Eamon De Eamon De Valera - A Personal Perspective - Thursday next February 21st, at 8.30pm, the Winter Lecture Series, ‘The Seeds That Grew the Tree’, will resume at Screene’s of Guilka, Menlough, - A Personal Perspective

Posted 19/02/2019

On Thursday next February 21st, at 8.30pm, the Winter Lecture Series, ‘The Seeds That Grew the Tree’, will resume at Screene’s of Guilka, Menlough, Co. Galway, with a talk entitled ‘Éamon De Valera – A Personal Perspective’ to be delivered by his grandson ÉamonÓ’Cuív T.D. Éamon will detail his early memories of his grandfather, his character and personality and his own questioning as a child of his grandmother, Sinéad de Valera (née Flanagan), about the 1916 Easter Rising where he will recall her as a very strong-willed person who was committed to nationalism.

We would be hopeful that Ó’Cuív would reference, or perhaps be questioned by his audience, on the arrest of his grandfather, the eventual death sentence imposed on him and his later reprieve, the admiration felt by the De Valeras’ for Roger Casement, the trip to America made by his grandfather during the War of Independence where he met with Liam Mellows, his election in East Clare in 1917 to a seat he was to hold until 1959, and his grandfather’s pride in his association with this constituency due to its connection to Daniel O’Connell. Perhaps also references to the 1918 “German Plot” and De Valera’s subsequent arrest and imprisonment in Lincoln Jail, his eventual escape and his later delight in describing this escape to Ó’Cuív himself, his visit back to Lincoln Jail in 1951, the founding of Fianna Fáil, and his elevation to the highest offices in the land as Taoiseach and Uachtarán.

Such personal insights would whet any Irish appetite on an early Spring evening as we are in the midst of our commemoration of the Decade of Centenaries. We can promise a fascinating delivery, in his own inimitable way, by a man, sometimes referred to as ‘Dev Óg’ but who is every ounce ‘his own man’ who himself has carved his own unique niche in Irish political life. Often seen a champion of rural Ireland, which coincidentally these events at Screene’s are endeavouring to address, and who perhaps lives on the edge, on occasion, within his own political party. Éamon, TD for Galway West since the 1992 general election, has served as a Minister for State from 1997 to 2002 in two Departments. Following the 2002 general election he was appointed to the cabinet and served there cabinet until 2011. He has also served as deputy leader of Fianna Fail from 2011 to 2012.

Please note this event will commence sharp at 8.30pm, entry is free, complimentary food as usual will be served and Jimmy & Becky look forward to welcoming you all to Screenes. For further information please call Jimmy on (087) 2693678.