ICC Irish History Lecture Series 2023

The ICC is proud to present: The ICC Irish History Lecture Series 2023.

This programme will include the following Irish History Lectures

Wed 03 May

Professor Conor Gearty - 'The Irish Were Not The Only Ones - The Origins of Britain's Counter-Terrorism Laws'

This will be a fascinating lecture by one of the countries leading Human Rights Lawyers. 

About Professor Conor Gearty: Conor Gearty was born in Ireland and graduated in Law from University College Dublin before going to Cambridge in 1980. He became a fellow of Emmanuel College Cambridge in 1983: In 1990 he went to school of law at King’s College London where he was a senior lecturer, a reader and a Professor. He was Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights (2002-2009) and is currently Professor of Human Rights Law at the London School of Economics Law School. 

He has written ten books on terrorism, civil liberties and human rights. His books include Can Human Rights Survive? (2006) and Liberty and Security (2013) as well as Freedom under Thatcher (1990) and The Struggle for Civil Liberties (2000) (both with Keith Ewing), and Civil Liberties (2007). He is a Fellow of the British Academy and a Bencher of Middle Temple; He has been a visiting professor at Boston University, the University of Richmond, the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, a Member of the Royal Irish Academy: he has honorary degrees and doctorates from Sacred Heart University (USA), University College Dublin, Roehampton, and Brunel Universities (London).

To find out more about Conor Gearty and to order his books go to www.conorgearty.co.uk

17 May

Aengus Collins O’Malley - 'The Legacy Of Michael Collins'

An intimate account of Michael Collins, his legacy and his family by one of the people who knows him best, his great-grand-nephew Aengus Collins O’Malley.

Aengus Collins O’Malley is a the great grandnephew of Michael Collins and is considered the foremost expert of the life of his Grand Uncle. He is one of the Founders of the Collins 22 Society which aims to celebrate and preserve the memory, life and work of the Late Michael Collins. Here is a LINK for more information about the society.

24 May

'Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP'

Ronan McGreevy will give a lecture based on his best-selling book, ‘Great Hatred..’ (currently one of Ireland’s top 10 book-sellers).  A gripping investigation into one of Irish history’s greatest mysteries. McGreevy’s reveals the true story behind one of the most significant political assassinations to ever have been committed on British soil.

On 22 June 1922, Sir Henry Wilson - the former head of the British army and one of those credited with winning the First World War - was shot and killed by two veterans of that war turned IRA members in what was the most significant political * to have taken place on British soil for more than a century. His assassins were well-educated and pious men. One had lost a leg during the Battle of Passchendaele. Shocking British society to the core, the shooting caused consternation in the government and almost restarted the conflict between Britain and Ireland that had ended with the Anglo-Irish Treaty just five months earlier. Wilson's assassination triggered the Irish Civil War, which cast the darkest of shadows over the new Irish State.

Who ordered the killing? Why did two English-born Irish nationalists kill an Irish-born British imperialist?

This will be a rare chance to hear a gripping lecture on one of Irish history's greatest mysteries. 

Ronan McCreevy will do a book signing following his Lecture.

About Ronan McGreevy:  Ronan McGreevy is a news reporter and videographer with the Irish Times . He is the author of the book Wherever the Firing Line Extends: Ireland and the Western Front . He was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for his work on remembrance and the First World War. He is the editor of Centenary: Ireland Remembers 1916, the official State book recalling the commemorations of 2016, and ‘Was It for This? Reflections on the Easter Rising’, an anthology of commentary on the Easter Rising (2016). He is also the presenter of the full-length First World War documentary United Ireland: How Nationalists and Unionists Fought Together in Flanders, which was shortlisted for best film at the Imperial War Museum's short film competition in 2018. His most recent book is Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP is currently on Ireland’s best sellers list. Here is a LINK to find out more about the book.

31st May

Emma DeSouza - The GFA at 25 and The Future of Northern Ireland’s Peace Process

Join us for a fascinating evening where Emma DeSouza will discuss the history of the Good Friday Agreement and the future it still plays after 25 years on the island of Ireland.

Emma DeSouza is a writer, campaigner and peacebuilder. She took forward a high profile court case against the UK government in relation to the Good Friday Agreement, changing UK immigration law to align with the Agreement. Following this Emma led in the creation of the All-island Women’s forum, acting as Chair and facilitator 2021-22. She is the Founder and Co-facilitator of Civic Initiative, a new civic-led participatory structure launched in 2023 to advance peace, reconciliation and wellbeing in Northern Ireland. Emma works in the area of constitutional law and human rights and has a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She is a regular contributor to the Irish Times and several other publications including the Irish Examiner, Byline Times, Open Democrcay and more. She is the Vice-Chair of Votingrights.ie, sits on the Board of Directors at 50:50NI and is a member of the Equality Coalition.