Padraig O'Malley
Encyclopedia
Padraig O'Malley is a peacemaker, noted author and professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston
who specializes in the problems of divided societies, such as South Africa
and Northern Ireland
. He has written extensively on these subjects and has been actively involved in promoting dialogue among representatives of differing factions.
, Tufts
and Harvard
universities in the United States
In 1992, participated in bringing some of the South African figures to Boston, Massachusetts for a meeting with representatives of the factions in Northern Ireland. In 1996, helped arrange a second such meeting, in Belfast, attended by South Africans Cyril Ramaphosa
of the African National Congress and Roelf Meyer
of the white National Party.
In 1997, the Arniston Conference (also known as The Great Indaba) convened all the key parties of The Northern Irish peace process in South Africa to meet with Nelson Mandela
. Included in the meeting from Northern Ireland were Martin McGuinness
, David Trimble
and Peter Robinson
.
"The outcome of the Indaba (the Zulu word for "gathering of the minds") was a series of historic events. Seven weeks after the conference, Sinn Fein declared a cease fire that paved the way for negotiations and ultimately the fragile Good Friday Agreement to share power, still in place today. A year later, Trimble and John Hume, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, were awarded the Nobel prize for peace. And most recently, in fall 2001, the IRA mustered the courage to destroy its weapons to further the cause of peace. That stunning announcement came two weeks after Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein once again visited former president Mandela in South Africa."
O'Malley was also a member of the Opshal Commission, which authored the report "Northern Ireland: A Citizens' Inquiry" (Belfast, 1993)
. He helped arrange a conference at a resort in Finland
, where 16 Iraqis met senior negotiators from South Africa (SA), including Cyril Ramaphosa
, chief negotiator for the African National Congress (ANC) under the leadership of Nelson Mandela; Roelf Meyer
, chief negotiator for South Africa's last whites- only government and Mac Maharaj
, who was co. secretary of the South African negotiating process. Senior negotiators from Northern Ireland (NI), including Martin McGuinness
from Sinn Fein, currently Deputy First Minister of NI, Jeffrey Donaldson
from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
O'Malley's role included recruiting the Iraqi participants, then roaming around Baghdad
with $40,000 in cash and covertly procuring their airline tickets. The Iraqis concluded the meeting by agreeing among themselves on a statement based partly on the Mitchell Principles
developed during the Northern Ireland peace process
. The Boston Globe
reported:
There would be two meetings, Helsinki I and Helsinki II. "The participants in what O'Malley calls "Helsinki II" are an even more senior influential group than those who drafted the Helsinki principles. They include senior members of parliament and prominent tribal leaders. Among them is the head of the Iraqi Constitutional Review Committee, Sheik Humam Hamoudi, whose participation was endorsed by the speaker of the Iraqi parliament. The ethnic representation of the 36 at the meeting roughly reflects that of the Iraqi population, with 25 percent Sunni, 25 percent Kurdish, and 50 percent Shi'ite participation."
, publishing it at first, out of the back of the bar.
O'Malley has monitored elections in South Africa, Mozambique, and the Philippines on behalf of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He is also a frequent contributor to The Boston Globe.
At the University of Massachusetts Boston, he is the John Joseph Moakley Professor of International Peace and Reconciliation at the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies; a Senior Fellow in the Center for Development and Democracy; and the founder and editor of the New England Journal of Public Policy, a semiannual publication of the McCormack Graduate School. He is also a Visiting Professor of Political Studies at the University of the Western Cape
in South Africa.
University of Massachusetts Boston
The University of Massachusetts Boston, also known as UMass Boston, is an urban public research university and the second largest campus in the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university is located on on Harbor Point in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
who specializes in the problems of divided societies, such as South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He has written extensively on these subjects and has been actively involved in promoting dialogue among representatives of differing factions.
