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Uncovering the history of Inishowen
 ENGLISH
surveyor and mapmaker Richard Bartlett was beheaded when mapping in Donegal
in 1603.
Legend has it the inhabitants took off his head because they would not
have their country discovered.
Donegal and particularly the beautiful Inishowen peninsula between Foyle
and Swilly is still undiscovered by many but the McGlinchey Summer School
inaugurated in 1998 has tried to remedy that by exploring the rich folklore,
history and traditions of this part of Ireland.
It was inspired by the example of Charles McGlinchey (1861-1955) a weaver
and storyteller whose published recollections The Last Of The Name were
compiled by local schoolteacher Patrick Kavanagh and edited by playwright
Brian Friel.
The annual weekend summer school follows in their footsteps.
It embraces themes that are important for the province of Ulster as a
whole and thus plays a constructive role in inter-community reconciliation
in Ireland.
Each year it has chosen a fresh historical subject: Emigration; Life on
the Border; Two World Wars; Church History; Life and Landscape; Our Maritime
Heritage; Inishowen at Work; and Music, Song and Dance.
True to the McGlinchey tradition each summer school has published a record
of its proceedings in the annual magazine It’s Us They’re
Talking About.
The summer school’s emphasis on emigration and the Irish Diaspora
has assisted the Inishowen area and the city of Derry in consolidating
networks of friendship in England, Scotland and North America.
This year as all Donegal commemorates the fourth centenary of the Flight
Of The Earls the McGlinchey Summer School explores Inishowen at that time.
La Trinidad Valenciera of Armada fame, the O’Doherty Castles and
the established churches throughout the peninsula are physical evidence
of this period.
The programme will feature among others Rosa O’Doherty (1590-1660)
who sailed down the Swilly with the Earls in 1607, her brother Cahir Rua
who staged a rebellion in 1608 and Clonmany’s famous son the philosopher
John Toland (1670-1722).
The latter will be the subject of the opening lecture by Derry academic
and writer Seamus Deane.
Inishowen’s DNA will be the subject of special analysis and a comparison
between Inishowen and Bahrain will focus on contemporary landscape design.
The weekend fare will include field trips, exhibitions, musical sessions,
traditional concert, art, drama and the highly-praised Donegal poet Francis
Harvey will read from his recently-published Collected Poems at the Big
Night on Sunday, July 1.
n For further details telephone 074 937 6110 or e-mail ohearcain@eircom.net
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