St Mary’s Centre for Irish Studies Hosts Lecture on WWI Parliamentary History

On Monday 13th October, Dr Ivan Gibbons at St Mary’s University, Twickenham delivered a talk about the lives of Irish MPs and Peers who died in the First World War during a public lecture, which was welcomed by the Speaker of the House of Commons Rt Hon John Bercow. Hosted by Chris Ruane MP of the All Party Committee on the Irish in Britain at Portcullis House, House of Commons, Programme Director Dr Gibbons delivered his talk on ‘The Recording Angel’ memorial in Parliament and its significance in commemorating the sacrificial bonds between Irish people and Britain throughout the years. Prior to the talk, Dr Gibbons, St Mary’s Head of School Prof Lance Pettitt and St Mary’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Claire Taylor were honoured to be welcomed by the Speaker of the House of Commons. In the company of His Excellency, Ambassador for Ireland Dan Mulhall. Speaker Bercow received a bound copy of the lecture that will now be deposited in the Library. The ceremony was also attended by chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Irish in Britain Chris Ruane MP, former NI Minister Sir Peter Bottomley MP, former leaders of the Social Democratic and Labour Party Margaret Ritchie MP and Mark Durkan MP, former Government Minister Lord Dubs, and Jennie McShannon and Martin Collins from Irish in Britain. John Bercow acknowledged the critical role that Irish MPs, Peers and their sons, Catholic and Protestant; nationalist and unionist, had played in the British war effort between 1914-18. He noted the timely nature of Dr Gibbons lecture and thanked him along with the All Party Group, for highlighting this lesser known chapter of the Irish contribution to British parliamentary history.