Nobel laureate John Hume will deliver the 21st Humbert School "Bishop Stock Address" at St Patrick's Church of Ireland cathedral in Killala, Co Mayo, on Sunday, August 26th. Patsy McGarryreports.
He will be welcomed there by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, the Right Rev Richard Henderson, and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killala, Dr John Fleming.
The Humbert School's merit award this year will be presented to Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy, who will also be guest speaker at the 21st school dinner on August 24th, in the Downhill Hotel, Ballina.
The school's director, John Cooney, said that as the event marks its 21st year, it was appropriate to celebrate its strong Mayo connection.
"In that context we wished to reaffirm the choice of the Mayo Association who picked Noel Conroy, a native of west Mayo, as Mayoman of the Year. His period as Garda Commissioner has been a difficult one in which the entire role of the Garda has been redefined. He is not a publicist, but behind the scenes he got the job done."
Themes to be discussed at this year's school, which continues from August 23rd to 26th, will include Bertie Ahern's post-election Ireland; multicultural Ireland; the EU march from Rome 50 Years On; and social change in Ireland, 1987-2007.
Taking part in a debate on multicultural Ireland, which will be chaired by Mr Justice Vivian Lavan of the High Court, will be the Romanian ambassador Silvia Davidoiu Stancu, Bishop Henderson and Noel Coghlan, former EU deputy chef de cabinet.
Participants in the John Healy Debate: Election 2007 will include Adrian Langan, chef de cabinet to Labour leader Pat Rabbitte; Seán Boyne, political editor of the Sunday World; James Laffey, editor of the Western People, and PR consultant Tim Ryan. The debate will be chaired by PR consultant Mike Burns.