‘On Guard Against Depression and Euphoria’: Dealing with the North

‘In dealing with the North one must constantly be on guard against both depression and euphoria.’ Documents on Irish Foreign Policy 1969–1973

The end of the 1960s brought with it two of the greatest issues in Ireland’s foreign relations: the outbreak of the Troubles and joining the European Economic Community. The latest volume of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy (DIFP) covers the period 1969 to 1973 and chronicles the often highly-secret behind-the-scenes diplomacy of the Irish government as it faced these challenges. Join DIFP editors Michael Kennedy and Melissa Baird for a discussion on how Dublin responded to the escalation of violence in Northern Ireland and how the Troubles influenced the wider picture of Irish foreign policy.

Documents on Irish Foreign Policy is a partnership between the Royal Irish Academy, the National Archives of Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Michael Kennedy is the head of the Royal Irish Academy’s Documents on Irish Foreign Policy (DIFP) research programme. In addition to editing fourteen volumes of DIFP (running from 1919–1973), he has published widely for over 30 years on Irish diplomatic, political and military history. His most recent books include The Emergency: A visual history of the Irish Defence Forces, 1939–1945 (with Comdt Daniel Ayiotis and Dr John Gibney) (2019); Ireland: A voice amongst the nations (with Dr John Gibney and Dr Kate O’Malley) (2019) and Ireland, the United Nations and the Congo (with the late Comdt Art Magennis) (2014).

Dr Melissa Baird is Assistant Editor of the DIFP series. Melissa received her PhD in 2023 from Queen’s University Belfast. It examined the relationship between the Irish diaspora in the United States and the Northern Irish civil rights movement. Melissa has lectured on twentieth-century Irish and American history and previously coordinated several heritage projects at The Linen Hall.