Relationships on these islands: the European Union peacebuilding experience

This one-day public workshop will bring together academics working on EU peacebuilding on the Island of Ireland and peacebuilding practitioners to discuss key issues related to the theme of the two panels:

- The first panel will be entitled ‘Relationships and EU Peacebuilding on the Island of Ireland’ (preceded by a short, pre-recorded film featuring Dr Avila Kilmurray and Mr Stephen Barr addressing the theme).

Moderator: Dawn Purvis.

Speakers: Prof. Niall O’Dochartaigh; Prof. Cathal McCall; Dr. Etain Tannam; Dr Giada Lagana.

- The second one will be entitled ‘Relationships and EU peacebuilding on these Islands post-Brexit’ (preceded by a short, pre-recorded film featuring Prof. Christopher Maccabe, Mr Pat Colgan and Prof. Duncan Morrow addressing the theme).

Moderator: Seamus McKee.

Speakers: Dr Mary C. Murphy; Dr Jonathan Evershed; Prof. Katy Hayward; Dr Peter McLoughlin.

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Rory Montgomery. He is a former Irish diplomat who served as Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador to France and Second Secretary General at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was a member of the Irish team which negotiated the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the establishment of North/South institutions. He has been principal EU adviser to Enda Kenny and Simon Coveney and has worked extensively with Irish, Northern Irish, British and European politicians, and officials.

The workshop will be held on the 10th of September 2021 and it will take a ‘blended’ approach. This ‘blended’ approach will allow for a more dynamic and creative format where ‘in room’ speakers will be able to engage with other speakers in the studio, but also with online participants, and with the pre-recorded films (recorded by peace practitioners in advance of the event with the assistance of RedBox Recording Studio). It will be broadcast live on YouTube and Zoom to allow participants to take part in the Q&A.

The event will be a public event and open to all, including the media. It is organised by IACES with the help of Ms Anna Tulin Brett (PhD candidate at the National University of Ireland Galway) and Mr Darren Litter (PhD candidate at the Queen's University of Belfast), in partnership with the John & Pat Hume Foundation, Cardiff University and the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Communicating Europe Initiative 2021.