The MacGill Summer School 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 2022, the event was in association with University of Notre Dame and in-person. It took place from July 21st-24th, at The Highlands Hotel.
Schedule 2022
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
15.00 Opening of MacGill School 2022
- H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland
- Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Former Vice-Prime-Minister for European Integration Ukraine
- Pat Cox, Former President European Parliament
15.30 Ukraine: The Tragedy & The Future For Its People
17.00 Music & Culture from Ukraine
18.00 BREAK
20.00 With the impact of the pandemic and Ukraine – Is Globalisation dead? What is the way forward for the planet?
- Professor Ian Goldin, Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford. Former Vice President of the World Bank and served as Advisor to President Nelson Mandela.
- Hosted by Marie Louise O’Donnell, writer and broadcaster
21.00 CLOSE
* Programme is subject to change
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
11.00 Welcome to Day 2 of MacGill 2022
11.05 Is recession inevitable and can the Irish economy withstand it?
- Seamus Coffey, UCC Economics Lecturer & former Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council
- Mairéad Farrell TD, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Public expenditure & Reform
- Prof Linda Yueh, Adjunct Professor of Economics at London Business School & Fellow in Economics at Oxford University
- Danny McCoy, CEO IBEC
- Hosted by Dr. Donal De Buitleir, Member of the Policing Authority & Chair of Review of Senior Public Service Pay and Recruitment
12.30 Militant Democracy 2.0 – What has to change to make democracies resilient?
- Dr Paul Mason, Journalist & Author of How to Stop Fascism? Former editor at BBC and Channel 4.
- Hosted by Dr. Lucy Fallon-Byrne, Former Assistant Secretary General Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
1.15 LUNCH
14.30 Destruction of Ukraine and Russian aggression has set a new and complex agenda for the European Union
- Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Prof. at the European Institute, Florence
- Francis Jacobs, Served at the European Parliament 1979-2016 & Visiting Professor at the College of Europe, Parma
- Joan Hoey, Director for Europe, Economist Intelligence Unit
- Hosted by Shona Murray, Euronews
15.30 Break
16.00 The Future Direction of Russia?
- Prof Michael Kimmage, Prof of History at the Catholic University of America, Author of: The Abandonment of the West
- Dr Sergei Medvedev, Affiliated Prof., Charles University Prague & Fellow Collegium for Advanced Studies, Helsinki University
- Dr. Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (Paris) European Political Integration.
- Hosted by Dr. Conor Daly, Visiting Research Fellow, Dept of Russian & East European Studies Trinity College Dublin
17. 30 Break
20.30 Another Place of Suffering—Afghanistan
- Mary-Ellen McGroarty, Representative in Afghanistan of the UN World Food Programme
- Hosted by Catherine Byrne, Arts & Education consultant
21.30 Close of Day 2
* Programme is subject to change
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
11.00 Welcome to Day 3 of MacGill 2021
11.05 The 22nd Annual Hume Lecture
- Dr Linda Doyle, Provost and President of Trinity College, the University of Dublin.
- Hosted by Dr Don Thornhill, former Sec. Gen. of the Dept of Education & Science & former chair of the Higher Education Authority.
12.30 LUNCH
14.30 In these turbulent times is Neutrality an option anymore?
- Paddy McGuinness CMG OBE Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Intelligence UK. Responsible for UK’s two five-year National Security Programme
- Caitriona Heinl, Executive Director at the Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy & Adjunct Research Fellow at School of Politics
- Prof. Andrew Cottey, EU Jean Monnet Chair in European Political Integration at UCC
- H.E. Adriaan Palm, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ireland
- Hosted by Prof. Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Prof. at the European Institute, Florence
16.00 The most urgent problem facing the world is energy—how does it wean itself off fossil fuels?
- Justin Moran, Director External Affairs, WindEnergy Ireland
- Prof. Sadhbh O’Neill, Asst Professor at DCU’s School of Law and Government
- Hosted by Dr Micheál Ó Cinneide, former Director at the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)
17.15 : The war in Ukraine and the pandemic are creating a serious food crisis across the planet. Can those countries with substantial agriculture sectors help?
- Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
18.30 BREAK
20.30 Recital by the much acclaimed Pianist, Caitriona McElhinny Grimes with strong Donegal connections
* Programme is subject to change
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
11.00 The threats to our planet have never been greater and the dangers never more frightening. Can mankind overcome those threats and how?
- Open Forum
12.15 Break
14.30 Friel Experience
Walk from the courthouse to The Laurels where lived Brian Friel’s “five brave Glenties women” –his mother and four aunts– celebrated in his masterpiece, DANCING AT LUGHNASA.
One of Friel’s short stories will be read by acclaimed Donegal actor, Charlie Bonner.
