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 by Dr. Joe Mulholland over 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 2025 the event will take place at The Highlands Hotel on July 17th-19th and is in association with University of Notre Dame.
Schedule Highlights 2025
A Fractured World
11.00 Welcome to MacGill Summer School 2025
- Vincent Mc Carthy, Director MacGill Summer School
- Prof. Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at University of Notre Dame
11.15 Opening Session: A Fractured World
- Prof. Edward Burke, Assistant Professor in the History of War since 1945 at University College Dublin [HOST]
- Prof. Brigid Laffan, Chancellor of University of Limerick
- Prof. Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at University of Notre Dame
12.00 Ireland’s Business Model 2.0
- Sarah Carey, Journalist & Broadcaster [HOST]
- Prof. Martina Lawless, Director ESRI
- Danny McCoy, CEO IBEC
- Seamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council & Lecturer at Department of Economics at University College Cork
- Sean Finlay, President Irish Academy of Engineering
13.15 Break
14.30 How to Make Ireland the Best Place In the World to Grow Up?
- Áine Kerr, Chair of Gaisce [HOST]
- Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children
- Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
- Prof. Rose Anne Kenny, Founding Principal Investigator The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) & Chair of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin
- Patricia Forde, Ireland’s Laureate na nÓg, Former Director of the Galway International Arts Festival & Co-founder of Baboró International Arts Festival
15.45 Break
16.15 Caught in the Crossfire: Ireland, Trump, and the China Dilemma
- Finbarr Bermingham, Europe Correspondent South China Morning Post [HOST]
- Prof. Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at University of Notre Dame
- Bill Emmott, Former Editor of The Economist and Chair of IISS
- Prof. Donnacha O Beachain, Professor of Politics Dublin City University. Author of new book ‘Unfinished Empire: Russian Imperialism in Ukraine and the Near Abroad’.
17.30 Break
20.00 The Case For and Against a United Ireland
- Sarah Carey, Journalist & Broadcaster [HOST]
- Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor of the Belfast Telegraph & Sunday Independent. Co-Author of upcoming book ‘For and Against a United Ireland’.
21.30 CLOSE
- Traditional Music @ Navvy Poet Bar Highlands Hotel
* Programme is subject to change
A Fractured World
10.00 Welcome to Day 2
10.05 Has the Constitution Atrophied?
- Ruadhan MacCormaic, Editor Irish Times [HOST]
- Attorney General Rossa Fanning SC
- Ivana Bacik, Party Leader & Party Spokesperson on Northern Ireland Labour
- Prof. David Kenny, Professor in Law and Fellow and Head of the Law School at Trinity College Dublin
11.15 Break
11.30 Fractured Communities: From Disconnection to Discord
- Sorcha Pollak, Reporter Irish Times [HOST]
- Gary Gannon, TD Spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Social Democrats
- Claire Hanna, Leader SDLP
- Lata Sharma, Broadcaster, Presenter, Writer, Performer, Commentator & Community Advocate
- David W. Higgins, Economist
12.45 Break
14.30 Taboo Ideas to Transform Ireland?
- Jess Majekodunmi, Design Historian & Innovation Researcher [HOS])
- Stephen Donnelly, Health Consultant & Former Minister for Health
- Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist IIEA & Columnist at The Currency
15.45 Break
16.15 Man Made: Masculinity, Media & Power
- Paraic O’Brien, Foreign Correspondent Channel 4
- Kate McDonald, Journalist at RTÉ
- Eamon McGee, Donegal All-Ireland GAA Winner, Columnist & Father
- Prof. Ian Robertson, TCD Emeritus Professor of Psychology & Co-Director Global Brain Health Institute
17.30 Break
20.00 Onion Bajis and Sausage Sodas w/ Lata Sharma
- Writer and broadcaster, Lata Sharma presents a warm, humorous, light-hearted one woman show based on the life of a sassy wee teenage Indian girl born at the start of the Troubles & reared in East Belfast. Who whilst desperately trying to ‘fit in’ with her local mates, also finds herself having to learn on the hoof how to navigate the sectarianism, the racism, and endless cultural clashes faced at home from her immigrant parents!
