Commemorations - Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson delivers Carson lecture

“Edward Carson may now be consigned to the pages of his history but I believe he still speaks to us today.”

On 29 March 2012, at Iveagh House, this Department’s Headquarters, only a few hundred feet from Edwards Carson’s birthplace on Harcourt Street, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson delivered a commemorative lecture – “Reflections on Irish Unionism”.

An invited audience, representing a broad range of political views and key individuals involved in preparations for the decade of commemorations were welcomed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore. The Tánaiste reflected on the significance of the evening’s gathering:

“It is particularly fitting that the First Minister has agreed to deliver the address for the first major commemorative event organised by the Government. His participation is a testament to the importance both the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive attach to a joint approach to commemorative activities”.

The lecture was preceded by a panel discussion between Prof. Paul Bew and Prof. Michael Laffan, moderated by Dr. John Bowman, on the legacy of Edward Carson

In cooperation with RTE’s The History Show the lecture was broadcast and you can listen to the podcast of Peter Robinson’s Edward Carson lecture