* Programme is subject to change
- Thursday, July 21st
-
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
15.00 Opening of MacGill School 2022
- H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland
- Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Former Vice-Prime-Minister for European Integration Ukraine
- Pat Cox, Former President European Parliament
15.30 Ukraine: The Tragedy & The Future For Its People
17.00 Music & Culture from Ukraine
18.00 BREAK
20.00 With the impact of the pandemic and Ukraine – Is Globalisation dead? What is the way forward for the planet?
- Professor Ian Goldin, Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford. Former Vice President of the World Bank and served as Advisor to President Nelson Mandela.
- Hosted by Marie Louise O’Donnell, writer and broadcaster
21.00 CLOSE
* Programme is subject to change
- Friday, July 22nd
-
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
11.00 Welcome to Day 2 of MacGill 2022
11.05 Is recession inevitable and can the Irish economy withstand it?
- Seamus Coffey, UCC Economics Lecturer & former Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council
- Mairéad Farrell TD, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Public expenditure & Reform
- Prof Linda Yueh, Adjunct Professor of Economics at London Business School & Fellow in Economics at Oxford University
- Danny McCoy, CEO IBEC
- Hosted by Dr. Donal De Buitleir, Member of the Policing Authority & Chair of Review of Senior Public Service Pay and Recruitment
12.30 Militant Democracy 2.0 – What has to change to make democracies resilient?
- Dr Paul Mason, Journalist & Author of How to Stop Fascism? Former editor at BBC and Channel 4.
- Hosted by Dr. Lucy Fallon-Byrne, Former Assistant Secretary General Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
1.15 LUNCH
14.30 Destruction of Ukraine and Russian aggression has set a new and complex agenda for the European Union
- Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Prof. at the European Institute, Florence
- Francis Jacobs, Served at the European Parliament 1979-2016 & Visiting Professor at the College of Europe, Parma
- Joan Hoey, Director for Europe, Economist Intelligence Unit
- Hosted by Shona Murray, Euronews
15.30 Break
16.00 The Future Direction of Russia?
- Prof Michael Kimmage, Prof of History at the Catholic University of America, Author of: The Abandonment of the West
- Dr Sergei Medvedev, Affiliated Prof., Charles University Prague & Fellow Collegium for Advanced Studies, Helsinki University
- Dr. Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (Paris) European Political Integration.
- Hosted by Dr. Conor Daly, Visiting Research Fellow, Dept of Russian & East European Studies Trinity College Dublin
17. 30 Break
20.30 Another Place of Suffering—Afghanistan
- Mary-Ellen McGroarty, Representative in Afghanistan of the UN World Food Programme
- Hosted by Catherine Byrne, Arts & Education consultant
21.30 Close of Day 2
* Programme is subject to change
- Saturday, July 23rd
-
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
11.00 Welcome to Day 3 of MacGill 2021
11.05 The 22nd Annual Hume Lecture
- Dr Linda Doyle, Provost and President of Trinity College, the University of Dublin.
- Hosted by Dr Don Thornhill, former Sec. Gen. of the Dept of Education & Science & former chair of the Higher Education Authority.
12.30 LUNCH
14.30 In these turbulent times is Neutrality an option anymore?
- Paddy McGuinness CMG OBE Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Intelligence UK. Responsible for UK’s two five-year National Security Programme
- Caitriona Heinl, Executive Director at the Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy & Adjunct Research Fellow at School of Politics
- Prof. Andrew Cottey, EU Jean Monnet Chair in European Political Integration at UCC
- H.E. Adriaan Palm, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ireland
- Hosted by Prof. Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Prof. at the European Institute, Florence
16.00 The most urgent problem facing the world is energy—how does it wean itself off fossil fuels?
- Justin Moran, Director External Affairs, WindEnergy Ireland
- Prof. Sadhbh O’Neill, Asst Professor at DCU’s School of Law and Government
- Hosted by Dr Micheál Ó Cinneide, former Director at the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)
17.15 : The war in Ukraine and the pandemic are creating a serious food crisis across the planet. Can those countries with substantial agriculture sectors help?
- Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
18.30 BREAK
20.30 Recital by the much acclaimed Pianist, Caitriona McElhinny Grimes with strong Donegal connections
* Programme is subject to change
- Sunday, July 24th
-
The Destruction of Ukraine & Its People:
The Fallout for Mankind
11.00 The threats to our planet have never been greater and the dangers never more frightening. Can mankind overcome those threats and how?
- Open Forum
12.15 Break
14.30 Friel Experience
Walk from the courthouse to The Laurels where lived Brian Friel’s “five brave Glenties women” –his mother and four aunts– celebrated in his masterpiece, DANCING AT LUGHNASA.
One of Friel’s short stories will be read by acclaimed Donegal actor, Charlie Bonner.
* Programme is subject to change
2022 Speakers & Schedule
Check back again soon for any updates on the MacGill Summer School 2023 schedule and speakers. Or sign up to our newsletter to be notified when any information is available.
MacGill Summer School 2022 was in association with:
Kindly supported by:
