The county town will this month benefit from the moving of the annual Humbert School to Castlebar from Ballina, which will inject much needed tourism to the town. The school will also boost the Killala economy during the three day event.
The Humbert School, which will run this year from August 19 to 22, has established itself as a premier national forum for public debate on issues relating to contemporary Ireland, the peace process in Northern Ireland, and Ireland’s role in the European Union and world affairs. The school also examines the media through its John Healy Debate.
The weekend will open at 7pm on Thursday August 19 in the Harlequin Hotel, Castlebar, where Robert Blair Kaiser, author and journalist who reported the Second Vatican Council for Time magazine, will address the issue of Catholic Church reform.
At 10am on Saturday August 20 in the Harlequin Hotel, Castlebar, the reaction of Pope Benedict and the Irish hierarchy to the abuse crisis will be discussed with speakers Fr Iggy O’Donovan, Bridget Mary Meehan, and Brendan Butler. That afternoon speakers will discuss victims’ perspectives.
On Saturday topics to be discussed include ‘A Constitution for 21st Century Ireland’ and a debate on ‘Can the EU Survive the Euro Crisis?’
Another highlight of the full itinerary over the weekend will be Richard Henderson, Bishop of Tuam, Achonry, and Killala, who will discuss ‘Post-Bloody Sunday Inquiry: An Exciting Vista’ in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Killala, at 12 noon on the Sunday.
In support of the school, Mayo County Council has allocated a grant of €5,500 towards the running costs, and school director John Cooney is calling on the people of Mayo and all public representatives in the county and in the northwest to turn up to attend the school's lectures and debates.
For a full itinerary and for bookings see www.humbertschool.ie