Biography
O'Malley was born in Dublin. He was educated at University College, Dublin, and at YaleYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, Tufts
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
and Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
universities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Northern Ireland
O'Malley spent 20 years involved with the conflict in Northern Ireland. Working with all the political parties to the conflict, he convened the Amherst Conference on Northern Ireland (Massachusetts, 1975), the Airlie House Conference (Virginia, 1985), and co–convened the Arniston Conference with the government of South Africa (Western Cape, 1997).In 1992, participated in bringing some of the South African figures to Boston, Massachusetts for a meeting with representatives of the factions in Northern Ireland. In 1996, helped arrange a second such meeting, in Belfast, attended by South Africans Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African lawyer, trade union leader, activist, politician and businessman. He was born in Soweto, Gauteng province...
of the African National Congress and Roelf Meyer
Roelf Meyer
Roelof Petrus Meyer, born in Port Elizabeth on 16 July 1947 as the son of a farmer, is a South African politician and businessman.After completing school in Ficksburg, he studied law at the University of the Free State and finished with B Comm and LLB degrees. At the university, he was president...
of the white National Party.
In 1997, the Arniston Conference (also known as The Great Indaba) convened all the key parties of The Northern Irish peace process in South Africa to meet with Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
. Included in the meeting from Northern Ireland were Martin McGuinness
Martin McGuinness
James Martin Pacelli McGuinness is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and the current deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. McGuinness was also the Sinn Féin candidate for the Irish presidential election, 2011. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland....
, David Trimble
David Trimble
William David Trimble, Baron Trimble, PC , is a politician from Northern Ireland. He served as Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party , was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland , and was a Member of the British Parliament . He is currently a life peer for the Conservative Party...
and Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson may refer to:* Peter Robinson , member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada who oversaw emigration schemes* Peter Robinson , professor at the University of Cambridge...
.
"The outcome of the Indaba (the Zulu word for "gathering of the minds") was a series of historic events. Seven weeks after the conference, Sinn Fein declared a cease fire that paved the way for negotiations and ultimately the fragile Good Friday Agreement to share power, still in place today. A year later, Trimble and John Hume, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, were awarded the Nobel prize for peace. And most recently, in fall 2001, the IRA mustered the courage to destroy its weapons to further the cause of peace. That stunning announcement came two weeks after Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein once again visited former president Mandela in South Africa."
O'Malley was also a member of the Opshal Commission, which authored the report "Northern Ireland: A Citizens' Inquiry" (Belfast, 1993)
South Africa
Between 1989-1999, O'Malley conducted 2,000 hours of interviews tracking South Africa's transition to democracy. His work is archived in written transcription and on audio tape at the Robben Island Museum/Mayibuye Archives [University of the Western Cape]. His assiduous work of recording the different perspectives and developing attitudes within South Africa during the ten-year period had earned Nelson Mandela's highest regard. What particularly impressed Mr. Mandela was O'Malley's determination to face the greatest challenge posed once upon a time by W.B. Yeats, namely 'to hold in a single thought reality and justice'.Iraq
In 2007, based on his philosophy that cultures in conflict are in the best position to help other cultures in conflict, O'Malley became involved in working toward reconciliation within IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. He helped arrange a conference at a resort in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, where 16 Iraqis met senior negotiators from South Africa (SA), including Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African lawyer, trade union leader, activist, politician and businessman. He was born in Soweto, Gauteng province...
, chief negotiator for the African National Congress (ANC) under the leadership of Nelson Mandela; Roelf Meyer
Roelf Meyer
Roelof Petrus Meyer, born in Port Elizabeth on 16 July 1947 as the son of a farmer, is a South African politician and businessman.After completing school in Ficksburg, he studied law at the University of the Free State and finished with B Comm and LLB degrees. At the university, he was president...
, chief negotiator for South Africa's last whites- only government and Mac Maharaj
Mac Maharaj
Sathyandranath Ragunanan "Mac" Maharaj is a South African politician affiliated to the African National Congress, academic and businessman of Indian origin....
, who was co. secretary of the South African negotiating process. Senior negotiators from Northern Ireland (NI), including Martin McGuinness
Martin McGuinness
James Martin Pacelli McGuinness is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and the current deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. McGuinness was also the Sinn Féin candidate for the Irish presidential election, 2011. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland....
from Sinn Fein, currently Deputy First Minister of NI, Jeffrey Donaldson
Jeffrey Donaldson
Jeffrey Mark Donaldson, MP is a Northern Irish politician and Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley belonging to the Democratic Unionist Party...
from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
O'Malley's role included recruiting the Iraqi participants, then roaming around Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
with $40,000 in cash and covertly procuring their airline tickets. The Iraqis concluded the meeting by agreeing among themselves on a statement based partly on the Mitchell Principles
Mitchell Principles
The Mitchell Principles were six ground rules agreed by the Irish and British governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland regarding participation in talks on the future of the region. They were named for United States Senator George Mitchell, who was heavily involved in the Northern...
developed during the Northern Ireland peace process
Northern Ireland peace process
The peace process, when discussing the history of Northern Ireland, is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent political developments.-Towards a...
