By Dan Walsh
The inaugural Féile “Scoil Samhradh an Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin” or The Dr. Sean Ó Nualláin Summer School takes place this weekend – Friday and Saturday July 31st and August 1st at the Talbot Hotel, Wexford and the Wexford Arts Centre.
To be held in memory of Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin, the festival brings together music, science, history, culture and the Irish language for a unique international weekend of events.
This is a bilingual event, with a focus on the Irish Language.
Inspired by Dr. Ó Nualláin’s vision, the festival continues his ambition to establish an annual conference and festival in Wexford where artists, scientists, scholars and communities could come together, with the Irish language at the heart of an international exchange of ideas.
The festival provides a platform for creativity, collaboration and intellectual curiosity, celebrating both local heritage and global perspectives.
The festival opens on Friday evening at the Talbot Hotel with an official launch and reception, followed by a keynote lecture from Emeritus Professor Ruairí Brugha, entitled Celtic Spirituality – Cosán Nua.
Saturday features an outstanding programme of speakers including Emeritus Professor Des O’Neill, Brian Ó Cléirigh, Dr. Ronan Ó Flaithbheartaigh, Dr. Éamon Ó Ciosáin, Tom Conway, and American author Cynthia Sue Larson. Their talks explore subjects ranging from Irish history and medieval literature to medicine, Celtic languages, physics and the relationship between the Irish language, culture and contemporary thought.
The festival concludes with a special concert at Wexford Arts Centre, featuring Melanie O’Reilly’s Gaelic Jazz Group with special guests including Breton musician Brewen Favrau and London-Irish fiddler James Patrick Gavin also featuring Scott Flanigan, Dave Mooney, Alice Wickham and James McIntyre.
The performance celebrates Irish-language poetry, original composition and the enduring musical connections between Ireland and Brittany.
The Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin Festival and Summer School welcomes everyone—Irish speakers, learners, lovers of music, science, history and culture, and anyone with an interest in new ideas and international collaboration.
This is a bilingual event with a focus on the Irish Language.
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