From Periphery to Podium

This thesis examines the evolution and construction of Ireland’s foreign policy narratives at the United Nations through the speeches of two prominent political figures: Frank Aiken (1957-1966) and Micheál Martin (2020-2022). Ireland’s ascent to the United Nations in 1955 marked a significant shift from its previous isolating neutrality. This thesis aims to fill a gap in scholarship by providing a specific examination of the narratives employed by Ireland at the UN, analysing how these narratives reflect Ireland’s foreign policy objectives at the UN. By focusing on the speeches delivered by Aiken and Martin, this research explores the thematic and rhetorical strategies used to project Ireland’s diplomatic stance. The methodological framework of this thesis is rooted in narrative analysis, a tool that is particularly suited for examining the stories and justifications countries use to explain their actions. It finds that the use of narrative by Aiken and Martin reflected their respective global contexts, and underscored Ireland’s commitment to peace, justice and international cooperation to show Ireland’s dynamic role on the global stage.