Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - Marking Anniversaries

Discussion and Guidance Papers

Discussion and Guidance

Discussion papers and guidance notes developed by the Community Relations Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are included.

Executive statement on Decade of Centenaries 15th March 2012
Ministers agreed that it was appropriate and necessary for the Executive to set the tone and provide leadership in putting an official acknowledgement process in place.

“Perspectives On…” - An Agreed Series Of Events To Mark The Decade Of Centenaries At Parliament Buildings 14th May 2012
The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly William Hay MLA - as Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission - has announced that the Commission has agreed an approach to commemorating a range of anniversaries to be marked within Parliament Buildings throughout the upcoming decade of centenaries. The initiative-entitled “Perspectives On…” is designed to reflect on our history and allow MLAs the opportunity to discuss the issues and give their own views

A Decade of Centenaries: Commemorating Shared History
John Hume Institute for Global Irish Studies, UCD - Thursday, 20 May 2010
'We are beginning a decade of centenaries, when the main features of political life on this island were set, and it has taken a century to overcome many of the conflicts generated at that time. It is necessary to understand and explain how these conflicts were generated, and to do so in a way that allows all of us, in both parts of the island and indeed in Britain, to move beyond the causes of conflict and to use the experience to help those caught in conflict in other parts of the globe. This is a task that signals the engagement of scholars in the university with issues of public political importance.'

An Taoiseach, Brian Cowan spoke at the Institute of British Irish Studies in UCD. (20^th May)
An Taoiseach, Brian Cowan spoke at an event at the Institute of British Irish Studies in UCD. (20^th May) His very elegant speech did not receive much media coverage here. This is a pity because it was mostly directed at Northern Irish people. Its content focussed on the plethora of anniversaries occurring over the next decade and its tone was a plea for us, people of Northern Ireland and the Republican to commemorate these historical events in a spirit of generosity and good will.

Guidance Note for Funding Bodies – Funding Scheme, Marking A Decade of Ideas 2012-22 - Remembering The Future
Community Relations Council and Heritage Lottery Fund (Oct 2011)
The note explores how funding and resources to support activities and project work can be forward looking, collaborative and promote cohesive communities and society.The paper includes principles, two themes -handing heritage on to future generations for the common good and a decade of ideas; who might apply,activities and projects, approaches, costs and evaluation

Remembering the Future - A Decade of Anniversaries – Discussion Paper
Community Relations Council and Heritage Lottery Fund (Sept 2011)
This paper discusses remembering in public (as opposed to private Community Relations Council and Heritage Lottery Fund (Sept 2011)
The basis of intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity and the development of principles that could underpin exploration and anniversary activities.

Briefing On Human Rights Issues and the “Decade of Anniversaries”
Daniel Holder
Published by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 2011
Addresses potential human rights issues relating to commemorative events in the coming decade, focusing on freedom of expression and assembly and the positiveduties of the public authorities

Decade Principles
Community Relations Council and Heritage Lottery Fund (Sept 2011)
In one page this sets out principles organisations may wish to adopt as a tool to assist how they mark anniversaries.

Panel Discussion, 'Remembering the Future' 1912-1922 Decade of Anniversaries and its contemporary relevance - Opening remarks by Dr Martin Mansergh, Member of the Anniversary Group on Centenary Commemorations, Ulster Museum, Tuesday 26 June 2012 at 7pm

Guidelines For A Cultural Diversity Policy: An Advocacy Document
Maurna Crozier
Published by the Community Relations Council (2001) ISBN: 1-898276-29-3
This advocacy document sets the context for a cultural diversity policy, examines the possibilities and necessities for this objective and outlines a strategy through which it could be implemented.

The Ulster Covenant: loyalist or nationalist, where would we be without it?
Irish Times 29th September
On the face of it, the centenary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant ought to be a moment of shared history. For anyone with the slightest interest in the events of 1912-23 from which both Northern Ireland and the Republic emerged, it is obvious that the Covenant is one of the keys to everything that comes after it.

1912: Home rule and Ulster's resistance - an introduction
Irish Times 25th April 2012
The drama of the Home Rule Bill was to be an extraordinary curtain raiser to a decade that changed the face of modern Ireland, ushering in new forces to the stage of Irish history, a new caste of characters, villains and heroes, while eclipsing old with all the tragic finality of Greek drama.

President urges fostering of reconciliation during decade of centenaries
Irish News 25th April 2012
The opportunity to foster reconciliation and deepen mutual understanding provided by the current decade of centenaries should be seized, President Michael D Higgins has urged.

Remembering the past with dignity and respect
News Letter 12th April 2012
The sinking of the Titanic is the first of a series of 100th anniversaries that we are about to commemorate in Northern Ireland – and whilst the Titanic is proving a runaway success, some of the others may prove rather more challenging.

Impact of 1912 Home Rule Bill recalled
Irish Times Thursday 12th April 2012
“It is my sincere hope that there will be a broad interest in our commemorations and explorations,” he added. “The centenary anniversaries present an opportunity to address our shared history together, with the benefit of all the progress in political and community relations of recent years." Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan

Major cultural event to mark Balmoral Review
A MAJOR cultural event in Ormeau Park to commemorate the Balmoral Review has been given the green light by Belfast City Council.
Belfast News Letter 4th April 2012

Remembering the past 100 years on
UTV 27th March 2012
"We are more comfortable with ourselves, the complexity of our loyalties and allegiances are reflected in new institutions which were voted for by the people of Ireland, north and south." Dr Eamon Phoenix

Time to meet challenge of finding way for historical reflection on this island
20th March 2012
Earl Storey in the Irish Times 'The decade between 1912 and 1922 marked events in Ireland that helped form the DNA of life and relationships on this island.'

McDonnell: Commemorations offer an opportunity to educate ourselves about the past
27th February 2012
SDLP Leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell MP MLA has said events and gestures surrounding the forthcoming decade of centenaries must be of substance and meaning.

Keep anniversaries inclusive: Alliance
27th February 2012
The Alliance Party is calling on the executive to ensure the 100th anniversaries of key historic events are marked in an inclusive way. BBC News By Martina Purdy

Centenaries provide us with a unique opportunity to create a better understanding - Swann
UUP Culture, Arts and Leisure spokesperson Robin Swann has said that the forthcoming centenary celebrations in Northern Ireland should be inclusive and not used as an attempt to rewrite history.

See also resources, Up and Coming and links,