as did the former President of Ireland, Mrs. Mary Robinson.  Ambassadors of the United States and of the United Kingdom have also participated in the School's proceedings.  The twenty-fifth aniversary of the School in 2005 was opened by the French Ambassador, H.E. Frédéric Grasset, and provided the occasion, on the twenty-fifth anniversary not to look back but to look forward to the Ireland of 2030.

In 2001 we inaugurated the Annual John Hume Lecture as a tribute to the work done, over the decades by the then leader of the SDLP, John Hume, and particularly his major contribution to the Peace Process. This has become an important and significant national event.   The lecture has been delivered by Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, Mr Brian Cowen TD, Mrs Nuala O'Loan,

The Hon. Peter Hain MP, Fr. Alec Reid C.Ss R. and the Rev. Harold Good OBE.

The MacGill School has honoured two distinguished writers who have been, like Patrick MacGill himself, inspired by their relationship with and love of Donegal: Peadar O'Donnell and Brian Friel.  It was in August 1985, when the Donegal writer and political activist was in his nineties, that The Life and Times of Peadar O'Donnell was chosen as that year's theme.  The author himself was in attendance throughout the week and participated fully in the debate, sometimes having to fend off trenchent criticism of his political legacy. He was to pass away about six months later.  Several prominent public figures who contributed to that year's school, among them Sean McBride, Noel Browne and Jim Kemmy, have since departed this life.

In 1995 the School celebrated the outstanding literary achievement of the great contemporary playwright, Brian Friel, whose family, on his mother's side, hail from Glenties.  The week included appraisals of Friel's work by major figures from the world of theatre and academia including Seamus Heaney, Stephen Rea, Terence Brown and the Donegal playwright, Frank McGuinness, as well as readings and recitals. Few who attended the Abbey Theatre production of Friel's acclaimed play, Dancing at Lughnasa, which was based on the lives of the author's aunts in Glenties, will ever forget the extraordinary atmosphere and ambiance in the hall of St. Columba's College in Glenties as Friel introduced from the stage his opus magnum to a packed and wildly enthusiastic audience, come to see the play return to the place of its inspiration.  The performance led to the premiere of the film by Pat O'Connor and Noel Pearson, adapted from Friel's work, being presented in Glenties with, much to the delight of the local people, Meryl Streep in attendance.  Brian Friel himself and his wife, Anne, are frequent visitors to the MacGill School.

As part of the School's arts programme, which has been a feature almost since the beginning, several artists, whose work has been acclaimed, have been honoured during their lifetimes with exhibitions and lectures including the architect, Liam McCormick, one of whose magnificent churches stands in Glenties, and the painters, Derek Hill, who bequeathed to Donegal and the nation his house and much of his collection and T.P Flanagan.  As a tribute to the great Irish dramatist, Samuel Beckett, the Gate Theatre has presented in Glenties, Krapp's Last Tape, with David Kelly and I'll Go On with Barry McGovern.  Two distinguished Irish artistes, Dr. Bernadette Greevy and and Dr. John O'Connor, have performed at the School.  Traditional musicians, Tony MacMahon, Steve Cooney David Hammond, Artie McGlynn, Jimmy and Vincent Campbell, Tomas O Canainn, Martin McGinley and Caoimhin MacAoidh have also delighted audiences with their playing.

The MacGill Summer School and Arts Week has grown and developed into a national institution and the quality and range of its deliberations are now widely recognised in Ireland and abroad.  Each year it attracts more and more people to its sessions and debates which are completely open to the public.

Joe Mulholland

Director

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