Getting to Know Grandad

A highlight of this year’s Parnell Summer School, which takes place at Avondale from 13-18 August, will be a talk by Davitt’s grandson, Fr Thomas Davitt CM, entitled ‘Getting to know Grandad’. The theme of the school is

Forgotten Hero: Michael Davitt and Irish Democracy. The school will be opened by Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education and Science and the keynote address will be by Professor Paul Bew, QUB, who will speak on Davitt’s relationship with Parnell.

This year marks the centenary of the death of Michael Davitt, a forgotten hero of Irish history. Davitt’s name is etched in popular consciousness as the father of the land league. That is as it should be. The high point of his career was the sixteen months from October 1879 when he masterminded the Land War which ultimately destroyed the landlord system. What is less well understood is the diversity and significance of Davitt’s wider career as a Fenian, Home Ruler, parliamentarian, social and educational reformer, labour leader, pioneering journalist, inveterate traveller, suffragist and feminist and above all, social democrat. These themes will be explored in a series of lectures and panel discussions which will focus also on contemporary issues suggested by Davitt’s career.

On 16 August, the renowned folksinger Donal Maguire will premiere Triumph over Adversity, his new one man show on Davitt while on 14 August, The Ivy Leaf, a new book on the Parnells by Donal McCartney and Pauric Travers will be launched by Martin Mansergh. There will also be a guided coach tour to sites of related historical interest in Wicklow, a number of musical sessions and a summer School dinner.

The school is located at the Parnell ancestral home in Avondale and at the Woodenbridge Hotel, Avoca. The Academic Director is Dr Pauric Travers.

Speakers include: Professor Paul Bew, Brendan Deacy; Olwyn Enright TD; Dr Chris Gibson; Mary Hanafin TD; Professor John Horgan; Dr Carla King; Conor Lenihan TD; Professor Bill McCormack; Dónal Maguire; Senator Martin Mansergh; Professor Alan O’Day; Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD; Pat Rabbitte TD; Trevor Sargent TD, Dr Brian Feeney; Professor Brian Walker, Padraig Walshe. Further details can be found on the Parnell society website: www.parnellsociety.com

 

Last Updated: Thursday September 21 2006