- Date(s)
- November 11, 2025
- Location
- Riddel Hall, 185 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5EE
- Time
- 08:45 - 17:00
- Price
- Free
The Anglo-Irish Agreement, which was signed on 15 November 1985 by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald at Hillsborough Castle, marked a significant development in Anglo-Irish relations. It created a framework for greater cooperation between Britain and Ireland on political matters; security and related issues; legal matters, including the administration of justice; enabled an Irish Government input on Northern Ireland concerns and the promotion of cross-border cooperation. Although it aroused considerable opposition within Northern Ireland when it was signed, the Anglo-Irish Agreement arguably laid the groundwork for the later peaceful resolution of the Troubles.
This one-day conference brings together speakers who were directly involved in the negotiations as well as academics and international and Northern Ireland political figures. Together they will reflect on the genesis of the Agreement, the political reactions to it, subsequent developments, outworkings and enduring impacts.
The conference is hosted in partnership with the John and Pat Hume Foundation, QUB Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, QUB Civic Engagement, the Royal Irish Academy, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This conference will be followed by a conference at the University of Cambridge on 13 and 14 November, which will also mark this significant anniversary https://archives.chu.cam.ac.uk/event/the-1985-anglo-irish-agreement-in-historical-perspective/
Programme
|
8.45 |
Registration |
|
|
9.20 |
Welcome |
Professor Sir Ian Greer, Vice Chancellor and President, Queen’s University Belfast |
|
9.30 |
Panel 1 – Historical Perspectives |
Prof Lord Paul Bew, Professor Emeritus of Irish Politics, Queen's University Belfast Prof Margaret O’Callaghan, Professor of Modern Irish History and Politics, Queen's University Belfast
Prof Paul Arthur, Professor Emeritus of Politics, Ulster University Dr Susie Deedigan, Facilitator, ARINS Project |
|
10.55 |
Break/Minutes Reflection for Remembrance |
|
|
11.15 |
In Conversation |
Dick Spring, former Tánaiste |
|
11.45 |
Panel 2 - The Political and Diplomatic Journey to the Anglo-Irish Agreement |
Mark Durkan, Former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Noel Dorr, Former Irish Diplomat Michael Lillis, Former Irish Diplomat Rory Montgomery, Facilitator, Former Irish Diplomat and Honorary Professor of Practice of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice |
|
1.00 |
Lunch |
|
|
2.00 |
Keynote Address |
Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, US Diplomat |
|
2.15 |
Panel 3 - International Involvement in the Negotiation and Implementation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement |
William McCarter, Former Chair of the International Fund for Ireland Prof Brigid Laffan, Chancellor University of Limerick, Emeritus Professor of European Politics at the European University Institute Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, US Diplomat Donna Traynor, Facilitator |
|
3.15 |
Break |
|
|
3.30 |
Panel 4 - The Impact of the Anglo-Irish Agreement |
Sean Donlon, Former Irish diplomat Dermot Nesbitt, member of the UUP negotiating team that led to the Good Friday Agreement, subsequently a Government Minister and a QUB Honorary Professor.
Eileen Weir, Community Development Practitioner
Chris Maccabe, former Political Director of the Northern Ireland Office and Honorary Professor of Practice, Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice
Facilitator, Prof Katy Hayward, Professor of Political Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast |
|
4.45 |
Closing Remarks |
Tim Attwood, The John and Pat Hume Foundation |
|
5.00 |
Drinks Reception |
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Getting to Riddel Hall
Car: Whilst public car parking is available, it is limited and offered on a first come first serve basis. There is no capacity to reserve, book or pay for car parking. In an effort to avoid disappointment and help the environment, delegates should be encouraged to commute via alternative means. The closest public car parks are located at the bottom of the Stranmillis Road next to the roundabout and along the Stranmillis Embankment located at the Queen’s Physical Education Centre.
Bus: Riddel Hall is serviced by Metro bus routes 8A & 8D, please alight at the Ridgeway Street stop. Both depart from Donegall Square East beside City Hall and run via Great Victoria Street (Europa Bus Centre), past the Lanyon Building, and along the Stranmillis Road, before reaching Riddel Hall. The bus stop is directly outside the main Riddel Hall campus entrance.
Train: The nearest train station is Botanic Train Station located a 25 minute walk from the Riddel Hall campus. Upon exiting the station turn left and proceed along Botanic Avenue. As you reach the Union Theological College on the left, turn right along University Square. Turning left along University Road with the Lanyon building on the left hand side, continue left along the Stranmillis Road until you reach the main gate of Riddel Hall on the right hand side. Alternatively you can take a route through Botanic Gardens to reach the Stranmillis Road.