On 25 June the Centre for Military History and Strategic Studies in the Department of History at Maynooth University is hosting a visit of Dutch cadets as part of their programme in Ireland. The cadet group consists of members of all four services (army, navy, air force and marines) and, while in Ireland, they visit Belfast, Derry, the Northern Ireland assembly and the battlefield of the Boyne before arriving at Maynooth.
This link with the Royal Netherlands Military Academy at Breda was first established in 2011. Since then, the Dutch cadets have visited Maynooth University each year as part of a conflict resolution course. The programme focuses on the period of “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland and the development of the peace process that followed the Good Friday Agreement.
In previous years, the Dutch cadets have engaged in seminars with Maynooth students and have discussed aspects of Northern Ireland’s history and politics. This year they will also visit the Irish Cadet School at the Curragh, where they will take part in a football game with Irish cadets, and engage in a debate focused on the Northern Irish conflict.
The link between the CMHSS and the Royal Netherlands Military Academy was created by Prof Theo Brinkel of the Dutch Academy and Dr David Murphy of Maynooth University. Prof. Brinkel is a recognised international expert on conflict resolution and has facilitated processes in South Africa and also the Sudan. Within the Department of History, this programme has been enhanced through the engagement of Prof Marian Lyons (head of department) and Dr Ian Speller (Director CMHSS).
This year, the programme has also been facilitated by Lt-Col. Tom O’Callaghan of the Irish Cadet School and his instructing staff. The university has a strategic link with the Irish Cadet School and the CMHSS is involved in teaching some of the academic elements of the Irish cadet course.