Mary McAleese appointed professor at UK university

Former president of Ireland, Mary McAleese has been appointed as a professor of Irish studies at St Mary's University in London, one of the United Kingdom's oldest Catholic universities.

Ms McAleese will take up her academic role from September next year and joins leading barrister, Cherie Blair, the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair, who is being appointed as professor of law.

Besides giving an inaugural lecture, the former president will take “in a programme of public conversations”, give lectures to students in the university’s Centre for Law and Culture and carry out her own research.

The decision to offer the appointment was partly prompted by the recent arrival at St Mary's of former British diplomat, the Northern Ireland-born Francis Campbell, who is now the university's vice-chancellor. He formerly served as the UK's ambassador to the Vatican.

“It’s a huge honour for us to appoint such a distinguished and respected public figure to our staff here at St Mary’s. Not only will Dr McAleese be giving us the benefit of her rich experience through her lectures, she will also be directly engaging with our students, which I’ve no doubt will inspire them as they prepare for the next important step in their careers,” said Campbell.

Saying that she was “delighted” to join the London university, Ms McAleese said she believed that St Mary’s has “an important role” to play in the continuing development of Anglo-Irish relations.

St Mary’s is the largest Catholic university in the UK. In 2015 it will celebrate 165 years since its founding in 1850.

The University recently appointed Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, as its Chancellor.