The 2025 Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Summer School will be held over the weekend of Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May. The theme for the 2025 Summer School is “Diaspora and Homecoming” – Irish people and places in Europe. “Deoraithe ag filleadh ar ais go hÉireann” – Gaeil i gcroílár na hEorpa.
This will be the eleventh annual Summer School and we can now confirm the full programme of the weekend events. See below.
Mark the dates in your diary and we look forward to meeting you summer School in May.
Joe Mahon to open the 2025
Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Summer School
We are pleased to announce that the 2025 Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Summer School, will be opened by Joe Mahon, who will be familiar to most people by his programmes on UTV; ‘ A Lesser Spotted Ulster ‘ ‘Ulster Giants’ and more recently ‘ Mahon’s Way’
In these programmes Joe examines the history and culture of a particular place, interviewing people who have an interest in their area, finding stories that bring history to life in a very relaxed way.
It is particularly important for a summer school that looks at Irish history from the late Medieval period to invite a person to open our school, who through his work has brought people enjoyment in their own place and perhaps has encouraged others to discover more about their own history and culture.
Joe Mahon, a native of Derry/ Londonderry, started his career as a schoolteacher, teaching English and History. He went on to work on BBC Radio Foyle as a contributor before becoming a producer. He then became manager of Radio Foyle, before moving to TV. He worked at the BBC and later joined UTV as a producer on their popular programme on local places called‘McGilloway’s Way’ When Ollie McGilloway, the presenter of McGilloway’s Way, died unexpectedly in 1994, it was decided to relaunch the programme as ‘Lesser Spotted Ulster’ with Joe taking over as the presenter.
In the years since Joe’s relaxed manner in the way he interviews people about their place and home district has led to a number of like programmes such as Lesser Spotted Journeys, Ulster Giants, and Mahon’s Way.
For those not all that familiar with Joe Mahon’s TV programmes such as Lesser Spotted Ireland see :
https://youtube.com/@lesserspottedireland?si=X5uiFKyj-P-XjJAZ
The Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Summer School takes place over the weekend of Friday 9th May to Sunday 11th May in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal.
Below are the sponsors of the Mícheál Uí Cleirigh Summer School
