Montserrat, Ireland and the British Overseas Territories – FOTBOT St Patrick’s Day Lecture 2026

FOTBOT's Northern Ireland Branch is delighted to host its inaugural St Patrick's Day Lecture, delivered by Ms Kei-Retta Farrell, Montserrat's Representative to the United Kingdom.

This special event marks the beginning of what we intend to become an annual lecture celebrating the historic, cultural and constitutional connections between Northern Ireland and the British Overseas Territories. We are honoured to welcome Ms Farrell to Belfast for this inaugural address.

Montserrat holds a unique and often overlooked connection to Ireland and to St Patrick’s Day itself. Known as the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean”, Montserrat’s Irish heritage dates back to the seventeenth century, when Irish settlers established communities on the island. That legacy endures today in surnames, place names, cultural traditions and national identity. Remarkably, Montserrat is the only place outside Ireland where St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday — a celebration that reflects both Irish heritage and a defining moment in the island’s own history.

In her address, Ms Farrell will reflect on the enduring cultural and historical ties between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Montserrat. She will also offer insight into her role as Montserrat’s Representative to the United Kingdom, discussing the contemporary priorities of the island, its constitutional relationship with the UK, and the wider role of the Overseas Territories within the British family of nations.

The lecture will be followed by a reception, providing an opportunity for discussion, engagement and networking among parliamentarians, civic leaders, academics and those with an interest in constitutional affairs and the Overseas Territories.

Please note that this event is being held in Northern Ireland.