Kennedy Summer School 2026 to explore the past, present and future of hurling
GAA National Head of Hurling William Maher during a Hurling Development Roadshow event at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
The passion, heritage and future of hurling will take centre stage at the Kennedy Summer School 2026 on Thursday evening, August 27, as some of the most respected voices in Gaelic games come together for a special discussion at St Michael’s Theatre, New Ross.
Entitled “Talking Hurling”, the event will explore the history, challenges and future of one of Ireland’s oldest sporting traditions, bringing together players, analysts and administrators to discuss the place of hurling within the GAA and its continuing importance to Irish culture and identity.
The discussion will be chaired by GAA broadcaster and journalist Paul Collins, CEO and founder of Ballywire Media, who is a familiar face around Croke Park on All-Ireland Final day and a lifelong hurling enthusiast. He will lead a conversation featuring an exceptional panel of sporting figures, including William Maher, National Head of Hurling with the GAA; Michael Duignan, two-time All-Ireland winner and RTÉ GAA analyst; Ursula Jacob, four-time All-Ireland Camogie winner and four-time All-Star recipient; and Wexford hurling legend Tom Dempsey.
Hurling, recognised as one of the oldest field games in the world with origins dating back to Celtic times, was inscribed alongside camogie on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017. While the sport holds a unique place in Ireland’s sporting landscape, questions around its development, recognition and future within the GAA continue to generate debate.
With Wexford preparing to mark the 30th anniversary of its famous 1996 All-Ireland victory, the Kennedy Summer School felt it was a timely moment to reflect on the journey of hurling, from its deep-rooted traditions to the challenges and opportunities facing the game today.
William Maher, who was appointed National Head of Hurling in 2025, brings extensive experience both on and off the field. A Tipperary All-Ireland minor-winning captain, he now leads the development of hurling nationwide, working to support the growth and sustainability of the game at every level.
He will be joined by Michael Duignan, who won two All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships with Offaly and has become one of the most respected voices in Gaelic games through his work as a GAA analyst with RTÉ’s The Sunday Game. Having previously served as Chairperson of Offaly GAA from 2019 to 2024, he continues to play an active role in the administration and promotion of the sport.
Wexford’s own Ursula Jacob will bring her experience from the highest levels of camogie and Gaelic games. A four-time All-Ireland winner and four-time All-Star recipient, she is a respected GAA analyst and commentator who has played a leading role in promoting women’s sport and the continued growth of camogie.
Tom Dempsey of Wexford in action against Declan Nash of Limerick during the Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final match between Wexford and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
Tom Dempsey will add a unique Wexford perspective to the conversation. A proud Buffers Alley and Wexford hurler, his achievements include two Leinster titles, an All-Star award and a place on the Wexford team that ended a 28-year wait for All-Ireland glory in 1996. Today, he remains closely connected to the game as a respected commentator and advocate for hurling and camogie.
The “Talking Hurling” event forms part of a packed opening evening at the Kennedy Summer School, which will officially begin on Thursday, August 27, with Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason, formally opening this year’s festival at St Michael’s Theatre.
The 2026 Kennedy Summer School will be officially opened on Thursday, August 27th, by Ambassador Byrne Nason. Following the opening, she will be joining Professor Mary C. Murphy, Director of the Irish Institute at Boston College, for a special fireside conversation examining the political, cultural and economic ties between Ireland and the U.S.
The evening will also feature “Voices of Irish Writers”, a celebration of contemporary Irish storytelling featuring acclaimed writers Belinda McKeon, Martina Evans and Neil Tully, chaired by New Ross native and Notre Dame Professor Emerita Bríona Nic Dhiarmada. This year, the New Ross Piano Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary, and to mark this, artistic founding director Finghin Collins will perform a short piano recital in the theatre.
Chairperson of the Kennedy Summer School, Eileen Dunne, said the diverse opening night programme reflects the festival’s commitment to bringing together conversations that celebrate Ireland’s heritage while examining the issues shaping the future.
“The Kennedy Summer School has always been about bringing people together through ideas, culture and conversation, and the opening night perfectly captures that spirit, from diplomacy and literature to the traditions that connect communities across Ireland.”
Running from August 27-29, the Kennedy Summer School brings together leading voices from journalism, politics, diplomacy, academia, sport and the arts to explore the issues shaping Ireland and the wider world.
The 2026 programme includes the annual Speakers’ Lunch with acclaimed foreign correspondent Lara Marlowe, the Noel Whelan Interview featuring Pat Kenny in conversation with Sinéad McSweeney, a special evening exploring Bob Dylan and the Kennedy era, and major discussions on global competitiveness, the future of the transatlantic alliance, online safety, American politics and the centenary of Fianna Fáil.
Further details and ticket information are available at www.kennedysummerschool.ie.