Irish History Lecture: Ireland, the UK and Security in Europe – Towards New Policy Thinking?
By Eoin Micheál McNamara, Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
Join us for a compelling exploration into the historical and contemporary dynamics of European security with Eoin Micheál McNamara, Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. In this thought-provoking lecture, McNamara delves into the intricacies of Irish-UK relations within the broader context of European geopolitics. Discover how historical legacies and contemporary challenges shape security policies, and explore potential pathways for enhanced cooperation.
Doors: 6.30pm; Starts: 7pm
Tickets: £7 each OR £25 for the Series of X4 Lectures
Russia’s escalated aggression in Ukraine has devasted security in Europe, renewing focus on security links between Western states, including between the UK and Ireland. An international system where Eurasian autocracies (Russia, China, Iran and North Korea) are undermining Western democracies has replaced the immediate post-Cold War “peace dividend”. The UK and Ireland share a firm commitment to foreign policy based on liberal democratic values, but mutual security cooperation between neighbours with shared strategic concerns remains underdeveloped. This presentation discusses the current politics of historical legacies obstructing stronger UK-Irish security cooperation and evaluates options on how some obstacles might be overcome.
About Eoin Micheál McNamara
Eoin Micheál McNamara is a research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA). He previously taught extensively in International Relations at the University of Tartu in Estonia between 2013 and 2020. His main research interests include: transatlantic relations; US grand strategy; NATO; transformation of war; and security in northern and eastern Europe. He has published in the NATO Review, the Revue Militaire Suisse, the Defence Forces Review, Irish Studies in International Affairs and in edited volumes published by Routledge and Palgrave MacMillan, among other outlets.
His television, radio and newspaper commentary on security, defence and international affairs has featured in Finland’s main media publications including Helsingin Sanomat, Ilta-Sanomat, YLE, YLE Svenska, Kauppalehti, Aamulehti, Turun Sanomat and Huvudstabadet and globally with outlets such as BBC World, Al-Jazeera, Euronews, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the Times of London, the New York Times, El Pais, the Irish Times and Ireland’s national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). He has previously been awarded visiting research fellowships at the Institute of International Relations (IIR) in Prague, Czech Republic (2019); at the Centre for War Studies (CWS), University of Southern Denmark (2020); and at FIIA (2021-22).
Eoin’s area of expertise include: Transatlantic relations; US grand strategy; NATO; transformation of war; security in northern and eastern Europe.
Degrees: PhD candidate in political science, University of Tartu
(Dissertation: “The Risk Society and Deterioration in Stabilization Policy: US Leadership, the NATO Alliance and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan”):
MSc in security studies, University College London, 2011
MA in European Union – Russia studies, University of Tartu, 2011
BA international (Hons.) in history and politics, University College Dublin (year three at University of Bergen), 2009:
Languages: English, Irish, (Estonian, German).
Publications:
07 / 2022 US global security partnerships in the Biden era: Twilight or regeneration?
12 / 2021 The Powell Doctrine and the US-led transformation of war: Resurrection or obsolescence?
Project: Eoin is currently taking part in The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) research consortium REMIT
Reignite Multilateralism via Technology
Eion Micheál McNamara grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County. Tipperary, of which he has very many happy memories. He currently lives in Helsinki.
You may also like
The Incredible Story of Kevin Barry – By Carmel Kelly
Historian Carmel Kelly presents a powerful lecture on Kevin Barry, the youngest person executed during the Irish War of Independence. Tracing his life from gifted medical student and sportsman to committed Irish Volunteer, this talk explores the events that led to the Monk’s Bakery Ambush and his execution in Mountjoy Prison. A moving account of courage, conviction, and sacrifice that helped alter the course of Irish history.
Wed 22 April 2026
Read More
Lord George Hill: the good, the bad and the sad – A Talk by Roy Greenslade
Lord George Hill was a man with good intentions, a landlord who sought to do right by his tenants. He learned to speak Irish, he lavished money on his Donegal estates, he tried to improve agricultural practices. So why did his experiment fail? Greenslade charts the subsequent unravelling of Hill’s reputation, which marked the beginning of the end of Irish landlordism itself.
Wed 29 April 2026
Read More
Delving into Dubliners – A Talk with Donal Manning
Born in Dublin, Donal Manning brings a lifetime of study and reflection to James Joyce’s Dubliners, his most widely read work. Though deceptively simple, close study of the stories uncovers rich layers of meaning and context. In this talk, Donal discusses the collection in general and concentrates on several selected stories to show that close engagement with Dubliners is a deeply rewarding exercise.
Wed 06 May 2026
Read More
ERNEST SHACKLETON – The Man and the Myths By Michael Smith
Join historian Michael Smith, the leading authority on polar exploration, for a compelling illustrated lecture: Ernest Shackleton – The Man and the Myths. Exploring the life of the County Kildare–born explorer behind four epic Antarctic voyages, this talk sheds new light on Shackleton’s triumphs, struggles, and legacy—freshly re-examined following the discovery of the Endurance beneath the Antarctic ice.
Wed 27 May 2026
Read More
Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS) International Lecture Series
Celebrate 90 years of the Irish Genealogical Research Society with a special London lecture event exploring Irish history, genealogy, and the global Irish diaspora. Featuring expert talks from Michael Mahoney and Dr Damian Shiels at the Irish Cultural Centre.
Sat 04 July 2026
Read More
George Bernard Shaw and Feminism – A Lecture by Murray Rosenthal
This lecture explores the development of George Bernard Shaw’s feminist ideas, examining of his early life and the influential women who shaped his perspectives.
Sun 12 July 2026
Read More
