Physical Conference – Good Relations Week

T:BUC Engagement Forum – “People and Place”

The next Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) Engagement Forum will be taking place on Tuesday 17th September during Good Relations Week, at the Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast, at 9.30am.

This T:BUC Engagement Forum will explore the theme of “People and Place” and how transformation of place can contribute to peace building. The event will include presentations on the role of arts, space and peacebuilding by renowned artist Oliver Jeffers and also include input from Dr Gavan Rafferty exploring contested space to shared space as well as Dr Neil Galway outlining the real-life examples of shared space in contested society. This Engagement Forum will provide us with the opportunity to look forward at what is being done as well as explore what can/is still being done and an opportunity to engage with fellow participants to discuss some of the ideas and content presented on the day.

The Engagement Forum will as part of Good Relations Week be extended into the afternoon and participants can choose to participate in one of a series of afternoon mini tours. These include:

Whistle stop walking tour of local historic Belfast buildings that have shaped Belfast’s part and now transformed to look forward to the future, in partnership with Clifton House.
A tour of the BUG project (Belfast Urban Garden) a transformational space in inner city Belfast showing the benefits of positive use of space, in partnership with Conservation Volunteers.
A tour of interfaces areas in Belfast and the work being done to transform these spaces showing the positive changes of space in the local area.

Book your FREE tickets now on eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tbuc-engagement-forum-people-and-place-tickets-999213252737

For further details, please contact Paul Killen by email: pkillen@nicrc.org.uk

Fermanagh Churches Forum Annual Good Relations Week Conference

Building CommUNITY – An intergenerational exploration on working together towards an inclusive community which respects difference

Speaker: Rev. Greg Alexander, Darling Street Methodist Church.

Date: Thursday, 19th September.

Time: 12 noon – 3 pm

Venue: Bridge Centre, Presbyterian Church, East Bridge Street, Enniskillen

The speaker’s address will be followed by interactive discussion groups, action points, feedback, responses, and a final plenary discussion.

Faiths Together for Climate Justice and Peace

Saturday 21^st September, 10:00 – 13.00
Multi-Faith Conference, “Faiths Together for Climate Justice and Peace”

The conference in the Agape Methodist Church (Lisburn Road) will bring together esteemed speakers to discuss the intersections of peace, ecology, and interfaith collaboration. Attendees will engage in group discussions and feedback sessions to explore the complexities of climate justice and its implications for global peace. The event’s speakers are:

Martin Palmer: a leader in faith and ecology, Palmer will share insights on “Faith Together for Climate Justice and Peace” from a positive stories of hope perspective.
Dr. Raja Harun MBE: will discuss “Al Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth” from a Muslim perspective.
Xavier de Bénazé SJ: will sharing experiences of leading a Jesuit Retreat Centre focused on ecological stewardship.
Dr. Louise Taylor: will highlighting efforts to save Lough Neagh and the importance of mental health in environmental activism.

Location: Belfast South Methodist Church & Agape Centre, 236-266 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 6GF

Speakers: Martin Palmer, Raja Harun, Xavier Benaze, Louise Taylor

Attendance is free, although donations from attendees on the day will be welcome.

There will be tea and coffee on arrival and lunch will also be available.

For more info and to book, contact: info@jointhedotstogether.org

Bringing Young People Together – Stormont Debate

In alignment with Good Relations Week 2024 and its theme of ‘OpportUNITY,’ Parallel Histories is hosting the “Bringing Young People Together – Stormont Debate.” This event will unite young people from diverse backgrounds, including both Protestant and Catholic communities, to engage in a conference-style debate on controversial historical topics. By facilitating dialogue on challenging issues, the event embodies the week’s focus on fostering understanding and collaboration across different perspectives. Join us at Stormont for a meaningful discussion that highlights the potential for positive change through shared engagement and mutual respect.

Centre for Cross Border Studies 24th Annual Conference

We’re delighted to announce that our 24th Annual Conference will be taking place on Thursday 14th September 2023 at the Hilton Belfast.

