Conor J. Kelly

Israel hits Beirut hotel as Lebanon death toll nears 400 Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut, the first attack on the city centre since the start of the new war with Hezbollah, as Lebanon said nearly 400 people were killed over the past week.

Israel struck a hotel in central Beirut, the first attack on the city centre since the start of the new war with Hezbollah, as Lebanon said nearly 400 people were killed over the past week

Plan to turn Irish borderlands into Unesco ‘region of literature’ Arts group proposes literary routes across 11 counties linked to writers from Jonathan Swift to Lisa McGee

“A plan is under way to rebrand it as Ireland’s “northern literary lands” and to create the world’s first Unesco region of literature.”

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/m...

New #ARINS Podcast!🎙️

Rory Montgomery speaks with Prof. Brendan O’Leary (UPenn) and Prof. John McGarry (QUB) about their newly published article, My Symbols or Our Symbols?, co-authored with Dr. James Pow.

Spotify: bit.ly/4rWj2rZ
SoundCloud: bit.ly/4lhz4u2
Article: muse.jhu.edu/article/9700...

Two TDs awarded 50% of costs in unsuccessful legal challenge over ‘super junior’ ministers State ordered to pay portion of legal costs incurred by Sinn Féin’s Pa Daly and People Before Profit-Solidarity’s Paul Murphy

“Two TDs awarded 50% of costs in unsuccessful legal challenge over ‘super junior’ ministers”

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/co...

Irish troops safe and well after UN personnel attacked Follow live coverage of developments in the Middle East as the war enters its seventh day.

All Irish peacekeepers serving in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL are safe and well following an attack on UN troops earlier today | Follow live

Vernon Bogdanor says we need another referendum on electoral reform www.ft.com/content/38d8...

A job advert for a communications intern, starting in September 2026. The salary is £32,000 per annum. Applications close on Monday 9 March, 10:00

Last few days to apply! 🚨 Applications to join our communications team as a Communication Intern will close on Monday 9 March at 10:00.

Find out more and apply 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

📢 APPLY NOW! DPIR, in association with University College, wishes to appoint a Associate Professor of the International Relations of the Global South.

🗓️ CLOSES: Noon BST, Tue 14 April: www.politics.ox.ac.u...

Lebanon plunged back into war as Israel targets Iran-backed Hizbollah Shia militant group strikes northern Israel for first time since 2024, triggering retaliatory offensive

Lebanon plunged back into war as Israel targets Iran-backed Hizbollah ft.trib.al/6fW3Wnf

So this is what focusing on the Western Hemisphere looks like.

Briefing paper: www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

UCL Constitution Unit report: www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

The @niassembly.bsky.social has produced a briefing paper on public views towards reform of Stormont. It looks at a range of evidence, including my 2023 report 'Perspectives on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement' co-authored with @alanrenwick.bsky.social at the @conunitucl.bsky.social

Links below

Fragmented and Dealigned: The 2024 British General Election and the Rise of Place‐Based Politics While the outcome of the 2024 British general election signalled a resounding repudiation of the incumbent government—returning a 231-seat swing from the Conservatives to Labour—it did not radically ...

There are going to be a lot of over-confident claims made about the realignment of British politics. The reality is far messier and the processes have been underway for a long-time.

Briefing paper: www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets...

UCL Constitution Unit report: www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo...

The @niassembly.bsky.social has produced a briefing paper on public views towards reform of Stormont. It looks at a range of evidence, including my 2023 report 'Perspectives on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement' co-authored with @alanrenwick.bsky.social at the @conunitucl.bsky.social

Links below

The 2026 Michel Déon Prize for non-fiction is officially open for nominations. The €10,000 prize will be awarded in Oct 2026 to the author of the best non-fiction book by a writer living in Ireland. The winning author will give the 'Michel Déon Lecture' in France in 2027.

www.ria.ie/grants-award...

Join us on 5 May for the annual @ballioloxford.bsky.social Bingham Lecture in Constitutional Studies.

Cheers Adam!

The legacy of ‘cash for ash’ in Northern Ireland: instrumental, cultural, and myth perspectives This article examines the progress made in reforming the Northern Ireland Civil Service in the wake of the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal and resulting inquiry. It uses Northern Ireland Audit Off...

For those interested in devolution and public policy disasters, this is an interesting paper on the 'cash for ash' scandal, the RHI inquiry and what the crisis and the response to the inquiry tells us about Northern Ireland's governance #devolution #stormont

Alan Renwick lecturing in 2023.

On 5 May, our Deputy Director, @alanrenwick.bsky.social, will be giving the annual Bingham Lecture in Constitutional Studies.

He will discuss the 'Westminster vision' and 'Whitehall vision' of the UK constitution.

Sign up for this in-person event 👉 www.alumniweb.ox.ac.uk/balliol/even....

A useful related exercise is to search Hansard for speeches starting with “I rise”. That language is not a Westminster convention and is a pretty reliable shibboleth for a speech written by AI

‘Attack on public interest journalism’: RTÉ editor’s surveillance case opens in London MI5 and the PSNI have admitted to accessing Vincent Kearney’s communications data during his time with the BBC.

Unlawful state surveillance of a journalist is an "attack on public interest journalism", the National Union of Journalists has said, as a tribunal in London begins hearing a case taken by RTÉ Northern Editor Vincent Kearney
jrnl.ie/6967053

On 12 Feb, Professor Christopher McCrudden, @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social @umich.edu , was presented with the 2026 RIA Gold Medal in the Social Sciences.

Watch Professor McCrudden's interview to hear what this accolade means to him: youtu.be/I3642eS0-rI

Betting markets are indicators of how people are betting, not the probability of particular outcomes...

Ukrainians in Ireland: ‘Thousands of people my age are dying. We need a lasting peace’ Four years ago, life changed forever for Ukrainians as Russia launched its invasion. Liz Dunphy spoke with three women living here who are hoping for peace

I spoke to @irishexaminer.bsky.social about the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Thank you for having me @deshocks.bsky.social !
I think it's my gravest assessment of the situation in all four years of the current war.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlig...

Tomorrow: Lecture 3 (final lecture) in Tribal Politics: How Brexit Divided Britain. As the 10th anniversary of the EU referendum approaches, Prof. James Tilley explores how “Leaver” and “Remainer” identities reshaped British politics.📍Jesus College |🕔 5–6.15pm | 📅 24 Feb Register: ow.ly/twjp50YguGL

EU 'expects' US to honour trade deal amid tariffs hike The European Commission has called for Washington to abide by the terms of the trade deal struck last year with the EU, as President Donald Trump announced new global tariff hikes a day after an adver...

The European Commission has called for Washington to abide by the terms of the trade deal struck last year with the EU, as President Donald Trump announced new global tariff hikes a day after an adverse Supreme Court ruling.

Trump’s Board of Peace Will Help Strong Countries Dominate Weak Ones In Gaza, it will legitimize Israeli land grabs and ethnic cleansing.

Reposting my take on the Board of Peace just to feel something

foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/27/t...

Thank you!

So exciting! We can't wait!