Henry Grattan Lecture Series

The Henry Grattan Lecture Series – a flagship initiative of Trinity’s School of Social Sciences and Philosophy – plays an important role in enabling wider society to engage with Trinity and in helping to ensure that thought leaders and influential public figures from around the world are publicly accessible.

Previous lectures have addressed topics such as The Political Consequences of Brexit, The Challenges of EU Migration and EU-US Relations in a Changing World. With speakers including former Taoiseach Mr John Bruton, Dr Peter Sutherland, UN Special Representative for International Migration and Dr David O'Sullivan, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States.

The lectures have also benefitted from the expertise of respondents such as Charles Grant, Director of The Centre for European Reform and Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs columnist for the Financial Times.

Trinity College is deeply grateful to the Embassy of Ireland in London for their support, since 2013, in hosting the only Henry Grattan Lecture to be currenly held outside Ireland.

Previous Events

Mario Draghi -- 'Youth Unemployment in the Euro Area'

In his keynote talk at Trinity College, European Central Bank President, Mr Mario Draghi highlighted the need to address structural causes of youth unemployment and the unfair burden that young people carry in relation to the economic crisis. Mr Draghi's address was followed by a roundtable discussion, the ECB Youth Dialogue, with Trinity Economics students.

2017 September 22

John Bruton -- 'New Fault lines in Europe.....the Political Consequences of Brexit'

Former Taoiseach John Bruton gave 2017 Henry Grattan lecture hosted by the Embassy of Ireland in London. His talk explored the historic context of Brexit and emphasised Ireland's important role in the negotiations with the UK. Trinity College Professor in German, Mary Cosgrove also spoke at the event which was chaired by the Head of the School of Social Sciences and Professor in Political Science, Gail McElroy.

2017 June 12

Patrick Honohan -- 'Reflections on the Irish Economy - 1916 to 2016'

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, and Honorary Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin, Prof Patrick Honohan gave the 2016 Henry Grattan lecture hosted by the Embassy of Ireland in London. Following Prof Honohan's lecture, journalist and author, Hamish McRae responded. The lecture was chaired by Daniel Mulhall - Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain.

2016 May 24

David O'Sullivan -- 'EU-US Relations in a Changing World'

A lecture entitled EU-US Relations in a Changing World was given by the EU Ambassador to the United States, and Trinity graduate, Dr David O'Sullivan to which Financial Times political commentator, Philip Stephens, responded. The event was chaired by the Executive Director of the European Movement Ireland Ms Noelle O'Connell.

2015 June 22

Peter Sutherland -- 'EU Migration: Socioeconomic and Political Issues and Challenges'

A Henry Grattan lecture on the challenges of EU migration was given by Dr Peter Sutherland, UN Special Representative for International Migration, to which Dr Gideon Rachman, the Chief Foreign Affairs columnist for the Financial Times responded.

2014 June 12

Pat Cox -- 'British and Irish Relations in a Changing EU'

The inaugural Henry Grattan London lecture was given by the former President of the European Parliament and Trinity graduate, Pat Cox. Trinity College Professor Emeritus Antoin Murphy and Director of the Centre for European Reform, Charles Grant also spoke at the event hosted by the Embassy of Ireland.

2013 May 2

Joschka Fischer -- 'The End of the European Project?'

As part of the Henry Grattan Lecture Series, former German Vice-Chancellor Joschka Fischer, who was a strong advocate of Europe as German foreign minister between 1998 and 2005, provided a German perspective while Irish Times columnist, Paul Gillespie considered the topic from an Irish view and David O'Sullivan of the European External Action Service offered a European viewpoint.

2012 January 23