On The TownCommemoration of Brian Merriman's epic poem, Cuirt an Mheán Oíche (The Midnight Court), is now in its 38th year.
Some readers today "would be shocked by its openness and earthiness but that's an element of Irish life and culture and maybe an element of Victorian puritanism", said Máire Ní Neachtain, deputy director of the Merriman Society, which celebrates the bicentenary of the great Clare poet's death this year.
The Merriman Winter School, in Bunratty, Co Clare, starting on Friday, January 28th, will banish the winter blues, promised Liam Ó Dochartaigh, of the University of Limerick, who is director of Cumann Merriman and of the winter school.
"Anois teacht an earraigh, beidh an lá ag dul chun síneadh ["The days will be getting longer now that the spring is coming]," he said, quoting Antoine Ó Raftaire.
Prof Brian Farrell, formerly of RTÉ, said the poem "is not a dirty poem. There were people with dirty minds. It's outspoken and advanced for its time and even for our time. It proves you can have fun in Irish as well".
Eoghan Ó hAnluain, formerly of UCD's Irish department, will speak the part of the poet in a reading of the complete work on Saturday, January 29th, in Bunratty. He said it was the frank presentation in the English version of "female sexual pleasure" that caused much of the controversy in the past when it was called a dirty poem or "dán salach". However, the poem, he said, deals "with serious things, such as marriage, dowries and getting a place to live. It has echoes for modern times".
Others who came to hear about the upcoming school were Bob Collins, former director-general of RTÉ, journalist Máiréad Ní Chinnéide, poet Biddy Jenkinson, writer Diarmuid Breathnach, and Deirdre Davitt, of Foras na Gaeilge.
For more information about the Merriman Winter School 2005, e-mail eolas@merriman.ie or tel: 086-3820671