Tim Pat Coogan

TimPat Coogan is Ireland’s best known historical writer. His pioneering work Ireland since The Rising (1966) gave a new generation an insight into the civilwar, partition, the emergence and constitutional development of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the unconstitutional development of the IRA. His book, The IRA (1970) became the definitivework on the subject. His biography ofMichael Collins, (1990) rekindled interest on both sides of the Atlantic. Coogan’s otherworks include OnThe Blanket, a study of the dirty protest preceeding the hunger strikes of 1981; Long fellow, long shadow, a biography of de Valera; the firstmajorwork on the Irish diaspora,WhereverGreen isWorn (2000); and Ireland in the 20th Century (2003). Coogan’s career as an author and journalist (editor The Irish Press 1968–87) has seen himintervewfigures as diverse as Ronald Reagan andMumar Ghadafi andmade himawell known personality on both radio andTV. In 2008 hismemoirswere published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

 

John Scally

John Scally is the Beresford Lecturer in Ecclesiastical History in the School of Religions and Theology inTrinity College, Dublin. He is the author of over twenty books. His most recent works are: Mother Teresa: The Irish Connection and 100 GAA Greats. He delivered a paper to the 2010 Percy French Summer School on the enduring significance of themusic of Percy French. A native of Curraghboy in County Roscommon he retains strong linkswith the county. He is the founder of a voluntary organisation called The Rossies that supports charitable andworthy projects in Roscommon. He lives in Dublin and suffers from A.S.S.–Addicted to Sport Syndrome. His sports books include: Load of Balls: Football’s Funny Side; GAA: An OralHistory; The Best of the West: GAAGreats of Connacht; Odd shaped Balls: Mischief-makers, Miscreants and Mad-hatters of Rugby, and biographies of TonyWard, Ger Loughnane, and former legendary Roscommon footballer, Dermot Earley. He has devised, presented, scripted and produced documentaries and series for RTÉ Radio One and RTÉ Television.

Dr. Julie Anne Stevens

Dr Stevens lectures on English Literature in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra (DCU). InThe Irish Scene in Somerville and Ross (2007) she re-evaluates 19th-century women writers and shows how these commentators on Irish rural life immersed themselves in continental literary and visual traditions. Contributions to books include an assessment of Elizabeth Bowen’s critical afterlife; the study of depictions of Georgian Dublin in art and literature called Views of Georgian Dublin: Perspectives of the City (2008); a collaborative work with Dr. Síghle Bhreathnach-Lynch for the book, Local/ Global:Women Artists in the 19th Century (2006); and Divided Worlds: Studies in Children’s Literature (2007). Interest in landscape studies has resulted in work on Emily Lawless and her recording of The Burren, partly published in Ireland: Space,Text,Time (2005). Recently she presented, ‘George Moore, Somerville & Ross and the Reconstruction of Optical Experience in Late 19th Century Irish Short Fiction’at the Ireland and the fin de siècle’ conference, RIA, 2009.

Albert Siggins

Albert is a native of Roscommon town. He has been working with the National Museum of Ireland since 1972, more particularly with their new section Country Life since 2001. He is involved with the County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society for 25 years and Secretary of that group since 1987. The Society produces a Journal in which he has published a number of articles relating to local history. He is interested in the local history of his parish of Fuerty where he went to live in 1980. His interests include genealogy and photography

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan is married with two children and lives in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Luke Flanagan has been involved in politics since 1997 and was elected to Roscommon County Council in 2004 and 2009. He served as Mayor of Roscommon County Council up to his election as a poll topping Independent TD for the constituency in the recent general election. He is part of the new independent alliance in the Dail. He maintains a high profile as an ardent and passionate spokesperson for the rights of people to cut turf and is Chairperson of the National Turf Cutters Association.

Brian Munn

Brian Munn has been an actor and broadcaster since the age of 12 years, when he played his first role in a BBC Drama production. He has worked in all areas of the business from stage actor to television game showhost, from Radio Drama Producer with RTÉ, to film actor. In films, he has been husband to Helen Mirren, in Cal and flirted with the star of Misery, Cathy Bates, in P. S. I LoveYou, and even had to beat up Tom Cruise in Far and Away. Brian has been a voice-over on Irish radio and TV commercials for an extraordinary range of products and services for over 35 years– you might not know the face but you will more than likely know the voice! However, his greatest professional joy is in reciting poetry. He presented a series of poetry programmes for Lyric FM.

Brian O’Connell

Brian O’Connell, director and founder of O’Connell Mahon Architects. He graduated from the School of Architecture UCD in 1968 with first class honours; President of the AAI in 1972; became a member of the RIAI in 1975; studied lawat UCD and Kings Inns and was called to the Bar with first class honours in 1979. As President of the RIAI, 1990–91, Brian was a founder of the Architects Council of Europe, the representative body of the profession in the EU, and was assigned by the mto assist in bringing Western European practices to the USSR and Eastern Europe. Brian worked as a Non- Attached Expert to the European Commission in the development of Directive Policy in the field of construction and chaired the GAIPEC commission on Construction Liability. He is also an Arbitrator and Conciliator in construction and associated matters. Brian has lectured at NUI in Contract Management. At the University of Ulster he lectures on the Law of Disability in Ireland, with particular emphasis on the implementation of universal access standards in buildings.

Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry, a Roscommonman, is Religious Affairs correspondent of The Irish Times. He has worked for Independent Newspapers, The Irish Press Group,Magill Magazine, and freelanced for RTÉ. In 1989 he set up the first independent radio news room in the Republic at Capital Radio (nowFM104).He was The Irish Press theatre critic 1990–1995. In 1992 he received a national media award for his Sunday Independent articles on the fall of Charles Haughey as Taoiseach, and in 1998 the Templeton European Religion Writer of theYear for his IrishTimes’s articles on Drumcree, the papal visit to Cuba, and criticism of the Irish Churches for failing to practise what they preached on recon- ]ciliation.He edited Christianity, a collection of essays published by Veritas in 2001. The Book of Jesus Report, a contemporary account of the four gospels, a collection of his weekly columns in The Irish Times, was published by the paper in 2001. Other books are While Justice Slept: The True Story of Nicky Kelly and the Sallins Train Robbery (2006) and the official biography of President Mary McAleese, First Citizen: Mary McAleese and the Irish Presidency (2008).