New Wexford Summer School to Celebrate the Legacy of Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin

A new bilingual festival celebrating the life, work and vision of Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin will make its debut in Wexford later this month.

The inaugural Scoil Samhraidh an Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin will take place on 31st July and 1st August 2026, bringing together leading voices in music, science, history, culture and the Irish language under the theme "From Wexford to the World."

Speaking on Morning Mix, internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist and composer Melanie O'Reilly, who was Dr. Ó Nualláin's partner for 28 years, and Cory Ó Brollacháin outlined the vision behind the new annual event.

The festival honours the legacy of Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin, who passed away in January. A respected academic, author, musician and passionate advocate for the Irish language, he envisioned an annual gathering in Wexford where artists, scientists, scholars and local communities could come together through Gaeilge to exchange ideas and celebrate Irish culture while building international connections.

The summer school opens on Friday, 31st July, with an official reception at the Talbot Hotel Wexford, followed by a keynote lecture from Emeritus Professor Ruairí Brugha entitled "Celtic Spirituality – Cosán Nua."

On Saturday, 1st August, the conference continues with an impressive line-up of speakers including Emeritus Professor Des O'Neill, Brian Ó Cléirigh, Dr. Ronan Ó Flaithbheartaigh, Dr. Éamon Ó Ciosáin, Tom Conway and American author Cynthia Sue Larson. Topics will range from Irish history, medieval literature and Celtic languages to medicine, physics and the role of the Irish language and culture in the modern world.

The festival concludes with a special concert at Wexford Arts Centre featuring Melanie O'Reilly's Gaelic Jazz Group, Breton musician Brewen Favrau, London-Irish fiddler James Patrick Gavin, along with Scott Flanagan, Dave Mooney, Alice Wickham and James McIntyre. The performance will celebrate Irish-language poetry, original music and the long-standing cultural connections between Ireland and Brittany.

Organisers say the event is open to everyone, whether fluent Irish speakers, learners, music lovers or those with an interest in history, science and culture. They hope the festival will become an annual fixture on Wexford's cultural calendar, creating a unique space where creativity, scholarship and the Irish language come together.

The organisers say Scoil Samhraidh an Dr. Seán Ó Nualláin aims to carry forward Dr. Ó Nualláin's vision of using the Irish language as a bridge between local heritage and global ideas.