Details of Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer School announced
Deputy Sean Power, Lucina Russell, Des Egan, Cllr Michael Fitzpatrick, Cllr John O'Neill, chairman of Kildare County Council and Cllr Fionnuala Dukes.
NAAS, 27 February 2002: by Trish Whelan. Representatives from 30 countries will attend the 15th Gerard Manley Hopkins International Summer School, based in Monasterevin, from July 19-26. These include countries such as Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, China, Iceland, Iran, India, Israel, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA.
Although based in Monasterevin, the school will travel to other venues around the county.
Details of this year’s Summer School were announced at a special evening event in Kildare County Council on Monday (Feb 25).
Cllr Fionnuala Dukes MCC officially welcomed the gathering to the atrium in St Mary’s. County Kildare Arts Officer Lucina Russell congratulated the Society on its work for the Summer School which she said has brought the festival to international renown.
Artistic director, and Kildare poet Des Egan acknowledged the support of Lucina, Catherine Fallon, Visual Arts Officer and County Librarian Breda Gleeson; the three Kildare county councillors on the committee, Timmy Conway, Fionnuala Dukes and Fiona O’Loughlin; Kildare County Council and its chairman Cllr John O’Neill.
He said this year’s programme will be vary varied, with a number of photographic exhibitions, workshops, lectures, special events, concerts, international poetry readings and Festival club.
“We have always tried not to be an elitist group. All Kildare people are welcome to attend,” Des Egan commented. “We are interested in having cultural events of quality with a focus on Hopkins who has many connections with Co Kildare and who described Monasterevin as one of the props and struts of his existence.”
Fionnuala Dukes said the spin-off of the Summer School for Monasterevin is quite considerable. “It’s completely sustainable, and supports local businesses, B&Bs ... and the pubs are full.”
Kildare’s first citizen, Cllr John O’Neill said the Summer School acts as a cultural ambassador, attracting celebrated poets and writers from across the world and has the capacity to act as a tool to promote the notion of Kildare as a visitor destination.
“The success of any festival is largely dependent on the dedication of volunteers, enthusiasts and fanatics and the GMH SS committee has attracted all of these!"
He added that it takes months of work to create a quality programme of events to attract Hopkins enthusiasts, the keen amateur poet, and the curious.
The chairman said Kildare County Council are proud to be associated with the Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer School and wish the committee every success in this its 15th year.
Pictured below are County Manager Niall Bradley, Director of Services Corporate and Cultural Affairs Peter Minnock, and pianist Barbara Dunne from Celbridge who entertained the guests.
©2002knn