The MacGill Summer School, in association with University of Notre Dame, is Ireland's international forum for thought leaders to discuss the critical issues facing the country, Europe, and our world.
The MacGill Summer School was founded forty years ago in the small town of Glenties in County Donegal and has grown from very modest beginnings to being one of the most important fora in Ireland for the analysis of topics of national and international interest.
It has consistently been a source of innovative and fresh thinking on a range of social, economic, and political ideas. Every July it brings together government ministers, parliamentarians, heads of industry, trade union leaders, economists, sociologists, church leaders and a broad range of public representatives from the North and South of Ireland, and beyond.
In 2023, the event will take place at The Highlands Hotel on August 16th-19th and is in association with University of Notre Dame.
Schedule 2023
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous?
15.00 Opening of MacGill School 2023
15.15 The destruction of Ukraine & its people: The story so far?
- H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland
- Pat Cox, Former President European Parliament
16.45 Interval
17.00 Interview from Ukraine
- David Arakhamia
- Politician and entrepreneur. Member of the Servant of the People political party.
17.30 Music & Culture from Ukraine
18.00 BREAK
20.30 How and when will the war in Ukraine end?
- Dr Sergei Medvedev, Charles University of Prague
- Olena Tregub, Fellow at Atlantic Council & Sec General of Nako, Ukrainian Independent Anti-Corruption Commission
- Dr. Jade McGlynn, Research Fellow Kings College London and author of ‘Russia’s War’
- Hosted by Dr. Conor Daly, TCD
22.00 CLOSE
* Programme is subject to change
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous?
11.00 Welcome to Day 2 of MacGill 2022
11.05 How to restore peace and harmony to a dangerously distressed world and the role of China?
- Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow of Centre for International Security & Strategy, Tsinghua University, China
- Ambassador Declan Kelleher, former Irish Ambassador to China
- Hosted by Prof. Andrew Cottey, EU Jean Monnet Chair in European Political Integration, UCC
12.30 LUNCH
14.30 The European Union – how is its increasingly difficult and complex mission to be fulfilled?
- Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner for Finance Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets
- Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Prof. at the European Institute, Florence
- Tony Connelly, European Editor of RTÉ in Brussels
- Hosted by Prof John O’Brennan, Director of the Maynooth Centre for European & and Eurasian Studies
16.15 Break
16.30 The Irish Economy – Large Surpluses but will they be used for long-term national gain?
- Prof. Seamus Coffey, UCC
18.00 Naomh Conaill vs Notre Dame GAA Exhibition match
20.00 23rd Annual Hume Lecture
- Congressman Brendan Boyle, U.S. House of Representatives
- Hosted by Ambassador David Donoghue, Former Permanent Representative of Ireland to UN
- LIVE virtually from USA
21.30 Close of Day 2
* Programme is subject to change
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous
11.00 Welcome to Day 3 of MacGill 2021
11.05 The future of Russia and its place in the world
- Dr Sergei Medvedev, Charles University, Prague
- Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the University Institute, Florence
- Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow of Centre for International Security & Strategy, Tsinghua University, China Moderator: Dr Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament
12.30 LUNCH
14.30 In conversation with….
- Senator Michael McDowell, Seanad Éireann & former Minister for Justice
- Hosted by Stephen Collins, Irish Times Journalist & Author
15.30 BREAK
16.30 Heaney & Friel
- On the tenth anniversary of his passing, remembering
the great Irish poet, Seamus Heaney at the MacGill School with his friend, Brian Friel and a prizewinning documentary on Friel’s life and work
18.00 BREAK
20.00 Ireland – The future?
- Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Rose Conway-Walsh TD, Sinn Féin
- Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
- Claire Hanna MP MLA, Social Democratic & Labour Party
- Hosted by Tommie Gorman, Journalist & Author Former RTE Northern Editor
21.30 Close of Day 3
* Programme is subject to change
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous
11.00 The Planet, including Ireland, is losing the battle against Climate Change?
- Minister Gillian Martin, MSP. Minister for Energy and the Environment. The Scottish Government.
- Dr Denis Duff, Chartered engineer. Global experience in nuclear
- Hannah Daly, Prof of Sustainable Energy University College Cork, regular columnist for the Irish Times & Government Adviser
- Oisin Coughlan, CEO Friends of the Earth
12.15 Break
14.00 AI: Who is the master?
- Prof. Barry O’Sullivan, Professor of Artificial Intelligence UCC
- Ruth Sheridan, Industry Analyst Frontline Ventures
- Prof. Linda Hogan, Professor of Ecumenics Trinity College Dublin
- Hosted by Shay Garvey, Chair of Irish Times
16.00 Launch of the 2023 DONEGAL ANNUAL
- Editor Sean Beattie
- Published by the County Donegal Historical Society
* Programme is subject to change
- Wednesday, August 16th
-
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous?
