Recorded November 3rd, 2025.

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement on 15 November 1985, Behind the Headlines returns to debate whether this was a crucial stepping stone on the path to peace, or a controversial stumbling block.

Bringing together experts from across the island, the panel re-examines the Agreement before the Good Friday Agreement, discusses what was so controversial at the time, and debates its impact and legacy. In particular, it explores the response of Unionist and Loyalist communities in Northern Ireland, the political fallout, and the mass protest campaign that followed.

The event was chaired by Professor Lindsey Earner-Byrne, Chair of Contemporary Irish History at Trinity College Dublin.

Panel

Dáithí Ó Ceallaigh, former Irish ambassador, who played a crucial role in the negotiation of the Agreement.

Dr Shelley Deane, expert in Security and International Relations at the School of Law and Government in DCU and member of the ARINS project team.

Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor, Belfast Telegraph

Prof Michael Kerr, Professor of Conflict Studies, Kings College London

Learn more at www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub