Taoiseach Micheál Martin to visit Belfast 7 May 2026

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will visit Belfast on 7 May for a programme of meetings and engagements, including participating in a joint event at Grand Central Station to mark the signing of a €700m contract for a new fleet of Enterprise trains.

In the evening, the Taoiseach will deliver the Lord David Trimble Lecture 2026 at Queen's University Belfast. His itinerary also includes an engagement event with Women's Aid, a meeting with Northern Ireland business leaders, and a round of bilateral meetings with political leaders at Stormont.

Speaking ahead of his visit, the Taoiseach said:

"I am pleased to be returning to Belfast. My visit includes multiple opportunities to hear directly from political, business and civic leaders and to discuss ongoing and evolving all-island priorities which benefit us all.

"I am also pleased to be delivering the Lord David Trimble Lecture in Queen's University. David played a critical role in the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement. The principles and purpose of the Agreement remain central to what my Government does and how we foster relationships across these islands.

"I am committed to continuing to work toward reconciliation and mutual trust, as we collectively set out to do in 1998, including through the Shared Island Initiative. Today also sees the publication of the Shared Island Initiative 2025 Report."

Ends

Notes to editor:

The joint event at Grand Central Station will be hosted by Translink and Iarnród Éireann and will also be attended by First Minister Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien and Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins.

At Stormont, the Taoiseach will meet with Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin; Gavin Robinson of the DUP; Naomi Long of Alliance; and Claire Hanna of the SDLP. He will speak with Jon Burrows of the UUP by phone.

The Shared Island Initiative 2025 Report sets out how during 2025 the Government took forward efforts to engage with all communities and traditions to build a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. This included funding commitments of over €100 million from the Shared Island Fund for new multi-annual programmes that deepen cooperation and connections across the island, including on sustainable tourism, nature restoration, civic society cooperation, emergency response, a new Dublin-Derry airlink service, and a Shared Island Media Fund, as well as significant investment in arts and cultural programmes. The 'Shared Island Initiative Report 2025 - Action on a Shared Future' is available to download at: https://www.gov.ie/sharedisland.