Dr Cormac Moore to deliver the Éamon Phoenix annual memorial lecture at Féile an Phobail 2026
26 June 2026
The Éamon Phoenix Foundation has announced that this year’s Dr Éamon Phoenix Memorial History Lecture will be delivered by well-known historian Dr Cormac Moore as part of the Féile an Phobail 2026 programme.
The lecture, entitled Hard Border in Ireland: From Partition to Brexit, will take place at St Mary’s University College, Falls Road, and is being organised by the Éamon Phoenix Foundation in association with St Mary’s University College as it celebrates 125 years in the community. The event is free to attend and requires no advance booking.
The lecture was formally announced during the launch of the 2026 Féile an Phobail programme, one of Europe’s largest community arts and cultural festivals, which this year features more than 600 events across Belfast.
Dr Moore is one of Ireland’s leading historians and is widely recognised for his work on modern Irish history. His latest book, The Root of All Evil, examines the Boundary Commission, while he is also well known as a broadcaster, journalist and Irish News columnist.
Alice Phoenix, Chair of the Éamon Phoenix Foundation, welcomed the announcement, with the lecture taking place on August 3rd at 1pm. Details can be found here.
She said: “We are absolutely delighted that Cormac Moore has agreed to deliver this year’s Dr Éamon Phoenix Memorial History Lecture. Cormac is one of Ireland’s outstanding historians, combining meticulous research with a remarkable ability to communicate history in a way that is engaging, balanced and accessible to everyone.”
She added: “Éamon firmly believed that history should encourage understanding rather than division, and Cormac’s work reflects those same values. His thoughtful examination of some of the most important and contested episodes in Irish history makes him an ideal speaker for this year’s memorial lecture.”
Mrs Phoenix continued: “We are also honoured that the lecture forms part of Féile an Phobail once again. The festival has become one of Ireland’s most important cultural events, bringing people together through history, discussion, music and the arts. We look forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be a fascinating afternoon.”
The annual memorial lecture has become one of the Foundation’s flagship events, reflecting its charitable mission to promote mutual understanding and reconciliation through the study of history. Alongside the lecture programme, the Foundation continues to expand its online archive of Dr Éamon Phoenix’s work, including his On This Day columns, ensuring his writing remains freely accessible to future generations.