Main pic: Joe Mulholland at the 43rd annual MacGill Summer School. (North West Newspix)
The founding director of the MacGill Summer School, Joe Mulholland, has been honoured at this year’s event.
In 1981, the Ballybofey native was instrumental in founding the Glenties conference which has become known in recent years as ‘Electric Picnic for older people’.
A special presentation last night, Mr Mulholland accepted a painting by local artist Johnny Boyle of his beloved St John’s Point.
“His passion for literature, art and informed debate has so enriched all our lives,” Michael Gallagher, the Chairman of the MacGill Summer School, said.
“Over 40 years ago Joe’s interest in the writings of Patrick MacGill led him to investigate what had happened to this once well-known writer from Glenties.
“Joe ended up convincing Patrick’s daughters to come visit for the MacGill Festival, at which Joe told the fascinating story of Patrick MacGill. The MacGill Festival morphed into the MacGill Summer School, a major forum for topics of national and international interest.”
Mr Mulholland, a former head of television at RTÉ, also played a part in enabling the old courthouse in Glenties to be leased to the Brian Friel Trust CLG, who will use it as a visitor centre.
A floral presentation was also made to his wife, Annie.
Mr Mulholland said he was ‘very touched’ by the reaction and the presentation.
The theme for the 43rd annual summer school is ‘A New Global Order – Precarious & Dangerous?’.
It will come to a close on Saturday with two talks examining Ireland’s battle against climate change and also the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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