O’Connell 250 Symposium: Liberty, Democracy, and the Struggle for Human Rights

A two day symposium to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell.

How to get tickets:

• Want to attend the Symposium during the day on Tuesday 29th or Wednesday 30th July? Click here. 
• Want to attend the Life and Global Legacies of O’Connell Keynote Lecture on Tuesday 29th? Click here.
• Want to attend the lecture at Glasnevin cemetery on Wednesday 30th July? Click here.  

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell, this two-day symposium will bring together leading historians, human rights experts, and public figures to explore O’Connell’s life and global legacy, while also discussing challenges to human rights today, threats to democracy, and the lessons we can learn from a study of the Liberator.
The conference is organised by the Trinity Long Room Hub in partnership with The Bar of Ireland and Diageo, and in association with the School of Histories and Humanities, Glasnevin Cemetery (part of Dublin Cemeteries Trust), and the Daniel O'Connell Summer School (29-30 August). Supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the Government of Ireland.
Admission is free. To register for any or all of the sessions, please click on this link.

Schedule of events:

Tuesday 29 July 2025
Edmund Burke Theatre, Arts Block, 1 p.m.
Session 1: O’Connell at 250: Legacies, Inspirations and Challenges.
Chair: Sir Donnell Deeny, Pro Chancellor of the University of Dublin.
Introduction and welcome: Professor Patrick Geoghegan, Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub.
Reflections on the Liberator by Johnny Cunningham, descendant of Daniel O’Connell.
Professor Maurice Bric (UCD), Director of the O’Connell Summer School.
Dr Mary McAuliffe (UCD), historian and Director of Gender Studies.
Maurice Fitzpatrick, author and biographer of John Hume.

Edmund Burke, Arts Block, 3 p.m.
Session 2: Liberation through Law: Daniel O'Connell and the Path to Justice.
Chair: Chief Justice of Ireland, Donal O'Donnell.
The Hon. Ms. Justice Nessa Cahill, High Court Judge.
Seán Guerin SC (Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland)
Dr Niamh Howlin (UCD, and Vice President of the Irish Legal History Society).
John Berry SC, barrister.
Paul Gallagher SC, former Attorney General and O’Connell expert.

Edmund Burke Theatre, Arts Block, 6 p.m. (separate tickets available here)
Keynote Session: The Life and Global Legacies of Daniel O’Connell
Chair: Registrar, Professor Neville Cox
Welcome: Provost, Linda Doyle. Introduction by Imogen McGrath SC, The Bar of Ireland.
250th Anniversary of the Liberator keynotes: Taoiseach Micheál Martin, T.D.
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Ukrainian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate for her work with the Centre for Civil Liberties.
Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin (University of Minnesota and Queen’s University Belfast), an expert on international human rights and former UN Special Rapporteur.
Professor Christine Kinealy (Quinnipiac University), a renowned historian of O’Connell, the anti-slavery movement, and the Great Famine.

Wednesday 30 July 2025
Neill Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub, 10 a.m.
Session 3: Justice and Human Dignity: 21st Century Struggles for Human Rights.
Chair: The Attorney General, Rossa Fanning SC.
Nils Muižnieks, former Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe and current UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Belarus.
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, human rights lawyer and Ireland’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection.
Professor Mary Lawlor (Trinity College Dublin), UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and founder of Front Line Defenders.

Break for light lunch.

Neill Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub, 1 p.m.
Session 4: European and Global Identities: O’Connell’s International Impact.
Chair: Jimmy Deenihan, former Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Professor Patrick Geoghegan (Trinity College Dublin), Director of the Trinity Long Room Hub and biographer of O’Connell.
Dr Davide Mazzi (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), an expert on O’Connell’s European identity as well as his oratory.
Dr Jennifer Keating (University of Pittsburgh), an expert on Frederick Douglass, on the Legacies of Daniel O’Connell and Frederick Douglass in the Age of AI.

Glasnevin Cemetery, 4 p.m.
History Ireland Hedge School: Glasnevin Cemetery (separate tickets available here)
Panel debate on the life and legacy of the Liberator at Glasnevin Cemetery, where he is buried.
 
Please indicate if you have any access requirements, such as ISL/English interpreting, so that we can facilitate you in attending this event. Contact: tlrh@tcd.ie