Former President Mary McAleese has been appointed to a senior academic post in England.

She has been named as the distinguished professor of Irish studies at St Mary's University in London - the oldest Catholic university in the UK.

As part of her new job, Dr McAleese will engage in a programme of public conversations and give keynote lectures. She will take up her new role in September of next year.

The appointment comes as the university prepares to celebrate its 165th anniversary.

Dr McAleese, who was president between 1997 and 2011, will be based in the School of Arts and Humanities for the academic year.

She will teach on the MA in Irish studies programme and, in particular its 'New Perspectives on Irish History' seminar series.

She will also give a keynote conference lecture during her appointment.

In addition, she will give two public lectures at the university’s Centre for Law and Culture, as well as carry out research.

St Mary's vice-chancellor, Francis Campbell said, "It's a huge honour for us to appoint such a distinguished and respected public figure to our staff here at St Mary's."

"Not only will Dr McAleese be giving us the benefit of her rich experience through her lectures, she will also be directly engaging with our students, which I've no doubt will inspire them as they prepare for the next important step in their careers."

Dr McAleese said, "I particularly look forward to working closely with the excellent team at its Centre for Irish Studies as it researches the continuing development of Anglo-Irish relations."

"St Mary's, which has been a focus of Irish life in Britain for 165 years, has an important role to play in this work as we look to the next 100 years of close relations between our two countries."