Grattan Lecture Series - School of Social Sciences and Philosophy

The Grattan Lecture Series is an initiative of the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy. It brings leading figures from politics, diplomacy and economics to speak on the issues shaping Ireland, Britain, Europe and the wider world. The series reflects the School's commitment to public debate, ethical leadership and international engagement.

About the series

Lectures take place in Dublin, London and Washington DC, bringing together Trinity alumni, friends of the College, diplomats, policymakers and members of the media.

Past speakers include former UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Miliband, former British Prime Minister Sir John Major, former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University Professor Louise Richardson, former Taoiseach Mr John Bruton, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank, among others. Their lectures have ranged across Brexit, the Northern Ireland peace process, migration, climate change, the international order and the future of higher education.

The School is grateful to the supporters and friends who make the series possible, including the Embassy of Ireland in London and the Embassy of Ireland in Washington DC.

Who was Henry Grattan?

Henry Grattan (1746 - 1820) was a Trinity graduate and member of the Irish House of Commons, celebrated for his oratory and his campaign for constitutional and political rights. The period of Irish legislative independence he helped secure in 1782 became known as Grattan's Parliament. His portrait hangs in Trinity's Dining Hall.

Past Grattan Lectures

2026, London | Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on migration, the international order and the moral responsibilities of citizenship. Learn more>>
2024, London | David Miliband, former UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: 'In It Together: Europe (including the UK) in a Multi-Aligned World'. Learn more>>
2024, Trinity College Dublin | Grattan Talk | Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, in conversation with the editors of the Student Economic Review. Learn more>>
2024, Trinity College Dublin | Colm O'Reardon, Secretary General of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: 'Whither the Third Level Sector'. Learn more>>
2023, London | Sir John Major, former UK Prime Minister: 'The Peace Process and Beyond'. Learn more>>
2023, Washington DC | Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, in conversation with Cóilín Parsons, Director of Global Irish Studies at Georgetown University. Learn more>>
2023, Trinity College Dublin | Grattan Talk | Philip Lane, Chief Economist of the European Central Bank: 'Underlying Inflation'. Learn more>>
2023, Trinity College Dublin | Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and President of the Eurogroup: 'The Eurozone and the Permacrisis?'. Learn more>>
2021, London | Mairead McGuinness, EU Commissioner, on climate change. Learn more>>
2019, London | Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford: 'Speaking to the Hand: the Rhetoric of Division and the Threat to Democracy'. Learn more>>
2019, Washington DC | Congressman Richard Neal, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee: 'The Future of US-Ireland Relations in a Changing World'. Learn more>>
2018, London | Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland, in conversation with Tommie Gorman: 'Ireland-UK Relations: Past, Present and Future'. Learn more>>
2017, Trinity College Dublin | Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank: 'Youth Unemployment in the Euro Area'. Learn more>>
2017, London | John Bruton, former Taoiseach: 'New Fault Lines in Europe: the Political Consequences of Brexit'. Learn more>>
2016, London | Professor Patrick Honohan, former Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland: 'Reflections on the Irish Economy, 1916 to 2016'. Learn more>>
2015, London | David O'Sullivan, EU Ambassador to the United States: 'EU-US Relations in a Changing World'. Learn more>>
2014, London | Dr Peter Sutherland, UN Special Representative for International Migration, with a response from Dr Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Columnist for the Financial Times: 'EU Migration: Socioeconomic and Political Issues and Challenges'. Learn more>>
2013, London | Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament, Professor Antoin Murphy and Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform: 'British and Irish Relations in a Changing EU'. Learn more>>
2012, Trinity College Dublin | Joschka Fischer, former German Vice-Chancellor: 'The End of the European Project?' Learn more>>
2011, Trinity College Dublin | Steingrímur J. Sigfússon, Minister of Finance of Iceland: 'Iceland's Road to Recovery: What Lessons To Be Learned'. Learn more>>