Academics Discuss President Higgins Trip to London

National and International media have drawn on the expertise of academics from the Centre for Irish Studies (CIS) at St Mary’s University, Twickenham following Irish President Michael D Higgins’s state visit to the UK this week. The historical event, which was the first ever official state visit to the UK by an Irish Head of State, has been closely followed by the media. Over the course of the visit academics from the Centre for Irish Studies have contributed to discussions on various radio and television programmes. Prof Lance Pettitt, Head of St Mary’s School of Arts and Humanities and Director for the CIS, was interviewed by Swiss Television Channel SRF where he spoke about Irish-British relations and what this visit might mean for relationships between the two countries. Meanwhile, Professorial Research Fellow Prof Mary Hickman joined Prof Roy Foster, Carroll Professor of Irish History at Oxford University, to discuss the state visit and Irish immigration to the UK on BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme. Finally Programme Director for St Mary’s MA Irish Studies Programme Dr Ivan Gibbons was invited to speak on BBC News 24 where he discussed the historical background to Anglo- Irish relations from 1922 to the present. As part of the visit a concert, Ceiliúradh, is taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 10th April, which will honour the President with an evening of music, poetry and dance.