MEMORIES OF fraught election campaigns and bitter strikes will be on the menu next Friday when Stella Larkin McConnon (granddaughter of Big Jim) talks to students at the Larkin Community College in Dublin.

Stella, daughter of union official and former TD Denis Larkin, is visiting the college as part of The Larkin Hedge School’s education programme. She recalls attending public meetings addressed by Big Jim. One of her abiding memories is of his powerful voice and absolute refusal to use new-fangled devices such as megaphones. The famous Larkin roar was all he ever needed.

By contrast, Stella recalls her grandfather as a gentle giant who loved social gatherings, including sing-songs and dances.

At the college she will meet first-year history students and take part in a “Living with history” interview. Poet Macdara Woods and Dublin piper Néilidh Mulligan will provide musical entertainment.

On Friday night in Liberty Hall, actor Nuala Hayes, fresh from her role as Frankie Byrne in Dear Frankie, will play the role of Kathleen Behan in a bilingual tribute to another iconic Dublin figure, Brendan Behan.

An Buachaill Caoin has been devised by former MEP and retired Siptu general president Des Geraghty. Saturday’s programme in Liberty Hall features a lecture by former RTÉ DG Cathal Goan on the life of Donegal singer and song collector Neilí Ní Dhomhnaill and a singing lunch with Cork minstrel Jimmy Crowley.

Larkin Hedge School 2012 was meant to be a Titanic-free zone but Crowley has written a song about the disaster and it is expected to feature.

Given the broad spectrum of union and political types taking part, we expect proceedings to end in a pitched battle between the fiscal treaty Yes and No camps.

With any luck.