BARÁNTAS, taking place on Friday 27 April from 2-5pm in Mary Immaculate College Room G10 from 2-5 p.m., aims to draw attention to the potential of Limerick’s Gaelic manuscripts as a creative and cultural resource for Limerick and the Mid-West.
The free event, which is open to the public, will consist of an exhibition of Limerick’s Gaelic manuscripts. Educators, representatives from arts organisations, cultural and civic leaders and the general public are invited to join in the discussion and hear from leading scholars
and practitioners about the many dynamic ways in which we can engage with the
manuscripts.
Co-organisers of the event, lecturers from MIC, Róisín Ní Ghairbhí and Stiofán Newman believe that ‘Limerick’s amazing Gaelic manuscripts are a relatively untapped resource in the civic, cultural and creative life of the region’. Limerick scribes formed part of a dynamic network of Munster scribes operating in the eighteenth and nineteenth century and their manuscripts – containing poems, songs, stories and historical and spiritual material – are preserved in libraries and institutions across Ireland and overseas. Some manuscripts are still here in Limerick,
including the De Bhál collection in the Diocesan Archives in Henry Street. Speaking in advance of the event Róisín Ní Ghairbhí said: “Many Limerick people will have heard of the poets of the Maigue and their association with places like Kilmallock, Croom and Adare but there are scores of other scribes and poets.
Also speaking in advance of Friday’s event was Stiofán Newman who believes that Limerick is “particularly fortunate in having had a long tradition of scholars engaging with the material and believes that the manuscripts are a dynamic resource, capable of being re-imagined visually, musically or artistically. ’
Stephen himself will be on hand on the day facilitating a Round Table discussion with Pádraig Ó Cearbhaill, Scholar and singer; Úna Nic Éinrí, scholar; Cathal Poirtéir, Radio Producer and frormer chairperson of IMRAM Festival, and David Bracken, Limerick Dioscesan Archives.
The title for the event – Bárantas- echoes the term used by the poets to summon
friends to their convivial poetic gatherings- it is a call to action combined with a social
gathering. Barántas will also cater for those with little or no previous knowledge of
the manuscripts – personal headphones will provide a simultaneous translation of
the Irish language material.
More about education here.