We will be looking at the grassroots efforts that preceded the Good Friday Agreement that marked its 25th Anniversary this year. Many civic society groups were doing the hard work of cooperation and building understanding, often below the radar or without great acclaim. We want to recognise the important work they did in the years leading up to the Agreement.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

CONFERENCE AGENDA

09:00 Networking breakfast

10:00 Welcome

10:15 Panel 1

Chair: Olwen Dawe

Ailbhe Smyth, Bronagh Hinds & Quintin Oliver

11:15 Keynote Speaker

Colin Davidson

12:00 Lunch

13:30 Panel 2: Generously supported by North West Tertiary Education Cluster

Kyra Reynolds, Orla Flynn, Peter Osborne & Joel Keys

14:00 Coffee Break

14:30 Panel 3: Generously supported by Institute of Public Health

Chair: Marie Louise Connolly

Prof Deirdre Heenan, Dr Ann Nolan & Joanne Vance

15:30 Keynote Speaker

Tim O’Connor

16:15 Panel 4

Sharon Haughey-Grimley, Pamela Arthurs, Joe O’Toole & Michael D’Arcy

17:15 Close

18:00 Reception and Journal Launch

18:45 Conference Dinner and Speakers: Tim McGarry and Dr David Hume

Support the Conference
We are once again looking for sponsors who share our commitment to cooperation and improving relations to support our conference. The conference brings together over 100 policymakers, academics, civic society and business leaders; people with a wealth of experience who make an impact. There are a range of packages available here. Contact Nick for more information: n.hanrahan@qub.ac.uk

Identity and Belonging

Intergenerational conference with secondary school pupils and members of Fermanagh Churches’ Forum (linked to ISE network of Inter-church Fora).

Organised by Fermanagh Churches’ Forum with support from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, the facilitated discussion will explore the themes of identity and belonging.

Community Relations Council Board Meeting

A meeting of the Community Relations Council Board during Good Relations Week.

As well as undertaking their normal business the Board of the Community Relations Council will be updated on the events and activities taking place during Good Relations Week 2022.

Joint Health, Good Relations, Equality and Human Rights Forum

A special Good Relations Week networking meeting of all the Health Trusts with the Community Relations Council, Equality Commission and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

This is an important opportunity to meet and share information, and plan activity to build awareness and action on Good Relations, Equality and Human Rights across all the Trusts.

International Day of Peace – What’s Next for Peacebuilding?

What’s next for peacebuilding in Belfast is a key focus of this conference.

Hosted by Judith Hill, with contributions from Patrick Kielty (recorded) and a keynote address from renowned journalist Bill Neely, the conference will review the impacts of the Belfast PEACE IV Programme to date and the wider discussions with participants and partners on what is next.

In recognition of 2022’s International Day of Peace theme, it will also explore how the Programme has contributed to ‘Ending Racism, Building Peace’ through participants’ stories and include contributions on unconscious bias and diversity and inclusion.

Ireland in 1922 Conference

From Treaty to Civil War and Partition

Few years were as seminal in the shaping of the modern island of Ireland than 1922 – a year of political and violent turmoil, North and South, as the fledgling governments in Dublin and Belfast sought to establish themselves against seemingly impossible odds. In the emergent Irish Free State the Treaty Split and the subsequent divide in the IRA marked the slow, inexorable descent into Civil War.

In the new Northern Ireland political uncertainly fuelled the flames of sectarian violence in both Belfast and on the border involving the IRA (loyal to Michael Collins) the Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) and British troops. Brutal atrocities shocked Belfast while British troops used artillery against the IRA on the Fermanagh-Donegal border.

Against this background, Winston Churchill, the British Minister in charge of Irish affairs, brokered important agreements between Collins and James Craig in 1922, aimed at ending the violence and achieving stability. However, these fragile pacts were soon ‘washed away in a torrent of blood’ and Collins supported Northern nationalists and the Northern IRA in their campaign against partition while Craig relied on draconian special powers and internment. In June the assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson- Craig’s Military Advisor- was to trigger the by now inevitable Civil War. It was only then that peace was gradually restored to Northern Ireland. Both states faced minority problems but while the Southern Protestants adjusted to the new state, the one-third minority in the North remained sullen and resentful.

In this special symposium, three distinguished historians, Dr Éamon Phoenix, Dr Russell Rees and Jim McDermott, will shed new light on this critical year, its key events and the roles played by leading Irish and British political leaders.