The Merriman Winter School opened in Westport, Co Mayo, last night with participants expressing the hope that this year's commemoration of the bicentenary of the 1798 rebellion would lead to a coming together of all traditions in Ireland.
Commenting on the 1798 theme of this year's school, Mr Ciaran MacMathuna, said he hoped the commemorative events planned would help Irish people to live together in harmony through a unity of hearts and minds.
"This 200th anniversary should bring us together rather than divide us as a nation once again. Let's face it, this is a difficult theme and people are asking should we really be celebrating or should we be commemorating dissension amongst people?
"But, at least 1798 had a Presbyterian and a nationalist dimension, and I would certainly hope that no one group would hijack the anniversary," he said.
Mr Padhraic O Ciardha of Teilifis na Gaeilge said the 1798 theme was a useful one. "The French connection is very interesting because usually we are accused of being very insular, but schools like this show that we really are a very cosmopolitan and outward looking people," he said.
Founded over 25 years ago in honour of the memory of poet, Brian Merriman, the school has extended its remit beyond poetry to include the walks, talks, music, book launches and, most importantly, conversing through Irish.
Mr MacMathuna said: "The Irish language is not dead. It's very much alive and the great thing is that people are speaking it, not by coercion, but by choice."