MacGill Summer School

Lisa O’Carroll, brought up how we’re witnessing hybrid warfare—not focused on killing people, but attacking democratic systems, undermining elected governments’ credibility, and sowing distrust among citizens. Today’s real battleground.

@lisaocarroll.bsky.social

Ciarán Cuffe stresses security and the need for advanced radar tech to monitor land, air, and sea — and the urgent importance of thinking seriously about cyber warfare.

Dr. Eoin Drea adds, “There’s a difference between being neutral and being defenseless.”

@ciarancuffe.bsky.social

Fractured World Order: Where does Europe Stand?

With host Shona Murray, Euronews
Bill Emmott, The Economist/IISS
Lisa O’Carroll, The Guardian
Ciarán Cuffe, EGP
Dr. Eoin Drea, Wilfred Martens Centre

@shonamurray.bsky.social @billemmott.bsky.social @lisaocarroll.bsky.social @ciarancuffe.bsky.social

Today is the final day of the 45th @macgillschool.bsky.social, held in association with the University of Notre Dame in Glenties, County Donegal, in the west of Ireland.

It’s been an enlightening three days of open, frank discussions about our fractured world and Ireland’s future. #MacGill25

A walk on Donegal's Portnoo Beach, and then back to Glenties for insights on Northern Ireland's economy from SF Minister Dr. CaoimheArchibald.bsky.social Thanks @MacgillSchool.bsky.social #MacGill25

We are about to begin the final day of #MacGill25 here in Glenties!
📺 Watch at home: donegalcoco.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

@ndirishstudies.bsky.social @notredame.bsky.social
📸 by Johnny Bambury

This afternoon's final panel, chaired by Pariac O'Brien, discusses masculinity, media and power.

Kate McDonald, journalist at RTÉ.
EamonMcGee, Columnist, Father, and Donegal All-Ireland Winner.
Prof. Ian Robertson, TCD Emeritus Professor of Psychology

@ianhrobertson.bsky.social

🏙️ What if your street could vote on its own planning rules — like in Seoul & Tel Aviv — and share the value when development happens?

Seán Keyes’s taboo idea for Ireland: hyper-local planning, where neighbours decide and benefit from building higher.
@quays.bsky.social

Stephen Donnelly calls for bold moves:

✔️ Embrace AI in healthcare
✔️ Share data as a public good
✔️ Believe in the HSE — it's improving fast

“Ireland has the potential to be a global leader in preventative healthcare if we get much more comfortable about AI and emerging technologies”

Stephen Donnelly at #MacGill25:
"The political debate has become harsher… social media is poison — lies, hatred, racism. We're left with a sense we live in a failed state. We really don’t."
He urged a "real urgency as a nation to have a balanced conversation about who we are."

Now underway at #MacGill25: Taboo Ideas to Transform Ireland?
What are we afraid to talk about — and why?

🎙️ Hosted by Jess Majekodunmi
🗣️ With Stephen Donnelly, health consultant & former Minister for Health
🎤 Seán Keyes , Exec Director of Progress Ireland

“We are a great people. I am a new branch growing up from the roots of your tree. I am neither green nor orange, and I am taking more pride than some of you on either side of this debate.”

Lata Sharma reflects on her view as a proud Northern Ireland native with Indian heritage at #MacGill25.

Panellist David W. Higgins, links fractured communities to rising discord among young adults, pointing to a “milestone recession” — the growing delay or absence of key life stages like housing, marriage, and family, now often out of reach until well into people's 30s.

Now underway at #MacGill25!

“Fractured Communities: From Disconnection to Discord,” hearing from Sorcha Pollak @sorchapollak.bsky.social, Gary Gannon TD @garygannontd.bsky.social, Claire Hanna MP @clairehanna.bsky.social, Lata Sharma, and David W. Higgins.

Lots to be discussed.

📢 “As we approach the 90 anniversary of Bunreacht na hÉireann there must be a radical change”
— Ivana Bacik, Labour Party leader, on religious doctrine permeating and dominating the text of the Irish Constitution.

#MacGill25

@ivanabacik.bsky.social @labourpartyireland.bsky.social

❔Has the Constitution atrophied?

This morning's panel debate the significance of symbolic change.

Attorney General Rossa Fanning points out that desiring change and deciding how this change occurs differ greatly.

#MacGill25 @notredame.bsky.social

"People feel strongly about this issue, yet the shallowness of thinking is pretty remarkable…"

@sjamcbride.bsky.social and @fotoole.bsky.social's forthcoming book aims to deepen this thinking: pre-order it at arinsproject.com

@arinsproject.bsky.social
@ndirishstudies.bsky.social
@ria.ie

‘What is beyond dispute is that the republic is the wealthy part of the island, astronomically so’
When asked how much they are willing to compromise economically to achieve unity 51% of tonight's audience says a little; 29% a lot; 10% nothing and 9% almost nothing.
@arinsproject.bsky.social

🚨The final panel of today is now LIVE, with SamMcBride @sjamcbride.bsky.social setting out the case for AND against a united Ireland, hosted by Sarah Carey.
Not one to miss!

#MacGill25
@arinsproject.bsky.social

🚨The final panel of today is underway, with
Sam McBride @sjamcbride.bsky.social setting out the case for AND against a united Ireland, hosted by Sarah Carey.
Not one to miss!

#MacGill25

The audience at #MacGill25 is on fire and isn’t holding back 🔥
One audience member asks:
“Has Trump become a country — and if so, is he now the King of it?”

💥 Sharp questions, big energy.
🎤LIVE from Glenties.

“We’re seeing the autocratisation of democracies — and Trump is the best example.”
– Prof. Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social at #MacGill25

🎤 LIVE from Glenties

📍"Caught in the Crossfire: Ireland, Trump, and the China Dilemma" is on now in Glenties, hearing insights from Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social, Prof. Mary Gallagher,
Bill Emmott @billemmott.bsky.social, and Prof. Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social

Global power dynamics in focus right now in Glenties at #MacGill25.

Prof. Mary Gallagher: “Chinese support for the war in Ukraine has only grown. They don’t want Russia to lose — they’d prefer the war drags on or Russia wins, partly to keep the U.S. distracted by Ukraine.”

Tune in to #MacGill25!

📺 Watch here: donegalcoco.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

In association w/ @notredame.bsky.social

“If you have a culture with a fear of decision-making, you're never going to get anywhere.”
Regarding the public sector, host Sarah Carey notes that making no decision creates a paralysis.

She asks the panel: “How do we change that public sector culture?” #MacGill25

Danny McCoy, CEO of IBEC, at #MacGill25: “You can be poor and popular, rich and responsible — but not rich and popular. Ireland’s foreign policy is damaging us because it’s hypocritical. We’ve taken the riches; now we have to accept the responsibilities.”

🎙️The afternoon’s second panel at #MacGill25 is underway: “Ireland’s Business Model 2.0” is featuring great conversation from host Sarah Carey, Prof. Martina Lawless, Danny McCoy, Seamus Coffey, and Sean Finlay.

#MacGill25

Mary Gallagher, dean of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, kicked off the 45th @macgillschool.bsky.social this morning in Glenties, County Donegal.

“Notre Dame has a long and special connection with Ireland. And today, Notre Dame is more committed than ever to that relationship.”

Profs @brigidlaffan.bsky.social and Mary Gallagher discuss US economic instability and the concern this causes Europe, with Laffan stating Europe must avoid becoming locked into a presentism that ignores long term trends. Europe has reason to be concerned but is not alone in this.

#MacGill25