The Death of an Informer, London 1974

A lecture by Prof Robert J. Savage (Boston College) as part of the Modern and Contemporary Irish History Seminar Series.

Prof Rob Savage is an Irish historian based at Boston College where he served as one of the directors of the university’s renowned Irish Studies program for over 15 years. He has been awarded Visiting Professorships at Venice International University, the Long Room Hub at Trinity College Dublin; Queens University, Belfast; the University of Galway and the University of Edinburgh where he held a Leverhulme Fellowship. He is the author of a number of books, articles and chapters that explore the complexities of contemporary Irish history. His most recent volume Northern Ireland, the BBC and Censorship in Thatcher’s Britain was published by Oxford University Press in 2022. In November 2025 the National University of Ireland awarded Professor Savage the degree of Doctor of Literature, honoris causa. His lecture is drawn from his new book which uses the narrative of an IRA informer to explore how the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ came to England in the early 1970s.

The Modern and Contemporary Irish History Seminar Series will take place at 2p.m. on Wednesday in the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute. It provides a forum for discussion and dissemination of new ideas, perspectives, and research on Irish history, Irish Studies and cognate disciplines. All are welcome. We particularly welcome members of the postgraduate community. Convenors: Dr Carole Holohan, Dr Georgina Laragy, Prof Lindsey Earner-Byrne, Dr Ciaran O'Neill and Dr Brian Hanley. 

This event is run in accordance with Trinity’s Dignity and Respect policy, and its commitment to nurturing a respectful and inclusive research culture.
Please indicate if you have any access requirements, such as ISL/English interpreting, so that we can facilitate you in attending this event. Contact: hanleybr@tcd.ie