About the New Ireland Institute
Our Mission
Analysis. Judgment. Leadership.
We focus on how political change actually happens: through evidence-based analysis, disciplined judgment, and credible leadership — not slogans or noise.
What We Publish
The Institute publishes The Needle, a weekly briefing on Irish politics, nationalism and technology.
The Needle tracks what is genuinely shifting — and what is not — by separating signal from noise across polling, elections, media narratives, and institutional dynamics.
What We Do
Beyond publishing, the Institute develops structured civic and leadership programmes focused on real-world political decision-making.
Our work is grounded in:
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serious constitutional and electoral analysis
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disciplined interpretation of polling and data
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ethical use of digital and AI tools to support judgment
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leadership preparation under scrutiny and pressure
Meitheal: Leadership Acceleration
Alongside The Needle, the Institute is developing a leadership acceleration program Meitheal, an initiative for emerging constitutional change organizers, communicators, and civic leaders.
It prepares participants to:
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explain complex constitutional arguments clearly
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operate credibly across difference
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make sound decisions under pressure
The Institute’s core belief is simple: movements advanced by building credible leaders who earn trust from their community whether thats politicians, movement leaders in the community or organizers doing the critical 'behind the scenes' work essential to the process of creating the conditions for a border poll.
Who We Are
The People Shaping the Institute
The New Ireland Institute works with a growing network of educators, facilitators, and civic-leadership practitioners. As we build our inaugural programmes, contributors with academic, professional, and community experience will support our teaching, research, and learner-development activities.
Simon Gillespie - Founder New Ireland Institute
Simon Gillespie is an educator and programme designer from Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, with experience in curriculum development, civic-engagement training, and community leadership across Ireland and the United States.
His background includes:
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leadership and curriculum roles in education and community development
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experience coordinating diverse teams and delivering skills-focused programmes
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involvement in civic initiatives in both Ireland and the U.S.
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a commitment to building accessible, practical civic-education pathways
Simon founded the New Ireland Institute to create a structured, non-partisan civic-education programme that supports emerging leaders on the island of Ireland and across the diaspora.
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