. The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
reported:
There would be two meetings, Helsinki I and Helsinki II. "The participants in what O'Malley calls "Helsinki II" are an even more senior influential group than those who drafted the Helsinki principles. They include senior members of parliament and prominent tribal leaders. Among them is the head of the Iraqi Constitutional Review Committee, Sheik Humam Hamoudi, whose participation was endorsed by the speaker of the Iraqi parliament. The ethnic representation of the 36 at the meeting roughly reflects that of the Iraqi population, with 25 percent Sunni, 25 percent Kurdish, and 50 percent Shi'ite participation."
Additional Professional Life
Has owned the Plough and Stars pub in Cambridge Massachusetts since the early 70's. His brother Peter O'Malley, with DeWitt Henry, started the renown literary magazine PloughsharesPloughshares
Ploughshares is an American literary magazine founded in 1971 by DeWitt Henry and Peter O'Malley in The Plough and Stars, an Irish pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 1989, Ploughshares has been based at Emerson College in the heart of Boston...
, publishing it at first, out of the back of the bar.
O'Malley has monitored elections in South Africa, Mozambique, and the Philippines on behalf of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. He is also a frequent contributor to The Boston Globe.
At the University of Massachusetts Boston, he is the John Joseph Moakley Professor of International Peace and Reconciliation at the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies; a Senior Fellow in the Center for Development and Democracy; and the founder and editor of the New England Journal of Public Policy, a semiannual publication of the McCormack Graduate School. He is also a Visiting Professor of Political Studies at the University of the Western Cape
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape is a public university located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1960 by the South African government as a university for Coloured people only...
in South Africa.
Books authored
- Irish Industry: Structure and Performance (as Patrick O'Malley) (1971 ISBN 978-0717105267 and ISBN 978-0389044536
- The Uncivil Wars: Ireland Today (1983, 1990, 1997) ISBN 978-0856403019 and ISBN 978-0807002230
- Biting at the Grave: The Irish Hunger Strikes and the Politics of Despair (1990) ISBN 978-0856404535; paperback 1991 ISBN 978-0807002094
- Northern Ireland: Questions of Nuance (1990) ISBN 978-0856404542
- The Point of No Return: The Politics of South Africa on Election Day April 1994 (published by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs)
- Religion and Conflict: The Case of Northern Ireland (1995)
- Shades of Difference: Mac MaharajMac MaharajSathyandranath Ragunanan "Mac" Maharaj is a South African politician affiliated to the African National Congress, academic and businessman of Indian origin....
and the Struggle for South Africa (2007) (foreword by Nelson MandelaNelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
) ISBN 978-0670852338
Books edited
- The AIDS Epidemic: Private Rights and the Public Interest (1989) ISBN 978-0807006016
- Homelessness: New England and Beyond (1992) ISBN 978-0870238253
- Uneven Paths: Advancing Democracy in Southern Africa (1994)
- Sticks & Stones: Living With Uncertain Wars (2006) (co-edited with Paul L. Atwood and Patricia Peterson) ISBN 978-1558495357
External links
- "The Heart of Hope", O'Malley's website
- New England Journal of Public Policy website
- "A Pre-Negotiation Guide to the Conflict in Northern Ireland", an O'Malley briefing paper for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (September 1994) with a Postscript (March 1995)
- The Eire Society of Boston, Honors Padraig O'Malley as a 2008 Gold Medal Recipient
- "Speaks at The American Ireland Fund Nantucket Celebration 2008"
- "The peacemaker: Padraig O’Malley brings warring factions to the table", John Stanton, Contributing Writer, The Inquirer & Mirror
- "Iraq: Unjust War, Impossible Reconciliation?" Video of talk given at Boston University's Institute for Philosophy and Religion, March 21, 2009