15.00 Opening of MacGill School 2023
15.15 The destruction of Ukraine & its people: The story so far?
- H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland
- Pat Cox, Former President European Parliament
16.45 Interval
17.00 Interview from Ukraine
- David Arakhamia
- Politician and entrepreneur. Member of the Servant of the People political party.
17.30 Music & Culture from Ukraine
18.00 BREAK
20.30 How and when will the war in Ukraine end?
- Dr Sergei Medvedev, Charles University of Prague
- Olena Tregub, Fellow at Atlantic Council & Sec General of Nako, Ukrainian Independent Anti-Corruption Commission
- Dr. Jade McGlynn, Research Fellow Kings College London and author of ‘Russia’s War’
- Hosted by Dr. Conor Daly, TCD
22.00 CLOSE
* Programme is subject to change
- Thursday, August 17th
-
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous?
11.00 Welcome to Day 2 of MacGill 2022
11.05 How to restore peace and harmony to a dangerously distressed world and the role of China?
- Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow of Centre for International Security & Strategy, Tsinghua University, China
- Ambassador Declan Kelleher, former Irish Ambassador to China
- Hosted by Prof. Andrew Cottey, EU Jean Monnet Chair in European Political Integration, UCC
12.30 LUNCH
14.30 The European Union – how is its increasingly difficult and complex mission to be fulfilled?
- Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner for Finance Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets
- Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Prof. at the European Institute, Florence
- Tony Connelly, European Editor of RTÉ in Brussels
- Hosted by Prof John O’Brennan, Director of the Maynooth Centre for European & and Eurasian Studies
16.15 Break
16.30 The Irish Economy – Large Surpluses but will they be used for long-term national gain?
- Prof. Seamus Coffey, UCC
18.00 Naomh Conaill vs Notre Dame GAA Exhibition match
20.00 23rd Annual Hume Lecture
- Congressman Brendan Boyle, U.S. House of Representatives
- Hosted by Ambassador David Donoghue, Former Permanent Representative of Ireland to UN
- LIVE virtually from USA
21.30 Close of Day 2
* Programme is subject to change
- Friday, August 18th
-
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous
11.00 Welcome to Day 3 of MacGill 2021
11.05 The future of Russia and its place in the world
- Dr Sergei Medvedev, Charles University, Prague
- Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor at the University Institute, Florence
- Zhou Bo, Senior Fellow of Centre for International Security & Strategy, Tsinghua University, China Moderator: Dr Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament
12.30 LUNCH
14.30 In conversation with….
- Senator Michael McDowell, Seanad Éireann & former Minister for Justice
- Hosted by Stephen Collins, Irish Times Journalist & Author
15.30 BREAK
16.30 Heaney & Friel
- On the tenth anniversary of his passing, remembering
the great Irish poet, Seamus Heaney at the MacGill School with his friend, Brian Friel and a prizewinning documentary on Friel’s life and work
18.00 BREAK
20.00 Ireland – The future?
- Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Rose Conway-Walsh TD, Sinn Féin
- Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, Democratic Unionist Party
- Claire Hanna MP MLA, Social Democratic & Labour Party
- Hosted by Tommie Gorman, Journalist & Author Former RTE Northern Editor
21.30 Close of Day 3
* Programme is subject to change
- Saturday, August 19th
-
A New Global Order
Precarious & Dangerous
11.00 The Planet, including Ireland, is losing the battle against Climate Change?
- Minister Gillian Martin, MSP. Minister for Energy and the Environment. The Scottish Government.
- Dr Denis Duff, Chartered engineer. Global experience in nuclear
- Hannah Daly, Prof of Sustainable Energy University College Cork, regular columnist for the Irish Times & Government Adviser
- Oisin Coughlan, CEO Friends of the Earth
12.15 Break
14.00 AI: Who is the master?
- Prof. Barry O’Sullivan, Professor of Artificial Intelligence UCC
- Ruth Sheridan, Industry Analyst Frontline Ventures
- Prof. Linda Hogan, Professor of Ecumenics Trinity College Dublin
- Hosted by Shay Garvey, Chair of Irish Times
16.00 Launch of the 2023 DONEGAL ANNUAL
- Editor Sean Beattie
- Published by the County Donegal Historical Society
* Programme is subject to change
2023 Speakers Include
More speakers will be added soon. Check back again for the latest updates on the MacGill Summer School 2023 schedule or sign up to our newsletter to be notified when any information is available.
MacGill Summer School is in association with:
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