Anglo-Irish

The term Anglo-Irish means British-Irish and is used frequently to describe formal contacts, negotiations or treaties between both states. The most famous examples are:

• Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)
• Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985)
• Anglo-Irish Summits (meetings between the British and Irish prime ministers).

The term Anglo-Irish is also applied to Irish aristocrats of British or partially British descent. One leading Anglo-Irish peer described his experience as one of the 'Anglo-Irish' as being regarded as Irish in England, English in Ireland and not accepted fully as belonged to either. However such divisions are no longer as prevalent in Ireland, where Anglo-Irish peers have played a prominent role in modern Irish affairs.

Among the most prominent Anglo-Irish Peers are or were:

• Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington - British general who fought many successful campaigns and defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo;
• Lord Henry Mountcharles - owner of the Slane Castle rock venue and candidate for Fine Gael in recent Irish general elections;
• Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh - head of the Guinness Family, who sat in the Irish Senate (1973-1977)
• The O'Conor Don - claimant to the Irish Throne;
• Lord Glenavy - first speaker of the Irish Senate (1922);
• Lady Valerie Goulding - founder of the Rehabitation Institute & close associate of former taoiseach (prime minister) Charles J. Haughey
• Edward Pakenham, 6th Earl of Longford - Impressario at the Gate Theatre in Dublin in the 1950s;
• Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford (who succeeded his brother - above - to become Lord Longford) - British Labour cabinet minister, biographer and friend of Eamon de Valera;
• Senator Martin Mansergh - new Irish senator and advisor of three Irish taoisigh on Northern Ireland);
• Lord Killanin - former head of the International Olympic Committee and head until his death of the state-affiliated Irish Heritage Council;

A number of Anglo-Irish Peers have been appointed by Presidents of Ireland to serve on their advisory Council of State. A number of peers were also considered possible candidates for presidents of Ireland, including

• Lady Valerie Goulding
• Lord Killanin
• Lord Ashbourne ( a renouned gaelic scholar).

Further Reading

• Peter Berresford Ellis, Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Noble Dynasties of Ireland ISBN 0094786003