21.30 CLOSE
- Traditional Music @ Navvy Poet Bar Highlands Hotel
* Programme is subject to change
A Fractured World
11.00 Welcome of Day 3
11.05 Northern Ireland in a Fractured World
- Noel Doran, former Editor of Irish News [HOST]
- Minister Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, MLA Minister for the Economy Sinn Féin
12.00 Break
12.15 Why is the Liberal Agenda Failing?
- Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent Euronews [HOST]
- Lucinda Creighton, Vulcan Consulting and former Minister for European Affairs
- Mark Little, Media Entrepreneur
13.15 Remembering Mary-Claire O’Donnell
13.30 Break
14.30 Fractured World Order: Where Does Europe Stand?
- Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent Euronews [HOST]
- Bill Emmott, Former Editor of The Economist and Chair of IISS
- Lisa O’Carroll, Senior Correspondent Guardian
- Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair European Green Party (EGP)
- Dr. Eoin Drea, Senior Researcher in the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies
15.45 Break
16.15 Ireland’s Priorities in a Fractured World?
- Lisa O’Caroll, Senior Correspondent Guardian [Host]
- Minister Thomas Byrne, TD Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence
17.15 Break
20.00 Let’s Talk About The Presidency
- Dearbhail McDonald [HOST]
- Mary Hanafin, Former Minister and Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil
- Sean Gallagher, Entrepreneur, Author and Two Time Irish Presidential Candidate
- Prof. Ian Robertson, Trinity College Dublin Emeritus Professor of Psychology & Co-Director Global Brain Health Institute
- Prof. David Kenny, Professor in Law and Fellow and Head of the Law School at Trinity College Dublin
21.30 Close of MacGill Summer School 2025
- Prof. Colin Barr, Thomas Moore and Judy Livingston Director, Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies; Professor of Modern Irish History at University of Notre Dame
- Prof. Brigid Laffan, Chancellor of University of Limerick
- Vincent Mc Carthy, Director MacGill Summer School
- Traditional Music @ Navvy Poet Bar Highlands Hotel
* Programme is subject to change
- Thursday, July 17th
-
A Fractured World
11.00 Welcome to MacGill Summer School 2025
- Vincent Mc Carthy, Director MacGill Summer School
- Prof. Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at University of Notre Dame
11.15 Opening Session: A Fractured World
- Prof. Edward Burke, Assistant Professor in the History of War since 1945 at University College Dublin [HOST]
- Prof. Brigid Laffan, Chancellor of University of Limerick
- Prof. Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at University of Notre Dame
12.00 Ireland’s Business Model 2.0
- Sarah Carey, Journalist & Broadcaster [HOST]
- Prof. Martina Lawless, Director ESRI
- Danny McCoy, CEO IBEC
- Seamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council & Lecturer at Department of Economics at University College Cork
- Sean Finlay, President Irish Academy of Engineering
13.15 Break
14.30 How to Make Ireland the Best Place In the World to Grow Up?
- Áine Kerr, Chair of Gaisce [HOST]
- Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children
- Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
- Prof. Rose Anne Kenny, Founding Principal Investigator The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) & Chair of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin
- Patricia Forde, Ireland’s Laureate na nÓg, Former Director of the Galway International Arts Festival & Co-founder of Baboró International Arts Festival
15.45 Break
16.15 Caught in the Crossfire: Ireland, Trump, and the China Dilemma
- Finbarr Bermingham, Europe Correspondent South China Morning Post [HOST]
- Prof. Mary Gallagher, Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at University of Notre Dame
- Bill Emmott, Former Editor of The Economist and Chair of IISS
- Prof. Donnacha O Beachain, Professor of Politics Dublin City University. Author of new book ‘Unfinished Empire: Russian Imperialism in Ukraine and the Near Abroad’.
17.30 Break
20.00 The Case For and Against a United Ireland
- Sarah Carey, Journalist & Broadcaster [HOST]
- Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor of the Belfast Telegraph & Sunday Independent. Co-Author of upcoming book ‘For and Against a United Ireland’.
