In his recent article in The Conversation, Mitchell Institute Fellow Dr Peter McLoughlin discussed the Irish presidential election, and interest from Northern Ireland in light of an Ulster Protestant running for the office.

Heather Humphreys, a Presbyterian from county Monaghan, has unionist heritage, with a grandfather having signed the Ulster Covenant in 1912.   She had suggested that this background would allow her to be a president that would represent both of the main political traditions in Ireland, and to build bridges with unionists – an attribute that might be particularly valuable at a time when, post-Brexit, debate on the possibility of a united Ireland has become far more common.   However, some southern commentators sparked controversy by revealing that Humphreys’ husband was previously a member of the Orange Order, seemingly to associate her with the more sectarian manifestations of religious identity seen in Northern Ireland.

Dr McLoughlin’s article suggested that all who contribute to public debate on this island need to be mindful of their words – and the complexity of our shared history – and noted that there is a reason that the Irish flag includes orange as well as green.

Read the article here.

Dr Peter McLoughlin

Dr McLoughlin works in the broad field of contemporary political history in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on the Northern Ireland problem and peace process.   His most notable publication in this field is his book on the Nobel Peace Prize Winner, John Hume – John and the Revision of Irish Nationalism (MUP: 2010).

Dr McLoughlin’s work also explores international and diaspora contributions to peace-making, particularly those of the EU and US. 

He was a Fulbright Scholar at Boston College, researching the role of the US government and Irish-America in the Northern Ireland conflict and peace process.

 

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