The 2026 summer school has a social, cultural and academic programme informed by the theme:
Myths, Legends and Laws
Miotais, Finscéalta agus Dlíthe”
The summer school celebrates the contribution made by Mícheál Ó Cléirigh and his team of annalists to
preserving the ancient history of Ireland in the very turbulent time of the early 17th Century.
The academic programme on 9 th May comprises a series of talks designed to expand and deepen
understanding of Irish history by sharing research on topics linked to “Myths, Legends and Laws”.
Dr. Angela Byrne to speak at the 2026 Summer School
We are pleased to announce that one of our speakers for the 2026 Mícheál Ó Cleirigh Summer School will be Dr Angela Byrne.
Angela is a Donegal native and a historian specialising in Irish migration, women's history, and the history of travel and exploration. She works at the Dictionary of Irish Biography (Royal Irish Academy) and has previously held research and lecturing positions at the universities of Toronto, Greenwich, Ulster, and Maynooth, and at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, newspapers and history magazines, and has held research fellowships across Europe and North America. Her most recent books include Anarchy and Authority: Irish Encounters with Romanov Russia (Lilliput Press, 2024), Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 32: Ballyshannon (Royal
Irish Academy, 2025) and Finding Mary: The Untold Story of an Inishowen Murder, 1844 (Four Courts Press, 2025). She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
The history Summer School takes place over the weekend from Friday 8th May which celebrates local talent and culture; Saturday events include five talks based on the theme of Myths, Legends and Laws; On Sunday morning there will be a field trip to the Cavan Burren stopping off at various historical sites an the journey.
The Míchéal Ó Cleirigh Summer School book collection launch
Friday 6th February
Since the founding of the Mícheál Ó Cleirigh Summer School in 2014, we have been collecting books. These mainly the books written by the many esteemed historians who have given talks over the last eleven summer schools.
We have presented our collection to the library in Ballyshannon where they will remain as reference books available to everyone visiting the library. The collection will in the future rotate around Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Donegal town libraries
We had the handover of the book collection in Ballyshannon library on Friday 6th February at 11am.
Pride of place is our complete set of the Annála Ríochta na hÉirinn (Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland ) better known as the Annals of the Four Masters, the version compiled by Dr. John O’Donovan in Irish and English in the 1850s.
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See you there!
Launch of the 2025 yearbook
To order the book- email :info@mocleirigh.ie the cost €10.00 plus postage
The launch of the 2025 yearbook detailing all the events and talks at the2025 Summer School with the theme Diaspora & Homecoming; Deoraithe ag Filleadh ar ais go hÉireann, was launched in McGinley’s pub in Ballyshannon on Friday 17th October 2025. After introductions and readings there was tea, coffee, refreshments and food for all attending. Donegal County Councillor Michael McMahon was in attendance and Fr.Eugene Barrett, Guardian of Rossnowlagh Franciscan Friary was the guest speaker and gave a short introduction on the background of Br. Mícheál Ó Cléirigh and his association with the Franciscan fraternity in Louvain.
Below some photos from the Book Launch
Funding from Donegal County Council
Micheál O’Cléirigh Summer School Committee would like to acknowledge and thank Donegal County Council for funding received through the Local Enhancement Programme 2025. This is the first time the Summer School received funding for equipment, and we are appreciative of this.
Through this funding we were able to purchase a laptop. The laptop will be used to carry out the day to day work of the Summer School that begins to organise the next 2026 school which will be held over the weekend of the 8th to 10th May.