Ireland and America: After the Good Friday Agreement

  23 October 2026

  Online Conference

 Much has been written about the United States role in securing the Good Friday Agreement.  Less is known and documented about the ongoing efforts the US has made to ensure the success of the peace process and Northern Ireland’s transition to a post-conflict society. US intervention in Northern Ireland has taken various forms. America’s standing as a neutral but supportive partner waned under the Biden administration given unionist perceptions of him as pro-Nationalist.  Strains in the relationship have also emerged under President Trump given Sinn Fein’s refusal to engage with his administration.  This conference seeks to examine US intervention in Ireland in the post -1998 period.

We invite papers that consider the following topics which may include but are not limited to:

The War on Terror and Terrorism in Northern Ireland post-1998

US support for integrated education in Northern Ireland

Hillary Clinton’s relationship with Northern Ireland as First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State

Women’s work in sustaining the peace process

Northern Ireland political actors and the US administration

Joe Biden and Ireland

US Foreign Policy under Obama

Donald Trump, the Special Relationship and Northern Ireland

Islamophobia in the US and Ireland

Policing and integration: lessons from the US

Religion and the US context

Please submit a 250–300-word abstract with a 50-100 word bio to the organisers at: d.kirby@ulster.ac.uk and Dawn-Marie.Gibson@rhul.ac.uk

Deadline for submissions: 31 August 2026