21.30 CLOSE
- Traditional Music @ Navvy Poet Bar Highlands Hotel
* Programme is subject to change
- Friday, July 18th
-
A Fractured World
10.00 Welcome to Day 2
10.05 Has the Constitution Atrophied?
- Ruadhan MacCormaic, Editor Irish Times [HOST]
- Attorney General Rossa Fanning SC
- Ivana Bacik, Party Leader & Party Spokesperson on Northern Ireland Labour
- Prof. David Kenny, Professor in Law and Fellow and Head of the Law School at Trinity College Dublin
11.15 Break
11.30 Fractured Communities: From Disconnection to Discord
- Sorcha Pollak, Reporter Irish Times [HOST]
- Gary Gannon, TD Spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Social Democrats
- Claire Hanna, Leader SDLP
- Lata Sharma, Broadcaster, Presenter, Writer, Performer, Commentator & Community Advocate
- David W. Higgins, Economist
12.45 Break
14.30 Taboo Ideas to Transform Ireland?
- Jess Majekodunmi, Design Historian & Innovation Researcher [HOS])
- Stephen Donnelly, Health Consultant & Former Minister for Health
- Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist IIEA & Columnist at The Currency
15.45 Break
16.15 Man Made: Masculinity, Media & Power
- Paraic O’Brien, Foreign Correspondent Channel 4
- Kate McDonald, Journalist at RTÉ
- Eamon McGee, Donegal All-Ireland GAA Winner, Columnist & Father
- Prof. Ian Robertson, TCD Emeritus Professor of Psychology & Co-Director Global Brain Health Institute
17.30 Break
20.00 Onion Bajis and Sausage Sodas w/ Lata Sharma
- Writer and broadcaster, Lata Sharma presents a warm, humorous, light-hearted one woman show based on the life of a sassy wee teenage Indian girl born at the start of the Troubles & reared in East Belfast. Who whilst desperately trying to ‘fit in’ with her local mates, also finds herself having to learn on the hoof how to navigate the sectarianism, the racism, and endless cultural clashes faced at home from her immigrant parents!
21.30 CLOSE
- Traditional Music @ Navvy Poet Bar Highlands Hotel
* Programme is subject to change
- Saturday, July 19th
-
A Fractured World
11.00 Welcome of Day 3
11.05 Northern Ireland in a Fractured World
- Noel Doran, former Editor of Irish News [HOST]
- Minister Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, MLA Minister for the Economy Sinn Féin
12.00 Break
12.15 Why is the Liberal Agenda Failing?
- Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent Euronews [HOST]
- Lucinda Creighton, Vulcan Consulting and former Minister for European Affairs
- Mark Little, Media Entrepreneur
13.15 Remembering Mary-Claire O’Donnell
13.30 Break
14.30 Fractured World Order: Where Does Europe Stand?
- Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent Euronews [HOST]
- Bill Emmott, Former Editor of The Economist and Chair of IISS
- Lisa O’Carroll, Senior Correspondent Guardian
- Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair European Green Party (EGP)
- Dr. Eoin Drea, Senior Researcher in the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies
15.45 Break
16.15 Ireland’s Priorities in a Fractured World?
- Lisa O’Caroll, Senior Correspondent Guardian [Host]
- Minister Thomas Byrne, TD Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence
17.15 Break
20.00 Let’s Talk About The Presidency
- Dearbhail McDonald [HOST]
- Mary Hanafin, Former Minister and Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil
- Sean Gallagher, Entrepreneur, Author and Two Time Irish Presidential Candidate
- Prof. Ian Robertson, Trinity College Dublin Emeritus Professor of Psychology & Co-Director Global Brain Health Institute
- Prof. David Kenny, Professor in Law and Fellow and Head of the Law School at Trinity College Dublin
21.30 Close of MacGill Summer School 2025
- Prof. Colin Barr, Thomas Moore and Judy Livingston Director, Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies; Professor of Modern Irish History at University of Notre Dame
- Prof. Brigid Laffan, Chancellor of University of Limerick
- Vincent Mc Carthy, Director MacGill Summer School
- Traditional Music @ Navvy Poet Bar Highlands Hotel
* Programme is subject to change
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