Politics, Podcasts, and Polarisation: Kinsale Students in Conversation with UCC’s Dr. Schön-Quinlivan

Kinsale Community School was delighted to welcome Dr. Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan, lecturer in Government and Politics at University College Cork, for a special visit this week. Dr. Schön-Quinlivan joined sixth-year students Farrah Keenaghan and Shea O’Connor for a podcast interview as part of their Leaving Certificate Politics and Society project, which explores the political polarisation of the media.

The discussion offered students an opportunity to examine how media narratives shape political perspectives and public discourse, and to consider the importance of critical thinking and civic engagement in an increasingly complex information landscape.

Kinsale Community School has worked closely with Dr. Schön-Quinlivan and UCC for the past three years through the Hub in Active European Citizenship, a partnership that promotes democratic awareness, participation, and understanding of European identity. This collaboration between second-level and third-level education has been a cornerstone of our school’s approach to citizenship education — providing students with real-world learning experiences and meaningful connections to academic research and expertise.

At Kinsale Community School, we place a strong emphasis on student voice, ensuring that our students are not only learners but active contributors to public dialogue. Projects like Farrah and Shea’s podcast demonstrate how young people can engage critically and creatively with contemporary political issues, making their voices heard both within and beyond the classroom.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Dr. Schön-Quinlivan and UCC in the years ahead, as we work together to empower students to become informed, active, and reflective European citizens.

You can learn more about the Hub’s work at www.ucc.ie/en/hub-in-active-european-citizenship