Ireland’s Untold History of Multiculturalism, Wednesday 14 October, 2026
HTANI are delighted to be hosting an online talk by Professor Kieran Connell entitled ‘Ireland’s Untold History of Multiculturalism’ for this year’s CRC Good Relations Week.
In this online talk, Professor Kieran Connell (Queen’s University Belfast) explores the history of immigration and ethnic diversity across the island of Ireland from partition to the present day. In shining a light on this neglected story, he explores its relevance for our own divided times, particularly in the context of recent racial and ethnic tensions in Belfast, Dublin and elsewhere. Given the involvement of young people in street disturbances, follow up discussion will explore how history teaching, and education in general, might contribute to helping young people gain a more positive understanding of how multiculturalism in Ireland has evolved.
About the speaker
Professor Kieran Connell is a social and cultural historian of modern Britain. Born in Birmingham of Irish heritage, he teaches history at Queen’s University Belfast. His research interests include urban history, race, immigration and multiculturalism and he has published on these themes in a range of journals including History Workshop Journal, the Journal of British Studies, and Twentieth Century British History. His 2024 book, Multicultural Britain: A People’s History, was shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 Wolfson History Prize.
He regularly contributes to various newspapers and magazines, including The Guardian, the Irish Independent and the The Irish Times where he wrote an opinion piece on the recent race riots in Belfast.
This year’s CRC’s Good Relation’s week runs between Monday 12th to Sunday 18th October 2026.
Please join us for our online talk on Wednesday 14 October, 2026 (time and registration details to follow).