The Clinton family’s connection to Northern Ireland dates back to the 1990s when Bill Clinton was serving as the President of the United States. During his time in office, Clinton played a crucial role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland, which had been ravaged by violence and political unrest for decades. Today, his wife Hillary Clinton continues to champion the cause of peace in the region and works tirelessly to promote reconciliation and political stability. In this article, we will explore the Clinton family’s legacy in Northern Ireland and examine how their efforts have shaped the country’s political landscape.
Former US President Bill Clinton, along with his wife and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, have returned to Northern Ireland to mark 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Clinton, who has arguably the closest ties to Northern Ireland of any US president, made his first visit to the region in 1995, just two years after his 1993 inauguration. Accompanied by Hillary Clinton, he switched on the Christmas lights in Belfast and made a speech in Guildhall Square in Derry, which was widely welcomed by the locals. The Clintons returned to Northern Ireland in 1998, less than a month after the Omagh bombing, and then again in 2000 as part of the president’s farewell tour.
Clinton’s presidency may have ended, but his association with Northern Ireland did not. He returned to accept an honorary law degree from Queen’s University Belfast in 2001 and by 2008 had visited Northern Ireland eight times in total. As US Secretary of State in 2009, Hillary Clinton officially reopened the refurbished Belfast City Hall where she challenged political leaders to tackle sectarianism and political divisions on a grassroots level. In 2014, Clinton returned to Northern Ireland and opened the William J Clinton Leadership Institute. In 2017, he travelled to Londonderry to attend the funeral of Northern Ireland’s former deputy-first minister Martin McGuinness.
Both Mr and Mrs Clinton returned to the university together in 2018 to attend an event marking the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, and later that year, Hillary Clinton made another solo trip to Belfast to receive an honorary degree from Queen’s University. This trip took place almost two years after the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont, and she addressed the issue in a speech whilst receiving the degree, calling for “peace, not paralysis.”
The Clintons’ ties with Queen’s University have continued, and in September 2021, Hillary Clinton was officially installed as its first female chancellor. The Clintons returned this week to take part in a series of events commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, including a three-day event at Queen’s University Belfast hosted by Hillary Clinton, which will feature guests such as her husband.
Bill Clinton’s association with Northern Ireland has been significant, and his efforts to encourage agreement and an end to the Troubles during his presidency have been widely welcomed. His regular visits to the area after leaving office have also helped to maintain his connection with the region and his work for peace. Hillary Clinton’s continued involvement with Northern Ireland has further cemented the ties between the US and Northern Ireland and highlighted the importance of the Good Friday Agreement.
