100 years of Irish-American diplomatic relations
At the end of her wide-ranging “fireside chat” with Irish Ambassador to the United States Geraldine Byrne Nason last week in Burns Library, Boston College Irish Institute Director Mary Murphy invited her guest to offer a message to the U.S.
Noting that the December 2 event was a commemoration of 100 years of Irish-American diplomatic relations, Byrne Nason gave thanks to the U.S. for its support of Ireland as an independent nation (“I wouldn’t even have this job if not for you,” she quipped). But since part of her talk with Murphy concerned President-elect Donald Trump’s long-stated negative views of international alliances, Byrne Nason felt compelled to add something else.
“I would say this: Don’t let our hands go now. We need you as a voice of reason in international matters. It’s in your interests, not just Ireland’s.”
With its nod to Irish-American history as well as a glance forward, the Murphy-Byrne Nason conversation provided an appropriate setting for the official re-launch of the Irish Institute. Founded in 1998, the institute drew widespread praise for its programs and initiatives promoting reconciliation between Ireland and Northern Ireland through increased mutual understanding and cross-border partnerships. Over time, the institute broadened its geographical scope to include other regions, but retained an Irish focus in the midst of various political and economic developments.
“The focus of the Irish Institute has always been supporting the peace process established through the Good Friday Agreement, and that will continue to be our mission. Supporting peace and reconciliation is a multigenerational task, and an important part of that involves promoting understanding and awareness of the issues and challenges facing the island of Ireland.”
The Irish Institute had lain dormant since the death in 2022 of Robert Mauro, its director for 11 years. But this past summer saw the arrival of Murphy, who had been head of the Department of Government and Politics at University College Cork, to reimagine the institute and its role in bolstering BC’s engagement with the economic, social, political, and cultural landscape of all Ireland.
Reflecting recently on her first semester at BC, Murphy—who also joined the Political Science faculty as a professor—was upbeat on the institute’s future and equally enthusiastic about her part in it.
“The focus of the Irish Institute has always been supporting the peace process established through the Good Friday Agreement, and that will continue to be our mission,” said Murphy. “Supporting peace and reconciliation is a multigenerational task, and an important part of that involves promoting understanding and awareness of the issues and challenges facing the island of Ireland.”
She noted the emergence of new public-policy challenges and priorities—including climate change, migration, and security issues—that pose tests for Ireland and many other countries. Because Ireland exists within the European Union, “that framework is critical for understanding Irish policies and interests,” said Murphy.
“This is very relevant in considering the situation in Ukraine—and the possible destabilization of the European continent—and the U.S.-NATO relationship. Historically, Ireland has defined itself as ‘neutral,’ but now there is some suggestion that Ireland needs to think more strategically.”
In this context, she said, hosting the Irish ambassador to Ireland’s oldest ally was an opportunity to affirm the countries’ longstanding friendship while noting the complexities of 21st-century international relations.
“Her ‘don’t let go of our hands’ remark was quite powerful. It also was interesting to hear her talk about it being okay for the U.S. and Ireland to disagree about issues such as Gaza, but still maintain a close, working relationship. She articulated the need for dialogue and networking during the next administration, which will not be as connected to Ireland as the Biden administration has been. The Irish Institute will speak to these and other themes through our programming and activities, whether hosted on campus or elsewhere.”
In fact, she noted, as a prelude to the fireside chat with Byrne Nason, the institute held a forum last month in Connolly House to discuss the 2024 presidential election results and their possible implications for Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the U.S. “We see an event like this as another aspect of the institute: helping the BC community, as well as the larger Boston-area and Irish American communities, to deepen their understanding of contemporary Ireland.
“I knew about BC’s connection with Ireland, but being here I have been
impressed by its strong Irish heritage and focus, from stained-glass
windows to the Irish names on campus buildings to the evident interest
among students, faculty, and staff in all aspects of Irish history,
politics, and culture,” said Murphy, who will lead a teaching seminar,
Peace and Politics in Ireland, in the spring. “The presence of the Irish
Institute clearly adds to the depth and breadth of BC’s dedication to
Ireland.”
L-R: Burns Librarian Christian Dupont, Consul General of Ireland in Boston Síghle FitzGerald, Irish Institute Director Mary Murphy, Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Geraldine Byrne Nason, Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley (Photos by Lee Pellegrini)
For Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, the two events this semester are reminders of the institute’s value as a meeting place for different perspectives that illuminate Ireland’s past, present, and future—a prime factor in the University’s decision to relaunch it.
“Since its founding in the 1990s, the Irish Institute has brought together leading figures in civil society in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the United States. The institute has fostered meaningful partnerships across diverse communities in supporting peacemaking and capacity building.”
At the same time, Quigley added, there was strong support for bringing in a director who could contribute to the University’s academic mission. Murphy’s classroom experience, along with her expertise on the complex relationship between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Europe, especially in the post-Brexit era—her co-authored book A Troubled Constitutional Future: Northern Ireland After Brexit won the University Association for Contemporary European Studies Best Book Prize in 2023—made her the ideal candidate to lead the institute.
“[Political Science Chair] Jerry Easter and his colleagues attracted a strong pool of candidates, and Mary Murphy stood out as the right choice for the department and for Boston College. Mary has articulated a compelling vision for the Irish Institute’s future, and her leadership promises to help the University engage with ongoing change in Ireland and Europe more broadly.”
Institute plans for the spring include a forum on British-Irish relations in the 21st century with Irish and British consuls among the panelists, and a larger one-day event on transatlantic peace building. The institute will build on its record of interdisciplinary partnerships within BC, said Murphy, such as through envisioned collaborations with the Political Science and History departments and the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, among others.
Murphy also has made outreach to the outside community a priority: This fall, she moderated a discussion, hosted by the Irish consul of Boston, between the mayors of Derry and Donegal, and contributed to a discussion on the future of Ireland at the Irish Cultural Centre of Greater Boston.
In addition, she believes the institute could be useful for more private, policy-focused events: “Just put some people around a table in a room and talk, and see what we come up with.”