In Memoriam Prof. Irene Jillson (1945-2026)

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing on September 2, 2026 of Prof. Irene Jillson, one of the founding directors of Global Irish Studies. Prof. Jillson, who retired in 2019 from the School of Medicine, was an expert in global health, a beloved teacher, and a committed advocate for health justice. Her work in that field resulted in research and policy papers covering topics ranging from bioethics to HIV/AIDS prevention in Central and South America, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, and Ireland.

Her connections to Ireland were research-focused and personal, and she maintained long-lasting relations with colleagues and friends across all walks of life in Ireland. In 2016 she convened a series of events, along with Profs. Gerard Mannion and Cóilín Parsons, to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising. In large part because of Prof. Jillson’s enthusiasm and vision, that speaker series developed into the Global Irish Studies Initiative, which was founded in 2017. The subsequent success of our Initiative owes much to the generosity, commitment, warmth, hospitality, and humour of Prof. Jillson. Her unexpected retirement due to a medical emergency was a blow to Global Irish Studies, but she continued to follow the work of the program and offer encouragement from afar. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked with her.

You can read more about Prof. Jillson’s life and career in an obituary penned by her loving family.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.