Northern Ireland

Trump, elections and Northern Ireland among topics at this year’s MacGill Summer School

Taoiseach Simon Harris and former Irish News editor Noel Doran are among the speakers

Taoiseach Simon Harris will travel to Chequers to meet Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday
Taoiseach Simon Harris is among the speakers at this year's MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal (Brian Lawless/PA)
By Suzanne McGonagle

Donald Trump, elections and the past, present and future of Northern Ireland are among the topics of discussion at this year’s MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal.

Taoiseach Simon Harris, the Republic’s ex-chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan and former Irish News editor Noel Doran are among an array of speakers set to discuss urgent issues facing the island of Ireland.

The three-day event in Glenties is described as “Ireland’s international forum for thought leaders to discuss the critical issues facing the country, Europe, and our world”.

The theme of this year’s summer’s school, which begins on Thursday, is ‘On The Brink’.

Now in its 44th year, the school was established by Dr Joe Mulholland to celebrate the memory of Co Donegal’s “navy poet” Patrick MacGill.

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During the opening day of the summer school, media entrepreneur Mark Little and Professor Ciaran Martin of UK National Cyber Security Centre will discuss the ‘state of the world’ in 2024, while several speakers will also address the question of ‘how will Ireland spend its billions’.

Irish News editor Noel Doran speaks at the official launch of the IntoMedia offices. Picture by Mal McCann
Former Irish News editor Noel Doran will speak at the event on Thursday. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN

Mr Doran, who stood down from his role earlier this year and is now a columnist and consultant with the Irish News, will join broadcaster Lynette Fay on Thursday to take a look at issues affecting Northern Ireland.

Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, university provost at Ulster University will host an ‘In Conversation with An Taoiseach’ on Friday.

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty and former Tanaiste Mary Coughlan are also among the speakers this year, with other topics set to be discussed over the three days including immigration, the Irish media, extremism and populism and polarisation in Irish society.

For further information on the summer school, which takes place in the Highlands Hotel, please visit www.macgillsummerschool.com