Ireland–Wales Cross-Border Cooperation in Practice

Explore the history, current landscape and future of Ireland–Wales cooperation through expert discussion and an applied policy workshop. Ireland–Wales Cross-Border Cooperation in Practice brings together practitioners, policymakers and researchers to explore how cooperation between Ireland and Wales has developed, how it operates today, and where future opportunities may lie. The morning programme will feature two expert roundtables. The first will look at the history and institutional development of Ireland–Wales cooperation, while the second will focus on the contemporary landscape: current initiatives, emerging opportunities, the European dimension of Welsh external engagement, Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and recent developments including the Cardiff Agreement. In the afternoon, the event will move from discussion to practice through an Applied Policy Workshop, where students will work in small groups to explore how a cross-border initiative is conceived and developed — from identifying a shared problem or opportunity, to finding suitable partners and thinking through the political and institutional context. The day will conclude at 4.00pm with the launch of the exhibition Ireland and the Birth of Europe in Cardiff University’s Main Building, followed by light refreshments. The event offers an opportunity to hear directly from people with practical experience of cross-border and interregional cooperation, and to reflect on the relationships, institutions and ideas that continue to shape cooperation between Ireland and Wales. Lunch will be provided, with refreshments available throughout the day. Speakers and contributors Speakers include: • Dr Giada Lagana, Cardiff University — Chair • Dr Dáithí Mac Síthigh, Royal Irish Academy • Dr Zoe Coombes, Swansea University • Dr Anthony Soares, Centre for Cross Border Studies of Armagh • Geraint Green, Agile Cymru • Dr Irene McMaster, University of Strathclyde Organised by The event is organised by the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University in partnership with the Consulate General of Ireland in Wales. It forms part of a wider programme of activity supported through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA), designed to support all-Wales capacity-building activity and to strengthen collaboration between universities and organisations in Wales, while growing links with local, Welsh and UK policy and social science research.