The annual MacGill Summer School will take place in Glenties, Co Donegal from Sunday July 19th until Friday July 24th this year.

The theme for the event, now in its 35th year, is ‘2016 - Ireland at the Crossroads’.

Director Joe Mulholland has confirmed US Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O'Malley will open the event this summer.

Among the topics on the agenda this year will be the upcoming General Election, the crisis in the Eurozone and prospects for reform of governance in Ireland.

Climate change and the promised referendum in the United Kingdom on its future place in the European Union will also be discussed.

“However, the dominant theme will be the absolute necessity to get away from short-termism which has for far too long been a feature of public life in Ireland,” Mr Mulholland said.

He said such an approach was no longer adequate for a country with a growing number of young and well-educated people who wanted to be able to live and work in their own country.