Cultúr

SOLD OUT – For & Against A United Ireland – Fintan O’Toole, Sam McBride and Philip Stephens In-Conversation

A London Book Launch

The debate over Irish unification has never been more urgent. Join Fintan O’Toole, award-winning journalist and author, and Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Independent, for a compelling in-conversation event and London book launch of For and Against a United Ireland.

Moderated by Philip Stephens, contributing editor at the Financial Times and acclaimed author of The Divided Isles, this is your chance to hear Ireland’s leading political commentators tackle one of the island’s most pressing questions.

Copies of For and Against a United Ireland will be available on the night, with a special advance-order offer: pre-order the book for £18 and attend the event for just £5. Both Fintan O’Toole and Sam McBride will be signing books after the discussion.

This is a rare opportunity to see Ireland’s most influential commentators in conversation – tickets are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

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Tue 02 December 2025

Doors: 7pm; Starts: 7.30pm

Tickets: (BOOK £18 + DISCOUNTED ENTRY = get in for £5) £23 | (FULL PRICE - EVENT ONLY) £9

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Explore the arguments for and against Irish unification, guided by decades of expertise and insight:

What does “United Ireland” really mean?
How could it affect life in Northern Ireland and the Republic?
Could it be achieved peacefully, without conflict?

This event will set out the facts, provoke debate, and challenge your perspective, whether you are passionate about Irish unity, committed to the continuation of Northern Ireland within the Union, or simply curious about Ireland’s future.

Presented by the Irish Cultural Centre in partnership with The ARINS Project, a collaboration of the Royal Irish Academy and the University of Notre Dame. Find out more at arinsproject.com.

Fintan O’Toole
Fintan O’Toole is an award-winning Irish journalist, author, and commentator. He is a longtime columnist for The Irish Times and has written extensively on Irish politics, history, and culture. O’Toole has published several acclaimed books, including Ship of Fools, The Ex-Isle of Ireland, and Heroic Failure. His work has earned him numerous awards for commentary and analysis, and he is widely recognised as one of Ireland’s most influential public intellectuals.

Sam McBride
Sam McBride is the Northern Ireland Editor for the Belfast Telegraph and a columnist for the Sunday Independent. He is an experienced political journalist covering Northern Ireland, Brexit, and Irish politics. McBride’s reporting and analysis have earned him recognition for insight into the complexities of Northern Irish politics, and he is a frequent commentator across television, radio, and print media.

Philip Stephens
Philip Stephens is an author and contributing editor at the Financial Times. He writes extensively on politics, economics, and international affairs. Stephens is the author of The Divided Isles: Britain and Ireland, Past and Future (Faber & Faber, 2025) and is widely respected for his commentary on UK-Ireland relations and European politics.