Royal Theatre
24th Humbert Summer School comes to Castlebar
By Sandra Hunt
9, Aug 2010 - 20:13

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 19th to 22nd has established itself as a premiere national forum for public debate on issues relating to contemporary Ireland, the peace process in Northern Ireland and Ireland's role in European Union and world affairs. The school also examines the media through its John Healy debate.

The weekend will open at 7pm on Thursday 19th August 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 20th 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 the 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 Sunday.

Two luncheon meetings will take place in the TF Royal Hotel, the first on Thursday 19th August at 1.30pm (the John Healy Luncheon Debate) and on Sunday 22nd August with Speaker Dara Calleary TD.

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 schools lectures and debates.

For a full itinerary and for bookings see www.humbertschool.ie