Michael J. Murphy Winter School takes place in Tí Chulainn this month

The 2025 Cuimhneamh Michael J. Murphy Winter School takes place in Tí Chulainn, Mullaghbane, south Armagh, from Friday 14 November to Sunday 16 November. The theme of this year’s forum is Emigration and Immigration.

Keynote speaker on Friday 14 November at 7pm, is English trade unionist Mick Lynch, former General Secretary of the Rail, Transport and Maritime Union (RMT) from May 2021 - March 2025. His talk is entitled “The Irish Emigrant Story In Britain And The Struggle For Recognition”.

Mick Lynch, whose mother is from Crossmaglen and father is from Cork, and who counts James Connolly as one of his heroes, was a high profile spokesperson for the RMT during the rail strikes of 2022-23 and was a symbol for the wider trade union movement.

This year’s panel talk is chaired by local historian Úna Walsh. The panel: Damien Doyle, Conor Mc Ginn, Csilla Toldy & Sherman Hall, will share the experiences of Irish people who have lived abroad and those who have chosen to make Ireland their home.

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Songs of Emigration/Immigration in both Irish and English will be performed throughout the evening by renowned South Armagh singers Blaithin Mhic Cana and Garett Doran.

On Saturday 15 November at 7pm, poet and author, Rosemary Tumilty, will host selected readings of poetry, prose and non-fiction from ‘Harvest The Light’, an anthology of creativity from the Wordsmiths Writers’ Group, followed by readings from the ‘Ode To Sea And Stone’ workshops.

At 8.15pm, Kevin Murphy, author and historical researcher, will discuss ‘Ice Emigrants’- the harrowing story of the Hannah which carried famine emigrants to Canada and was known as a ‘coffin ship’. Kevin will explore the trail of this migration through to descendants in modern times, with particular emphasis on a three cemeteries in South-Eastern Ontario.

The fate of the Hannah and its passengers was meticulously researched by Kevin and Una Walsh for their 2006 publication of the same name, and Kevin has visited its descendants in Canada.

On Sunday 16 November at 12pm, Tommy Mc Kearney will unveil a plaque to the family of labour leader Jim Larkin, at the site of the Larkin farm at the Low Road, in Ayallogue townland, Killeavey.

At the Cuimnheamh Winter School all aspects of the Emigration/Immigration question will be explored.

Admission is open to all and free, but voluntary contributions are welcome. Organisers say it promises to be a very interesting weekend that’s well worth a visit.