The Anglo-Irish Agreement: Its Making, Impact, and the People Behind It

Recorded November 3rd, 2025. As we approach the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Behind the Headlines revisits one of the most significant – and contested – moments in modern Irish history. In this special curated episode, Professor Lindsey Earner-Byrne, Chair of Contemporary Irish History at Trinity College Dublin, speaks with an expert panel ahead of the Behind the Headlines event The Anglo-Irish Agreement: Its Making, Impact, and the People Behind It. Joining her are: 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 Dublin City University and member of the ARINS project team. Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor of the Belfast Telegraph. Professor Michael Kerr, Professor of Conflict Studies at King’s College London. Together, they explore the making of the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement, the controversy it provoked, and its lasting legacy on politics across these islands. 🎧 Was the Anglo-Irish Agreement a crucial stepping stone on the path to peace — or a political stumbling block? Tune in to find out. The Behind the Headlines series is proudly supported by the John Pollard Foundation Learn more at www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub