Beckett Centenary
In 2006 the Speaker Series commences in March when on Wednesday March 8, Barry McGovern, who is regarded by many as the leading interpreter of the work of Samuel Beckett, will give a talk entitled ‘Samuel Beckett: His Life and Work’.

Barry McGovern has appeared in many of the Beckett plays, including ‘Waiting for Godot’, ‘Endgame’, ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’. His Beckett one man show ‘I’ll Go On’ has played all over the world.

He has recently recorded the three novels ‘Molloy’, ‘Malone Dies’ and ‘The Unnameable’ on CD for Beckett’s Centenary year 2006. In April he will play Vladimir in ‘Waiting for Godot’ at the Gate Theatre, which will also be part of the Beckett Centenary celebrations.

This talk is an event that will have informative views for both the regular theatre-goers and those who have in the past found Beckett difficult or forbidding.

Flora, Fauna, Rocks and Things in Aran and The Burren
The above title is that which Dr Con O’Rourke, who was chairman of the RDS Science Committee from 1996 to 1998, has chosen for his talk on March 22. A former President of the Institute of Biology of Ireland, for almost forty years he worked in An Foras Taluntis (now Teagasc) as a plant pathologist in the Oak Park Research Centre and later in its HQ on research planning and as an editor of scientific publications. He has also organised natural history courses in the Aran Islands for second-level students, trainee teachers and tourists.

The talk will coincide with the publication of his ‘Nature Guide to the Aran Islands’ in the early part of 2006. This beautiful publication will bring together in its accompanying illustrations, insights into the forces of the natural world that have shaped the Aran Islands. Dr O’Rourke will share the unique Aran/Burren environment and how its renowned flora has been influenced by geology, climate and farming. Resident and migratory birds will be described, as well as plant and animal life of the seashore.

This talk promises to be a visually illustrated feast of that very special part of Ireland, from which so many of us are inspired with awe and wonder.

Music in 1731
In the 275th year of the Society’s existence a unique insight with audio excerpts is offered to us by Ian Fox in his lecture ‘Music in 1731’. On April 5 he presents a picture of the musical scene in Dublin that year. It is illustrated with recordings of some of the works one might have heard at the time, including the music of Roseingrave, Vivaldi, Geminiani, Scarlatti, Handel and others.

Ian Fox wrote his first criticism for The Irish Times in 1969 and was music critic of the Sunday Tribune 1986-2005. In 1969 he created and edited ‘Counterpoint’ for the Music Association of Ireland, the country’s first classical music magazine.

He is a frequent broadcaster on RTE Radio One and Lyric FM and his programme ‘The Lyric Collection’ can be heard each Saturday morning at 10 am.

To book seats or for any further information for any of these events, please contact Gerard Whelan on 01 240 7256 or via e-mail at ger.whelan@rds.ie.