Minister James Lawless launches De Chastelain Scholarship Programme
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, and the Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF) announce the formal call for applications for the De Chastelain Scholarship Programme, a new bilateral initiative supporting academic exchange and shared research between Ireland and Canada.
Named in honour of General John de Chastelain, whose leadership was central to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, the programme will support a new generation of scholars, researchers and practitioners committed to peace, reconciliation and deepening connections between the two countries.
Addressing General de Chastelain, Minister James Lawless said:
"Your leadership in the peace process embodies the deepest values shared by Ireland and Canada - our belief in peace, in dignity, and in the rule of international law. This scholarship now carries that legacy forward. I have every confidence that the that the researchers and academics who benefit from it will honour your contribution by building on the insight, the compassion, and the hard‑won understanding you offered during your time on this island."
General John de Chastelain said:
"I am very touched and honoured that a major Scholarship Fund has been established in my name, further marking the long and enduring relationship between Ireland and Canada. The time that I spent alongside Senator George Mitchell of USA and Prime Minister Harry Holkeri of Finland in the Belfast discussions that led to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, as well as the fifteen years I subsequently spent on the arms decommissioning process there, have been the most important and fulfilling of my life."
Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada added:
"Ireland and Canada share a deep connection, built on history, values, and cooperation. The De Chastelain Scholarship Programme reflects the strength of that partnership and opens a new chapter of academic exchange and shared learning. It also honours the legacy of a great Canadian public servant who played an instrumental role in the Irish peace process. The programme’s engagement with Indigenous perspectives and international dialogue, in particular, are vital to peace and understanding in the twenty-first century."
Over the next three years, the programme will make more than 50 awards, shared equally between participants from Ireland and Canada. Scholarships will support research visits by Canadian scholars to institutions across the island of Ireland, and by Irish scholars to universities throughout Canada. Applications are encouraged from all academic disciplines, recognising that peace, reconciliation, and sustainable societies are shaped by many forms of knowledge and expertise.
The De Chastelain Scholarship Programme is jointly funded by the Government of Ireland (Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science) and the Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada), and is administered by the Ireland Canada University Foundation.
James Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, ICUF said:
"We are delighted to open the call for applications. This is a significant milestone for ICUF and for Irish–Canadian collaboration. The programme offers an exceptional opportunity for scholars to deepen understanding, share learning, and build partnerships rooted in the values of peace, reconciliation, and academic excellence. We hope this first cycle will form the basis of a programme that continues for many years to come."
H.E. Dennis King, Ambassador of Canada to Ireland added:
"This initiative is an investment in the people and ideas that will shape the future of Irish–Canadian collaboration. The scholars selected will play an important role in advancing peace, research, and dialogue between our countries."
This call for applications gives effect to the commitment made by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Taoiseach Micheál Martin in their joint statement of 27 September 2025, in which they announced the establishment of the De Chastelain Scholarship Programme as a flagship initiative in Canada–Ireland relations.
A major international conference will take place on the island of Ireland in year three of the programme, bringing scholars, practitioners and community leaders together to share insights from their work and to explore future avenues for collaboration.
Call for Applications
Applications are now open - details and guidelines: https://www.icuf.ie/scholarships/de-chastelain-scholarship-programme/
First cohort begins travel in Autumn 2026.