THE VERY FIRST An Phoblacht Autumn School is taking place this Friday and Saturday in West Cork with a range of speakers and events on the theme ‘Time to Change Ireland – Tá sé in am Eirinn a Athrú’.

The North’s Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, will officially open the school on Friday.

Guest speakers over the weekend include All-Ireland Cork hurler Dónal Óg Cusack, musician Peadar Ó Riada, economists Michael Burke and Tom O’Connor, and Trevor Ó Clothartaigh of new Irish-language newspaper Gaelscéal.
Also addressing the event will be former hunger striker Raymond McCartney MLA who will give a personal account of the 1980 Hunger Strike, 30 years on.
Other speakers include Kerry North/West Limerick TD Martin Ferris and Sinn Féin’s newest councillor in Cork City, Chris O’Leary.

Sinn Féin Vice-President Mary Lou McDonald said:
"The An Phoblacht School aims to be a space for exchanging and debating ideas, for discussing issues of culture, language, history as well as economics and current affairs.
We want to foster a debate about advancing an alternative vision for Ireland – the theme of this year’s event is ‘Time to change Ireland’.
This year’s event will see debates on the all-Ireland economy, the future of the Gaeltacht and the type of positive changes that can and need to be brought about in this country".

Time to Change Ireland – Tá sé in am Eirinn a Athrú

1st Annual An Phoblacht Autumn School
Baile Bhúirne, 24 & 25 September 2010
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FRIDAY
6.30 pm Film Showing: ‘Mise Éire’
Introduced by Peadar Ó Riada, son of Seán Ó Riada,
composer of the original music for the film
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8pm Official Opening by Conor Murphy MP
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Raymond McCartney on hunger strike 1980
8.30pm Eyewitness to History
Raymond McCartney MLA gives a personal account of his involvement in the
1980 Hunger Strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh
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SATURDAY

10.30am – 11.30am The Future of the Gaeltacht
Discussion
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12- 1pm ‘The Case for an All-Ireland Economy’
Economists Michael Burke and Tom O’Connor
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1pm- 2.30pm Lunch Break
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2.30pm – 4.30pm What kind of Ireland do we want?’
Key autumn school debate
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5pm Tour of Tan War sites
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Evening: Dinner & Music
Closing Address: Martin Ferris TD

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Exhibition – Photographs from the An Phoblacht archive