Queen's, the University of Galway, and University College Cork explored Ireland’s century of diplomatic ties with the United States and the historic links of the three institutions during a special conference at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. 

The all-island and transatlantic event also shone a light on US connections to peacebuilding during the Northern Ireland conflict, reconciliation on the island of Ireland, both north and south, and diplomatic relations with the US - among the most important for both parts of the island.

Former US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Senator George J. Mitchell opened the conference with a video message.

Others taking part in the discussions were Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, former US Deputy National Security Advisor and former Ambassador at the United Nations; former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern; Professor Brendan O’Leary from the University of Pennsylvania; Professor Mary C. Murphy, Director of the Irish Institute at Boston College; Lynsey Moore, from the Northern Ireland Executive Office; and Brian Glynn, from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Peter McLoughlin, Director of Internationalisation at Queen’s and one of the organisers of the conference said: “Even the recent challenges of Brexit have shown the continued importance of the US in preserving peace on the island of Ireland. This conference provided an ideal opportunity to review that role and to consider future relationships between the island and the US in an ever more uncertain world.”

Professor Mary Murphy, Director of the Irish Institute, Boston College and one of the organisers of the conference commented: “Against an increasingly volatile and polarised global political landscape, the need to harness the lessons of the Northern Ireland peace process has never been more pressing. The Irish Institute at Boston College was very pleased to partner with colleagues from across the island of Ireland on this conference exploring the impact of US-Ireland relations and peacemaking.”

Professor Niall Ó Dochartaigh, Professor of Political Science at the University of Galway, another of the conference organisers, explained: “Despite initial scepticism and resistance from many, the United States played a positive and significant role in the peace process of the 1990s and continues to play an important role today.

“By bringing together practitioners who were directly involved and scholars researching US involvement, this conference was an opportunity to enhance our understanding of the US role in the past and the potential for the US to play a positive role into the future.”

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