Nicola Sturgeon delivers Annual Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture at UCC

11 Mar 2026

• Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reflected on her years in public office and warned of growing pressures on democratic systems, including misinformation, polarisation and declining public trust in politics.
• She pointed to the prospect of significant constitutional change ahead, including the possibility of Scottish independence and focus on Irish reunification.
• Awards were presented to UCC’s Government and Political Science BSc students and Arts-Politics BA students.

Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon delivered the 26th Annual Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture at University College Cork on Monday, 9 March, reflecting on her career in public service and the challenges facing modern democracy.

Hosted by UCC’s Department of Government and Politics, the annual lecture invites leading voices in politics and public life to share insights on contemporary political issues, leadership and governance.

Drawing from her acclaimed memoir Frankly, Sturgeon reflected on the motivations that shaped her political career, the realities of leadership, and the pressures facing democracy in uncertain times.

She addressed the growing influence of misinformation and disinformation in politics, the impact of social media on public debate, and rising political polarisation, emphasising the importance of trust, transparency and evidence-based decision-making in public life.

She also considered the wider international context, including geopolitical instability and conflict, and the challenges leaders face in communicating complex policy decisions to an increasingly fragmented public sphere.

Sturgeon further reflected on significant constitutional change may lie ahead, predicting that Scotland could become independent as part of a broader “shake-up” in how the UK is governed, pointed to the potential for further devolution in Wales and growing discussion around Irish reunification.  

Dr Liam Weeks, Head of UCC Department of Government and Politics, said: “It was a privilege to welcome Nicola Sturgeon to UCC to deliver this year’s Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture. As a political leader who has played a central role in shaping public debate, she brought valuable insight into the realities of leadership, democratic responsibility and public service at a time when democratic institutions face increasing pressure. Her reflections offered powerful and thought-provoking perspectives for our current and prospective students.”

The Philip Monahan Memorial Lecture honours the legacy of Philip Monahan, widely regarded as a pioneer of modern public administration in Ireland. Monahan served as Cork’s City Commissioner and later City Manager from 1924 to 1959, playing a central role in shaping local government and public administration in the early decades of the State.

Celebrating student excellence 

As part of the event, awards were presented to UCC’s Government and Political Science BSc students and UCC Arts-Politics BA students in recognition of their academic achievements.

Award recipients included:

• Tom Whalen BSc Student of Year: Rory Reen
• Dick Haslam BSc Graduate of Year: Ognjen Uzelac
• BA Politics First Year: Tadhg Holland
• BA Politics Second Year: Samuel Foody
• BA Politics Final Year: Róisín Therese O’Connor
• BA Politics Dissertation Award: Róisín Therese O’Connor
• Patrick O’Sullivan Essay: Maria Grant
• IPPD Student of Year: Aoife Power
• Active Citizenship Prize: Aoibhe Cubie - St. Al’s

Dr Aodh Quinlivan, UCC Department of Government and Politics, said: “Our students bring a remarkable range of interests, perspectives and experiences to the study of politics, and they are never afraid to ask difficult questions or challenge accepted ideas. That culture of curiosity, rigorous debate and critical thinking is exactly what our programmes are designed to foster. It is also fundamental to the health of any democracy. We are extremely proud of the commitment, insight and energy our students bring to their studies.”