Northern Ireland

Irish language activist Linda Ervine and young loyalist Joel Keys to address Carlingford event

Irish language campaigner and teacher Linda Ervine.
Irish language campaigner and teacher Linda Ervine. Irish language campaigner and teacher Linda Ervine.
By Allan Preston

THE Irish language activist Linda Ervine and the young loyalist Joel Keys will be among speakers at this year’s Thomas D’Arcy McGee summer school.

Taking place on August 15-16 in Carlingford, Co Louth, the annual event celebrates the life of McGee, a 19th century Irish Republican who went on to play a crucial role in forming the Canadian Federation. 

This year’s event will mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement with a focus on the future.

Bringing together leaders and commentators from different sectors, the organisers hope to find common ground on issues ranging from climate change, world economics and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

Read more

  • Linda Ervine: I realised Irish belonged to me - a Protestant - and I fell in love with it
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  • Young loyalist Joel Keys: 'I can confidently count to 10 in Irish'

The Irish Enterprise Minister, Neale Richmond, will launch the event with the first day’s lineup to include historian Professor David Wilson from Toronto University as well as Bronagh Hinds, civil rights veteran and member of the Women’s Coalition.

The former Ulster Unionist chairman and Stormont Minister Danny Kennedy will appear along with Linda and Brian Ervine, known for promoting the Irish language in east Belfast through the tourist project.

Also appearing will be James Donaldson and Roberta Heaney from the Schomberg Society in Kilkeel, known for promoting a better understanding of the Ulster Scots culture.

On day two, younger speakers will include the journalist and writer Emma de Souza, who took a legal challenge against the Home Office to assert her identity as an Irish citizen born in Northern Ireland.

Joel Keys. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Joel Keys. Picture by Hugh Russell. Joel Keys. Picture by Hugh Russell.

Also speaking will be Joel Keys, who describes himself as “a young person who is interested in politics and comes from the PUL (Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist) community” as well as Oein DeBhairduin, an Irish Traveller activist and co-founder of LGBT Tara (Traveller and Roma Alliance).