Irish Institute of Boston College

05/19/2026

Irish Institute Emerging Scholar and Boston College senior Ellie Atkins examines the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policies on the undocumented Irish immigrant community in the United States. https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/irish-response-trump-immigraiton?fbclid=IwY2xjawR5vMdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedJRWp6JVJXRhSE6V-3gZPu0ibIZYy1QzCkwOYkYXsrRlL_QGNl19qZijQX4_aem_iswV7WH8FDatPH2sW4e_rw

The Irish state’s reaction to rising Irish deportations from the US illustrates a deeper and more fundamental challenge for Ireland and U.S.-Irish relations. An essay written by Boston College Irish Institute Emerging Scholar Ellie Atkins as part of the Irish Institute of Boston College's guest es...

05/15/2026

Irish Institute Director Mary C. Murphy and Villanova's Cera Murtagh explore identity shifts across the island of Ireland and how they intersect with the Irish unity debate. https://www.centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/blog/2026/irish-unity-why-others-matter-north-and-south

05/14/2026

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05/13/2026

Today's King's Speech commits to delivering the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and contains plans to reduce some of the difficulties associated with the post-Brexit period.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kings-speech-to-build-a-stronger-fairer-northern-ireland-and-deliver-the-troubles-bill

05/12/2026

Matthew O'Toole outlines the 'profound policy challenges a Reform-led government would present for the North and British-Irish relations' and calls for the Irish government to begin preparing for constitutional change.

The prospect of Prime Minister Farage should focus minds across this island.

British politics is changing quickly and the old assumptions about stability, moderation and the future of the UK no longer hold.

Ireland cannot afford to drift through the next decade. We need serious, responsible and inclusive planning for constitutional change, for our economy and for the kind of future we want to build together.

Matthew O'Toole MLA in the Irish Times today.

05/11/2026

In what's been dubbed a high stakes speech this morning, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded to the electoral drubbing his party experienced last week following elections across England, Scotland and Wales. Although he did not mention Ireland in his speech, Prime Minister Starmer did outline his commitment to a closer relationship between the UK and the EU 'on trade, the economy, defense and security' - a development which may challenge some of the difficulties associated with Brexit for the island of Ireland.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to bring Britain closer to the European Union as he faces calls to step down after poor local election results for his Labour Party

05/09/2026

Today, May 9th is Europe Day. It is a day when the European Union celebrates the peace and unity of Europe. Ireland has been a member-state of the EU since 1973. This year Ireland will assume the Presidency of the EU when it will take responsibility for leading the EU’s policy agenda over a six-month period from July 1, 2026.

05/08/2026

Local elections across England and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales have delivered crushing results for the UK Labour Party with the Reform Party (formerly the Brexit Party and before that UKIP) clocking massive gains. The consequences for Ireland, north and south, may be significant because these results bring the issue of UK-EU relations back into the spotlight - and the island of Ireland stands to be impacted by any changes to that relationship.

The counting has barely started, but the spinning is already in overdrive, with the political consequences already clear, writes Sean Whelan.

05/08/2026

The latest Guest Essay is out! Irish Institute Emerging Scholar and BC senior Ellie Atkinson considers the impact of The Trump administration’s immigration policy on the undocumented Irish immigrant community in the US. Link in bio.

05/07/2026

Today's elections across England, Scotland and Wales will be closely watched in Ireland, north and south. They will indicate the strength of nationalist sentiment in Scotland and Wales and reveal the electoral pulling power of Nigel Farage's Reform Party. They may also signal the end of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's premiership. Such a scenario would entail the loss of Starmer's knowledge and experience of Northern Ireland and his strong support for UK-Irish relations at the heart of the British government.

Will Reform take Sunderland, or the Greens take Hackney? Can Plaid Cymru take a historic victory in Wales, and will Labour be forced into third place in Scotland? We examine the possible outcomes for election night

04/29/2026

📣 New Research Opportunity: De Chastelain Scholarship Programme

The Ireland Canada University Foundation has launched the De Chastelain Scholarship Programme, supported by the Irish and Canadian governments 🇮🇪🇨🇦

This initiative offers awards of up to €10,275 to support short-term research visits (3–6 weeks) between Ireland and Canada.

🔍 Focus areas include:
Peace, reconciliation, and the systems that support stable, thriving societies.

👩‍🎓 Open to emerging and established researchers across disciplines
🌍 Eligibility: Irish and Canadian scholars only

If you or someone in your network may be a fit—especially colleagues, graduate students, or postdocs—this is a meaningful opportunity to engage in transatlantic research.

🔗 Learn more + apply:
https://www.icuf.ie/scholarships/de-chastelain-scholarship-programme/