Sir, – While Marie O'Reilly's one-sentence letter (July 28th) describing summer schools as "waffle academies" might be ignored as an example of soundbite over substance, JD Mangan (July 30th) does the MacGill Summer School (and 34 years dedicated work by its founder, Dr Joe Mulholland) serious injustice. Indeed, based on the letter, JD Mangan would not appear to have read the programme, let alone attended – either in person or "virtually" through the web relay provided by Donegal County Council.
JD Mangan describes MacGill as facilitating a platform for ego-stroking for the “usual suspects” rather than adding to national debate and asserts that it plays “host to the same stale, half-baked notions which we get too much of in other forums”.
I would find it difficult to see how the session last week on mental health, including, to take just one example, Prof Ian Robertson’s gripping and scientifically based account of our national propensity for problem drinking, could be described as “waffle” or “half-baked notions”.
Other sessions, during a packed week, included discussions led by panels with contributors drawn far more broadly than the politicians referred to by JD Mangan – journalists, businessmen and businesswomen, civil servants, local government administrators, academics, historians, diplomats, environmental activists, energy specialists, medical practitioners, trade unionists architects, planners, a television and stage producer, a church leader and workers in the field of relieving poverty.
Patrick MacGill was honoured by a comprehensive and passionate account of his life presented by Joe Mulholland and there are more grounds for believing that MacGill would have approved of the inclusion of sessions on inequality and the future of rural Ireland than for JD Mangan to “feel” that MacGill would be uncomfortable with the “set-up”.
All speakers at MacGill face robust questioning from attendees – somewhat at odds with JD Mangan’s description of “ego-stroking”.
On a point of detail, Michael McDowell’s contribution focused not on governmental failures, as described by JD Mangan, but rather on a simple proposal to reform Dáil procedures to allow for a secret ballot for the election of the ceann comhairle and of the chairs of Oireachtas committees.
Mr McDowell advocated this to improve the effectiveness of the Dáil – and perhaps to substitute accountability for “waffle”! – Yours, etc,
BRYAN SHERIDAN,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – I can think of no better way of passing a few gloomy summer days than discussing “Love and Marriage in Ireland”. If JD Mangan comes to the Merriman Summer School in Ennis (Aug 12th to 15th) he can engage in thoughtful debate, listen to interesting research and analysis, poetry at midday, music and song of an evening and a bit of history too. He won’t have to listen to a single politician or meet a solitary half-baked notion. Beidh míle fáilte roimis! – Yours, etc,
DOIREANN NÍ BHRIAIN,
Merriman Summer School,
Ennis,
Co Clare.