Our Work

Transatlantic Policy Fellowship

The Transatlantic Policy Fellowship is our flagship leadership programme.

The fellowship supports early- and mid-career professionals and community leaders to develop policy ideas, strengthen leadership skills and contribute to informed public discussion on issues affecting Northern Ireland.

Participants engage in a programme of mentorship, policy development, training and international exchange while producing a policy paper containing practical recommendations.

We focus on:

Leadership development grounded in public service.
Policy innovation and practical problem-solving.
Cross-sector collaboration.
Transatlantic exchange and learning.
Building networks that support long-term civic engagement.

Democratic Innovation & Public Participation

Democratic institutions are strongest when people have meaningful opportunities to contribute to discussions about the issues that affect their lives and communities.

Ceannas House works with citizens, policymakers and institutions to design and support deliberative and participatory processes that encourage informed discussion, build understanding and strengthen democratic legitimacy.

Our work seeks to bridge the gap between public institutions and the communities they serve by creating spaces for dialogue, learning and collaborative problem-solving.

We develop and support initiatives that:

Enable informed public participation on complex policy questions.
Foster dialogue across different identities, traditions and perspectives.
Strengthen trust between institutions and communities.
Generate evidence-informed recommendations for policymakers.
Promote democratic innovation and institutional learning.

National Dialogue on

the Future of Ireland

A key area of work for Ceannas House is supporting informed and inclusive discussion on the future of Ireland.

We believe that questions relating to constitutional, political and societal change should be explored through structured dialogue, public participation and evidence-based discussion.

Our work aims to create opportunities for engagement that are inclusive, informed and constructive.

Peacebuilding & International Learning

Supporting dialogue, learning and exchange in societies navigating conflict and political change.

The experience of the Irish peace process has demonstrated the importance of dialogue, relationship-building and inclusive political engagement in addressing conflict and division.

Ceannas House works to facilitate learning and exchange between policymakers, practitioners, researchers and communities seeking to strengthen peacebuilding and democratic governance.

Our approach is rooted in the understanding that there is no single model for conflict transformation. Instead, we seek to create opportunities for mutual learning and the sharing of practical experience across different contexts.

Our peacebuilding and international learning work includes:

International dialogue and exchange programmes.
Policy discussions on peacebuilding and democratic governance.
Support for international delegations and visiting leaders.
Research and public engagement on conflict transformation