Diarmaid Ferriter and Senator David Norris will be just two of a host of high-profile speakers at this year’s James Fintan Lalor Autumn School.
The event, organised by Laois Heritage Society, will take place on Saturday, November 18.
The overall theme for this year’s school is – Creating Ireland: Conflict, Co-operation, Continuity.
The event will take place in the Midlands Park Hotel and will run from 9.30 am, with a final address at 4.20 pm, followed by a short film.
The speakers on the day are: Diarmaid Ferriter Irish historian, university professor and author, Senator David Norris, Independent Member of the Oireachtás, gay and civil rights activist,former lecturer and James Joyce scholar, Seamus Hosey, broadcaster and former radio producer for RTE, Muiris O’ Suilleabhain, author and professor emeritus of archaeology at UCD, Patricia King, trade unionist, General Secretary of Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Jane Maxwell, principal curator of manuscripts and research library in TC, Kevin Myers, journalist and regular contributor to radio programmes, Claire O’Brien freelance journalist broadcaster, Eoghan Harris journalist, lecturer, screenwriter, fiction writer, columnist, politician and former member of the Oireáchtas, Robert Ballagh, artist, painter, designer, political activist, Michael Foley, journalist and lecturer in journalism.
The audience will get to submit questions which they would like featured in the panel discussions.
The morning panel discussion will focus on the theme: Brexit: Our Identity, Our Future.
It will be chaired by Diarmaid Ferriter and the discussion will feature Senator David Norris, Seamus Hosey, Muiris O’ Suilleabhain and Patricia King.
A soapbox with Jane Maxwell will feature afterwards.
Audience
An audience questions and answers session will feature afterwards before a break for lunch.
After the break a further soapbox will feature Kevin Myers.
This will be followed by an audience questions and answers.session.
The afternoon panel discussion (questions & answers style) will be on the theme, Ireland Today.
Chaired by Claire O’Brien and will feature a panel discussion with Eoghan Harris, Robert Ballagh, Michael Foley and Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell.
There will be performances on the day by Portlaoise and Mountmellick Comhaltas.
Closing remarks will be by Teddy Fennelly, President, Laois Heritage Society.
Audience participation is encouraged throughout the day.
When formal procedures are over a showing of the play “From the sod to the sky” by Mike Finn will be introduced by MC: Kathleen Culliton.
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