Connal Parr

Connal Parr is a researcher at Northumbria University specializing in Northern Ireland's political and cultural history, transitional justice, and peace-building mechanisms. His work examines how states address divided and violent pasts through arts and culture, with a focus on comparative cases like South Africa, Spain, and Chile. He holds a PhD in Politics and has authored influential works such as Inventing the Myth: Political Passions and the Ulster Protestant Imagination, shortlisted for major literary prizes.

Key research areas include Ulster Protestant identity, loyalist political thought during the Troubles, and the role of civil society in peace processes. He has led projects funded by the International Fund for Ireland and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, exploring topics like the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement. Parr's interdisciplinary approach bridges historical analysis, cultural studies, and political science.

His recent work includes a comparative study of South African and Irish theatre’s role in reconciliation, and a forthcoming book on the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement. He supervises PhD students like Laura Littlefair, whose research examines deindustrialization and community identity. Parr’s research has been supported by grants and has generated impactful public engagement initiatives such as the 'Across the Lines' series in Ireland.