40 Years On: Reflecting on the Anglo-Irish Agreement

9:30 – 16:30, 11 November 2025

Riddel Hall, 185 Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5EE

The Anglo-Irish Agreement, which was signed on 15 November 1985 by the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, marked a significant development in Anglo-Irish relations.  It created a framework for greater cooperation between Britain and Ireland on political matters; security and related issues; legal matters, including the administration of justice; enabled an Irish Government input on Northern Ireland concerns and the promotion of cross-border cooperation.  Although it was controversial among some parts of Northern Ireland society when it was signed, the Anglo-Irish Agreement arguably laid the groundwork for the later peaceful resolution of the Troubles.

This one-day conference marked the 40th anniversary of this agreement and brought together speakers who were directly involved in the negotiations on behalf of the British and Irish governments as well as international and Northern Ireland political figures.  Together they reflected on the genesis of the Agreement, the political reactions to it, subsequent developments, outworkings and enduring impacts.

The Speakers included Former Tánaiste Dick Spring, former Ambassador Sean Donlon, Professor Paul Bew, Professor Paul Arthur, Professor Margaret O’Callaghan, former diplomat Michael Lillis, former diplomat Noel Dorr, Eileen Weir, Community Development Practitioner, former Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan, former Minister Dermot Nesbitt, Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, former Chair IFI Willie McCarter, Professor Chris Maccabe CB and Professor Brigid Laffan.

The conference is hosted in partnership with the John and Pat Hume Foundation, the Royal Irish Academy and the Civic Engagement and Strategic Communications Directorate, QUB.

Professor Paul Arthur from the Hume Foundation Board said:

“The John and Pat Hume Foundation was delighted to partner with QUB Mitchell Institute and Royal Irish Academy on this important conference in QUB on 11 November to reflect on 40 years since the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Given the import of the Agreement, it is critical to explore the genesis of the Agreement and political reaction.

“John Hume dedicated his political life to building peace through non-violence. The signing of the Anglo -Irish Agreement was a positive and an extraordinary accomplishment in the context of past animosity and misunderstanding. It offered the promise of a new beginning and an opportunity to build peace and prosperity. The conference reflected on the immediate reaction of unionist opposition to the Agreement, its alternative agenda and assessed the long-term impact of the Agreement.”