During her student years in Belfast from the mid-90s, Mary C Murphy worked part-time at Primark. One of her duties was to inspect the shop for potential explosives. Raised in southern Ireland, Murphy found the situation appalling initially, however, it soon became a part of her everyday routine.
Being a 22-year-old from Waterford and moving to Belfast in 1995 was a true cultural shock for Murphy. However, she adapted fast, learning when and where to be and whom to interact with. Keeping a low profile, she stated, was a common practice for inhabitants of Northern Ireland then. Murphy’s lifestyle transformed greatly from what she had previously known.
Initially, Murphy’s plan was to spend a year in the north, undertaking a Master’s degree in Politics at Queen’s University Belfast. Instead, she ended up residing there for eight years. Despite the hardships and challenges of her Belfast life, she cherished every moment there. Queen’s was indeed a wonderful institution, and she made numerous friends. Furthermore, during her time there, there was a sense of optimism and change in Northern Ireland.
In subsequent years, Murphy observed the evolution of the place and, being an academic, has significantly contributed to comprehending these transformations. She is optimally positioned to do so, given her life experience in both parts of Ireland and her research expertise.
Murphy’s doctoral work was an in-depth study of the partnership between Northern Ireland and the European Union – an extremely specialized topic. Since 2003, she has been serving as a lecturer at University College Cork, where she is set to become the head of the Department of Government and Politics in 2023. Brexit propelled her research into the public eye, and she was among the first to author a book interpreting its impact on Northern Ireland.
Murphy’s expertise in the field recently led her to the United States, where she was sought after by Boston College, although she modestly shrugs off the notion of being “headhunted”. Instead, she prefers to say that the institution approached her to apply for the esteemed position of professor and head of their respected Irish Institute.
Boston College, a Jesuit educational institution birthed in the 19th century to cater to the educational needs of Irish immigrants’ offspring, is reputed for its Irish curriculum and its renowned, though controversial, Boston Tapes–an oral historical reference where former paramilitaries confess their involvement in the Troubles. Though before her time, its significance isn’t lost on her despite not being able to speak with authority about it as it highlights Boston College’s focus on Ireland, a focus she eagerly anticipates building on. The Irish connection has always been a cornerstone of the university’s identity.
This Irish association is honoured in various ways by the college, including through the Irish Institute. Hailed by ex-US Senator George Mitchell, who steered the talks that birthed the Belfast Agreement in 1998, the institute has been pivotal in aiding the peace process and establishing meaningful connections in the civil society on the Island of Ireland.
“As the Irish Institute has usually been headed by a historian,” says Murphy, “my appointment as a political scientist represents a shift towards modernising the role. Given that we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, there is a realisation that a new era has begun regarding Northern Ireland’s course, Ireland, the relations between Ireland and Britain, Ireland and the European Union, and of course the wider EU-American connections.
Murphy continued, outlining some of the challenges they face, including immigration, racism, evolving relations on and between the islands, and the ongoing struggle to accomplish reconciliation in Northern Ireland. With these challenges, the Irish Institute recognises the need to adapt and modify conversations to suit the emerging challenges.
It’s hardly a revelation to mention that such matters are vast and complex. Murphy highlights that there’s certainly a credible argument that individuals in the Republic of Ireland lack a deep understanding of Northern Ireland, suggesting that this is simply a result of historical conditions.
She outlines several distinguishing factors, such as political structures, conflict experiences, education systems, health provisions, and the Catholic Church’s longstanding influence in the South.
The contrasts in life experiences on either side of the border naturally shape perceptions and interpretations of ‘the other’. As discussions about constitutional futures emerge, the question arises: should we strive for deeper mutual understanding?
There are differing viewpoints on this matter. Murphy instinctively asserts that greater mutual comprehension is likely beneficial, though she notes that this is not necessarily a prerequisite for constitutional alterations.
Sharing her personal family experience, Murphy reveals that she was the first member of her family to visit Northern Ireland, a place her parents and some relatives have never been to. There is not only a geographic divide but also a psychological chasm between the North and South, a potential issue that needs to be addressed during discussions about the island’s future.
Furthermore, Murphy points out that not only is the Republic of Ireland often presumed to lack an understanding of Northern Ireland’s unionists, but there is also a lack of understanding of Northern Ireland’s nationalists.
Admittedly, the situation is filled with complexities. While Murphy does not claim to have the solutions, she asserts her cognisance of some of the pertinent questions to ask and factors to consider regarding North-South relations.
Additionally, there is much more to ruminate on. The impact of Brexit has been massively disruptive…there’s hardly anything positive to discuss regarding this period. The focus is primarily on managing the repercussions.
The stabilisation of the political scenario in the United Kingdom, she reports, has been bolstered by factors such as the Labour party’s triumph and the reestablishment of Northern political mechanisms. She maintains a somewhat optimistic attitude about managing future developments, acknowledging that in the coming years, political leadership will be instrumental in determining the scope of this stabilisation process for Northern Ireland.
Emphasising the commitment to make the Irish Institute a significant participant in fostering stability, prosperity, and peace in Ireland, she acknowledges that the discourse on constitutional change has somewhat circled in the last year. While there were those who took it as a foregone conclusion, she explains, it is no longer necessarily deemed so.
The emergence of a new British government, along with Sinn Féin’s electoral setbacks in the South, she adds, are interconnected with this perspective. In a quest for peace, one aims to cultivate stability, she suggests, without dismissing the fact that constitutional change might need to happen. However, it necessitates initiating the dialogue from a firm position.
Looking ahead, a lot is up for contemplation. The advantage of this role, according to Murphy, is that it allows her to carry on with the research she’s conducting, knowing it could deliver social and political benefits both in Boston and in her homeland of Ireland. Much in the way her institute has contributed to the peace process in the past, she aspires for it to play a part in reconciliation, beyond just Northern Ireland.
As Murphy underlines, the world is increasingly divided. As such, it is crucial to recognise and address this division, underscoring the complexity of the problems underpinning it. These conversations could offer mutual benefits in exploring potential solutions to these problems, which manifest differently across the world.
Murphy aims for the Institute to serve as a key centre for dynamic dialogue involving a diversity of participants from several regions around the globe, including the Atlantic. She envisions it as a platform nurturing a bilateral conversation between Boston, Ireland, UK, and the EU. This understanding is based on the fact that the Republic of Ireland is part of the European structure, and post-Brexit, Northern Ireland shares a unique bond with the EU.
Murphy hopes the Institute can invite scholars to partake in this dialogue through conferences, roundtables, and by providing serene, private spaces for conversation where necessary. In the long run, she believes the Institute could initiate focused research probing into the US-Irish relations and their various aspects.
Commitment towards strengthening the Irish Institute to make credible contributions towards peace, prosperity, and stability in Ireland is also one of Murphy’s focuses. She has a personal ambition as well: combating male prevalence in academia. She is grateful that a female was chosen for her position and sees this as an opportunity to inspire young female scholars. She believes in the notion of “you can’t be what you can’t see”.
Throughout Murphy’s profession, the ability to look up to the few female professors who were successful and respected, and to receive their backing, was crucial to her success. Following their footsteps, Murphy hopes to provide the same support to emerging talent in future generations.