Community Relations Council

• Jobs
• Press Releases
• News
• Links
• Speeches
• Contact
• Council Minutes

01 May 2009

On Thursday 23rd April 2009 the Consortium of the Community Relations Council and Border Action, hosted a workshop for the 14 PEACE III Partnerships in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland. Almost €50 million of the European Union’s PEACE III Programme will be used by the PEACE III Partnerships to implement their Local Peace and Reconciliation Plans.

 Members and staff from the PEACE III Partnerships gathered at Magherafelt District Council’s offices for the event which began with a presentation on Everyday Sectarianism by CRC’s Chief Executive Dr Duncan Morrow. This was followed by talks from Joe Law of Trademark, a Belfast-based Reconciliation group, and Marie Crawley, an independent researcher who raised the all too often overlooked issues of Silent Sectarianism. “People who are in a minority look the same, speak the same, eat the same food, wear the same clothes, farm the same land using the same methods…..but are set apart. Members are not marginalised, not poor…but silenced.Work is more challenging and approach must be different to other minority work.”

Bridie Sweeney from Sligo County Council gave an input demonstrating practical examples of how the Sligo Partnership has addressed this issue in their peace and reconciliation action plan.

Those present participated in roundtable discussions on the issues arising from the presentations. This provided an excellent opportunity for the participants to share experiences and ideas as well as plan ahead for joined up working in implementing the most effective Peace and Reconciliation strategies.

The event provided information to the Partnerships on the progress of The Consortium’s work under Theme 1.2 of the EU’s PEACE III Programme, which funds individual groups facilitating peace building; counselling and reconciliation work, allowing the Partnerships insight into the work currently being undertaken in their area. A joined up approach will ensure complementary work and allow gaps to be addressed.

The event was very well attended and feedback proved positive showing that The Consortium role of supporting the PEACE III Partnerships is working to achieve an effective approach with successful outcomes.

Jim Dennison, Director of European Programmes at CRC addresses the audience.

(L to R) Paul Skinnader (Border Action), Emma Dargan (CRC), Bob Loade and Jackie Sherriff (CAN PEACE III Partnership), Gary Mortland, Harry Parkinson and Gerard McFadden (NW PEACE III Partnership).[h1]