The Irish Association for European Studies (IAES) was first created in the early 1970s and its operation was based on objectives similar to those which apply to IACES today.

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Included amongst these aims was a commitment to promote teaching and research in European Studies, and provide a forum for informed and detailed discussion of EU issues relevant to Ireland.

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Notably, the inaugural President of IAES was former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson. Others who were closely involved with the  organisation in the 1970s were Tom Garvin, Miriam Hederman-O’Brien, Maurice Manning and Professor Patrick Keatinge.

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The IACES convened a number of conferences and events during this period and in 1981/2 produced a Register of European Studies in Ireland, 1981-1982 (Dublin: Irish Association of European Studies, 1982) which was compiled by Professor Philomena Murray. The IAES also maintained links with the wider Irish political science community via an engagement with the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI).

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Professor Mary C. Murphy served as IACES President from 2013-2020. During that period, Mary built on the work of IACES’ early founders and successfully rejuvenated and expanded the work and reach of the Association. Among her key achievements as President was the registration of IACES as a company limited by guarantee. This process of incorporation was critically important in allowing IACES to cement its identity and to apply for funding from national and international different bodies including the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme.

 

Under Mary’s leadership, IACES consolidated its financial base, developed a strong scholarly identity, grew its membership and diversified its activities. Among the specific initiatives which Mary oversaw were the introduction of the biennial IACES Conference and Annual IACES Lecture Series; the revamping of the IACES website and social media platforms; closer relations with other scholarly organizations (most particularly UACES); and the cultivation of dedicated European Studies research and publications.